Idaho Politics Weekly Newsletter

Sunday, October 20, 2019

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This Week In Idaho Politics

Idaho Democrats side with impeachment efforts
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, who initially declined to comment on the Democrats' push for impeachment of President Trump, has broken his silence. No drum roll needed here.

Just say no to Reclaim Idaho's tax hike proposal
By Stephen Hartgen
It's the fall run-up season before the start of the annual legislative session, and the crisp air in Idaho is full of lefty tax increase proposals designed to benefit various so-called needs by taking money from your wallets.

Guest opinion: Idaho Education: Have and Have Nots
By Gary Suppiger, Lake Pend Oreille School District Trustee
If you ask any Idaho state politician about the No. 1 issue affecting their constituents, they will tell you "education." It's on their web sites, their social media channels, and on every piece of paper they hand out at the door. The answer has become almost automatic. No matter what part of the state you live in, you will likely get the same answer.

Guest opinion: The future of work in Idaho
By Gov. Brad Little
Today's students are tomorrow's workforce, and they will have to adapt to change in their careers more than any other generation before them.

The madness of Donald Trump
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
What happens when a political leader is "off"?

Have courage & patriotism deserted the GOP Senate majority?
By Jim Jones
Senator Jim Risch has come around to thinking that climate change is a "very, very troubling problem." Risch told a BSU audience on September 13 he "thinks" climate change is "a very valid theory, that it's caused by human emissions," and "the world's in a very precarious situation, if that's the case." He agreed with a Pentagon assessment that climate change is a national security threat. This certainly indicates that we ought to take action.

Guest opinion: Federal obligation to Idaho counties must be met
By Sen. Mike Crapo
In September, Idaho County Commissioners visited my office as part of their making the case to Congress about the need to reauthorize Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS).  While I welcome opportunities to get a sense of local needs, local officials should be spared the time and expense of having to continuously make the case for this federal responsibility. 

Guest opinion: Idahoans need a better property tax break
By Sen. Maryanne Jordan (D-Boise) and Sen. Grant Burgoyne (D-Boise)
As the weather turns cold, Idaho legislators are preparing for the start of the legislative session in January. Many are already hard at work on new laws designed to improve the lives of Idahoans. But there are proposals afoot that could cause real harm to taxpayers and local communities.

Political news notes: Eliminating regs . . . Idaho Falls town hall . . . commissioner appointment
By Idaho Politics Weekly staff
Little proposes elimination of 10 regulatory programs in occupational licensing. Gov. Little has announced the proposed elimination of 10 outdated regulatory programs in the state's occupational licensing rules, as part of the implementation of one of his executive orders.

Is Idaho ready for the next recession?
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
One truism is that the economy expands - and then eventually shrinks.

Impeachment talk rages; other work stalls
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
In Washington politics, the shrill voices are the ones who tend to get heard, but it's those who are trying to stay above the fray such as Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo who are trying to deal with some of the real-life problems.

CSI's teaching program offers a new path forward
By Stephen Hartgen
You don't have to spend much time around educators in Idaho before you'll hear about a looming teacher shortage across the state.  We're not turning out as many new teachers as we need, particularly for rural communities.