Idaho Opinions

Idaho governor needs to upgrade his business attitude Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's myopic view about technology's role in the state's economy has young entrepreneurs of the new generation of technology start-ups all aTwitter, but a snide gridlock will serve neither the state nor the high-tech companies.
Idaho Statesman 7/19/2010

Idaho needs institutional changes to attract new business Idaho has some of the lowest electricity costs in the nation, and wages are lower in the Gem State than in neighboring states, both factors which should have businesses breaking down the door to build here, but that's not happening because the state's schools are suffering from a lack of funding, its roads are below par, and business taxes are too high.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/16/2010

Idaho senator needs to get back in touch with his 'green' streak Idaho U.S. Sen. Jim Risch knows how collaboration works given that he was able to put together a management plan for the state's federal roadless forest lands during his seven-month tenure as the state's governor four years ago, which makes his decision not to support U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's Boulder-White Cloud wilderness bill all the more incomprehensible; Sen. Risch needs to take a look back and remember why collaboration works.
Idaho Statesman 7/13/2010

Simpson addresses Idaho governor's concerns about CIEDRA U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson said he realizes that Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter won't support Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act and, at best, can only hope Otter doesn't put out the call to kill the bill, but in a letter to Otter, he tried to allay the governor's concerns. Rocky Barker's Letters from the West blog.
Idaho Statesman 7/7/2010

What happens if Yucca Mountain never opens? Under a 1995 agreement between Idaho and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Idaho National Laboratory will continue to store spent nuclear fuel until 2035, when it then must be shipped out of state. However, at present there is no place for the radioactive waste to go, and Idaho should keep the federal government's feet to the fire on finding a final disposal site for the waste.
Twin Falls Times-News 7/7/2010

Copying Arizona won't fix the immigration problem Idaho is one of 18 states considering an immigration law similar to the one passed by Arizona's legislature earlier this year. However, Idaho doesn't need that kind of law, and the governor and state legislators mustn't bow to public pressure and pass such an unnecessary measure.
Idaho Statesman 7/2/2010

If you're not upset by militia scheme, you ought to be Even though the Idaho Republican Party decided against adopting a resolution supporting the creation of a state militia parallel to the National Guard at its state convention on Saturday, the fact that the measure made it out of committee and to the full floor is troubling enough.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/29/2010

Idaho senator hosts meetings on wilderness bill this week U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo will hold a series of meetings this week on the Boulder-White Cloud wilderness legislation to address concerns raised by Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter about the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. A column by Rocky Barker.
Idaho Statesman 6/21/2010

U.S. Senate needs to approve Cobell settlement It's been 14 years since Elouise Cobell filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a half a million Native Americans alleging mismanagement of tribal assets by the federal government, and more than six months since a $3.4-billion settlement was reached, and the U.S. Senate needs to act now and approve that settlement.
Great Falls Tribune 6/18/2010

School districts have tough challenge The legislature granted local school districts a lot of leeway in deciding how they'll make ends meet with reduced revenues, and now we're starting to see how districts are handling the challenge.
Idaho Press-Tribune 6/3/2010

From Lincoln and Twain to Obama and Ward You can empathize with former Republican congressional candidate Vaughn Ward. If he wasn't done in before it arrived, a video showing him stealing lines from President Barack Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address devastated Ward's prospects in the recent primary election.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 6/3/2010

Blue Dog Democrat Minnick is, well, a Democrat Voters in Idaho's 1st Congressional District may assume they face a choice between a Republican and a Democratic incumbent who votes like one. But on many low-profile issues, Rep. Walt Minnick has voted with the Democrats.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 6/2/2010

Idaho cuts spending, then ratchets up real costs The state has given up trying to pay for outpatient care for about 2,000 recovering substance abusers who don't have private insurance, don't qualify for public insurance and can't get help any other way. Unfortunately, it won't be long before the rest of us are paying for these Idahoans in some other way.
Twin Falls Times-News 6/1/2010

Even GOP thinks legislators cut too much Republican voters say Idaho lawmakers reduced the public school budget too deeply. So why did a GOP-dominated Legislature proceed with the cuts?
Idaho Statesman 5/31/2010

