Idaho Political News
Jim Wordelman: Health care is too crucial to politicize
This year, most Idahoans saw their insurance premiums soar - for some, by as much as 30 percent. The bad news is it's going to get worse. Insurance premiums are on track to double in the next few years.
Thursday March 11, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Letters to the Editor: State politics
ATVs in Bruneau Dunes? Have you lost your minds?!
Thursday March 11, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Kevin Richert: Meet the new reps, same as the old reps?
The Statehouse has an unwritten but well-established career path. After slugging it out for a time in the crowded, 70-member House of Representatives, it's common for an ambitious lawmaker to "move up" to the 35-member state Senate.
Thursday March 11, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Our View: The wrong bill and the wrong path to reform
Idaho senators did the right thing Monday. By killing an ill-advised immigration "reform" bill, they refused to legislate out of frustration.
Wednesday March 10, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
OUR VIEW: Keep records public, for the benefit of the public
It's the kind of news that frightens any parent: A retired police officer, a former school resource officer, is jailed on child sexual abuse charges.
Tuesday March 9, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Richert: Christmas in spring — political filing season
For political junkies, today begins the 10 filing days of Christmas.
Monday March 8, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Lettersto the Editor
Senior Sen. Mike Crapo said that our government needed to step in and exert more influence to get the Baptist ministry out of Haiti. Idaho administration has historically balked at government intervention.
Monday March 8, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
How should we honor 'Speedy' Peterson?
When Kristin Armstrong brought home the gold from the 2008 summer games, Idaho officials said they would re-name the first eight miles of Bogus Basin Road - where Armstrong liked to train - the "Kristin Armstrong Bikeway."
Sunday March 7, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Green With Energy: As we rebuild the economy, let's favor activities that create value, not just make money
I've just returned from Austin, Texas, where I attended the Renewable Energy World Conference, a place where representatives from industry, government and academia came together to discuss opportunities and barriers for the renewable-energy market. Like most of these meetings, I found it, well, energizing.
Sunday March 7, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Letters to the Editor: Taxing the wealthy
So Rabbi Dan Fink believes that it is "morally sound" to raise taxes on "wealthy people." He said "we have the power to determine how we raise and allocate our communal resources," which really means he believes that the state has the right to confiscate even more money from people he considers to be wealthy. Their income is not your communal resource.
Saturday March 6, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
West Views: Opinions from other newspapers on Western issues
If Gov. Butch Otter truly wants compassion, let him seek it from family and friends.
Saturday March 6, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Pam Eaton: Visa, MasterCard abuse Idaho business owners
As president of the Idaho Retailers Association, and a small-business manager myself, I have seen the growing impact of credit card fees for small-business owners and consumers across Idaho.
Friday March 5, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Letters to the Editor: Idaho's budget
Apparently the editorialists at the Idaho Statesman don't follow the lead stories in their own paper. Gov. Butch Otter has been excoriated in the editorial pages for his approach to cutting state spending. On the front page of the paper Dan Popkey tells us that Oregon businesses are contemplating relocating to Idaho due to Oregon's recent income tax hike.
Friday March 5, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Online voices
Online reactions to Kevin Richert's Thursday column about the proposed $128.5 million cut in Idaho's public schools budget:
Friday March 5, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Our View: Nasty or naive? These days, it's both
This has become a season of unappreciated politicians expressing their disappointment at not being sufficiently appreciated.
Friday March 5, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Our View: Childhood vaccines: A shot in the arm
Idaho immunization rates are so low that Indonesia, Pakistan and Croatia do a better job vaccinating for measles. Botswana, Latvia and Sri Lanka outperform Idaho on vaccinating for polio. Yes, polio.
Friday March 5, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Kevin Richert: 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.
Thursday March 4, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Letters to the Editor: Pension flap riles readers
1. Our legislators should take two minutes to read "Sally's Friends" by Beverley Randall. They could ask their favorite first-grade student to lend you a copy.
Thursday March 4, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Our View: A bad day for patients, a good day for lawyers
Last week, 21 Idaho senators injected themselves into private, painful decisions about conception, abortion and euthanasia.
Wednesday March 3, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
Our View: Gwartney's problems are Otter's problems
With a friend like Mike Gwartney, Butch Otter doesn't need enemies. The governor's hand-picked choice to run the state's Department of Administration, Otter's longtime confidant has become one of his political liabilities.
Tuesday March 2, 2010 7:00AM | feedburner.com
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