Idaho Opinions

Unanswered questions Requiring voters to show photo identification seems, at first blush, a reasonable way to deter fraud. But questions about how it would affect turnout or apply to absentee voters should be answered before such a bill is approved.
Idaho Falls Post-Register 3/10/2010

Health care conscience bill is fair and logical "Conscience" bill would allow health providers to live by their consciences while making sure everyone has access to legally-protected services.
Idaho Press-Tribune 3/10/2010

The wrong bill and the wrong path to reform Senate Bill 1303 was a morass of "flashpoint" measures aimed at combating illegal immigration, and the Idaho Senate rightfully killed the bill.
Idaho Statesman 3/10/2010

In Idaho, medical miracles cost too much Idaho has been providing up to $18,000 a year to help adult cystic fibrosis patients get the medicines they need. Last week, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to end the subsidy completely.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/10/2010

User fees: A tricky - and politically volatile - issue Increased user fees, whether for college students or public parks visitors, run a real risk of putting the public's resources beyond the public's means.
Twin Falls Times-News 3/10/2010

Keep records public, for the benefit of the public Government should strive for transparency, instead of using "personnel matters" as a catch-all excuse for secrecy.
Idaho Statesman 3/9/2010

'Gov. Mike's' antics reflect on his boss Coming off a lackluster first term, Gov. Otter is about to ask Idaho voters for a second. How he handles his alter ego - Department of Administration director Mike Gwartney - in the coming months will tell you something about what may happen in the next four years.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/9/2010

Idaho strikes another blow for closing public records Transparency took another blow this week when a bill to make the names of hunters and anglers exempt from Idaho public records requests was approved by the House.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 3/9/2010

Idaho needs to remember its pledge on wolves A week ago, as the season entered its last month, hunters had bagged only 162 wolves, 58 short of the allowed 220, and now the director of the Department of Fish and Game is saying more aggressive wolf management is needed. But a higher target would cast doubts about the state's commitment to maintaining a sustainable wolf population.
Spokesman-Review 3/9/2010

Skip on ahead: Early graduation bill makes sense The idea of early graduation has been gaining momentum lately and Idaho could potentially take the lead if the legislation is approved.
Twin Falls Times-News 3/9/2010

Christmas in spring - political filing season For political junkies, today begins the 10 filing days of Christmas. Sometime after 5 p.m. on March 19, Idahoans will know exactly who is running for what.
Idaho Statesman 3/8/2010

As Idaho prisons overflow, another state lockup stands empty South of Boise a $50 million, 432-bed drug- and alcohol-treatment prison stands empty because Idaho's budget crunch has left no money to operate it.
Twin Falls Times-News 3/8/2010

Local control best amid cuts The legislative budget-writing committee's decision to cut public school funding by $128 million for the upcoming fiscal year is a bitter pill to swallow, and it's hard to see how the state's classrooms will weather through without some ill effects.
Idaho Press-Tribune 3/7/2010

The knives are out for Idaho's schools Last year's schools budget was a mere toothache. With the cuts JFAC approved this week, next year will hurt like a root canal.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/7/2010

Otter supports solving a problem he created Lawmakers outlawed severance packages in 1993, but some state workers received payments into their pension account as an incentive to retire early. The Governor supports a bill to outlaw the practice.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/6/2010

Market will decide if college fee hikes work Idaho's colleges and universities are raising fees, laying off employees, and cutting course offerings. Market competition will ultimately determine whether these decisions help or hurt enrollments at particular institutions.
Idaho Press-Tribune 3/5/2010

Cheers & Jeers Jeers to GOP JFAC members who voted to kill funding for the state's adult cystic fibrosis program; Cheers to the state senators from eastern Idaho who supported a bill that would require all sales tax exemptions be periodically reviewed by the Legislature.
Idaho Falls Post-Register 3/5/2010

One 'yes' vote, one 'heck no' vote The voter ID bill makes sense. Voting for members of urban renewal agency boards on a countywide basis does not.
Couer d'Alene Press 3/5/2010

Nasty or naive? These days, it's both This has become a season of unappreciated politicians expressing their disappointment at not being sufficiently appreciated. Is there something to this complaint?
Idaho Statesman 3/5/2010

Childhood vaccines: A shot in the arm This week, the Senate passed and sent to the House a modest bill to do a better job reminding parents when it's time to get their children immunized.
Idaho Statesman 3/5/2010

Sucker punched JEERS to JFAC's anti-teacher agenda; CHEERS to two north Idaho senators for voting against the so-called "freedom of conscience" bill.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/5/2010

Bike-safety bills deserve to be passed The Idaho Legislature can help advance the cause of safety by passing four reasonable, common-sense bills addressing bicycle safety. But first, the bills would need to get a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee.
Idaho Press-Tribune 3/4/2010

The budget crisis will hit home, next school year The Legislature's 20 citizen budget-writers surely understand the implications of the public schools spending plan they approved Wednesday.
Idaho Statesman 3/4/2010

Why don't fees concern today's students? Tuition and fees at Idaho's college and universities are about to escalate at double-digit rates. Current student leaders usually go along with proposed increases, but no one is speaking on behalf of high school students who will have to pay these new fees.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/4/2010

Fed bashing an 'Olympic' sport for Idaho lawmakers Idaho legislators have got things under so much control they have time to throw a federal government-bashing festival in Boise to impress the states-righters throughout the Gem State.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News 3/4/2010

The ax falls hard on Idaho public schools We've known since the Legislature convened on Jan. 11 that the cuts coming to Idaho public schools in the 2010-11 school year would be hard to take. On Wednesday, we found out just how hard.
Twin Falls Times-News 3/4/2010

Questions for leadership State leaders feel picked on by the media for making tough budget decisions, but why haven't some alternatives to deep cuts been seriously considered?
Idaho Falls Post-Register 3/3/2010

A bad day for patients, a good day for lawyers A Senate-approved bill designed to cover all medical conscience issues - emergency contraception, abortion, stem-cell research and treatment, embryonic cloning, end-of-life care - is a lawsuit waiting to happen if it passes the House and is signed by the Governor.
Idaho Statesman 3/3/2010

Compassion? Don't look for it here, Butch Speaking to the Idaho Press Club last week, Gov. Otter contended some newspapers have portrayed him as relishing the role of budget cutter but said, "It's not fun." Whatever the governor's experience, it's not the job of the press to give politicians a break.
Lewiston Morning Tribune 3/3/2010

Idahoans ought to be up in arms over immunization rates Third-world countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka have higher immunization rates than Idaho for diseases like measles and polio.
Twin Falls Times-News 3/3/2010