Simpson's Boulder-White Cloud wilderness bill has Idaho's support U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson has spent more than a decade crafting his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act to protect 332,775 acres of land in the Boulder-White Clouds roadless area as wilderness, and now that the state's entire congressional delegation has signed on to the bill in support, perhaps this will be the year the legislation gets what it deserves.
Idaho Statesman 5/30/2010

Idaho's RINO herd thins out yet again Over time, GOP moderates have lost ground at the Idaho legislature, ceding first the doctrinaire House and then the more pragmatic Senate. Latah county's Gary Schroeder is the latest victim.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/29/2010

States stuck between a rock and a pothole Every time we purchase a vehicle that gets good gas mileage, it means we aren't paying as much of a gas tax. That's nice on our pocketbooks but not so great for our roads.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 5/29/2010

Supreme Court election — An unseemly campaign to silence court criticisms The right candidate won. But it was the wrong campaign - reflecting poorly on the Idaho Supreme Court and newly re-elected Justice Roger Burdick.
Idaho Statesman 5/28/2010

Daring to win Cheers to state Rep. Raul Labrador for clinching the GOP nomination for Idaho's 1st Congressional District over reserve Marine officer Vaughn Ward. Jeers to Washington's U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for refusing to commit to a political solution to the Snake River salmon issue.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/28/2010

Right saves mainstream GOP from itself Mainstream Republicans - stung and stunned by Vaughn Ward's breathtaking journey to unelectability - should grudgingly thank their conservative friends.
Idaho Statesman 5/27/2010

Dissatisfaction reigns in Idaho's primary election The most far-reaching result of Tuesday's election may turn out to be the defeat of moderates State Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, and Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, by conservatives. It may signal more trouble for public schools, higher education, Health and Welfare and corrections.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/27/2010

VanderSloot won Supreme Court race One of Idaho's richest men, Frank VanderSloot, fronted much of the money for Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick's recent campaign against John Bradbury, continuing a decade of interference in judicial elections.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/27/2010

The GOP agenda gets mixed grades, from the GOP With its agenda, the 2010 Legislature set the tone for the 2010 elections. Republican lawmakers played to their base by railing against the federal government and voting to join a lawsuit over health care reform. But another part of the agenda - deep cuts to public schools - may not play so well with voters.
Idaho Statesman 5/26/2010

Principles yes, partisanship no For every pronouncement that Democratic incumbents are in big, big trouble come Nov. 2, there is an offsetting one that suggests many Republicans engaged in such bloodletting during the primary campaign, vulnerabilities were brutally exposed.
Couer d'Alene Press 5/26/2010

State watchdog safeguards its image first Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality canceled its appearance at the Idaho Conservation League's annual Wild Idaho conference after the ICL criticized the agency for suspending much of its program to track baseline levels of pollution in the state's rivers and lakes.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/26/2010

It isn't November - but it's still a big day at polls If recent history is a guide, only about a quarter of Idaho's registered voters will show up for today's primaries. Here is a recap of the Statesman's endorsements.
Idaho Statesman 5/25/2010

How can you run government if you don't understand it? Vaughn Ward's government teacher at Jerome High would be disappointed. The Republican 1st Congressional District candidate told a debate audience in north Idaho last week that Puerto Rico is a foreign country. For that lack of basic geography and history, Ward should get after-school detention.
Twin Falls Times-News 5/25/2010

Search today. Expect to pay tomorrow. Money isn't the only factor - and it's far from the most important one - in finding the right person to fill Lewis-Clark State College President Dene Thomas' post.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/24/2010

Neither visionary, nor leader, Ward follows What a congressional candidate says tells you how he'll vote. How he conducts his congressional campaign tells how he'll manage. Based on the campaign so far, the signs are not promising for First Congressional District GOP hopeful Vaughn Ward.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/22/2010

This time, the establishment has it right 2nd District Judge John Bradbury's allegation that retired judges are double-dipping at the public till has drawn return fire from the state's judicial and political establishment, and rightfully so.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 5/21/2010