Idaho Politics Weekly Newsletter

Friday, January 24, 2020

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This Week In Idaho Politics

Risch on Trump: 'You can relate to this guy'
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
In the coming weeks, we will be hearing plenty about all the pomp that goes with an impeachment trial in the Senate along with President Trump's blasting of Democrats and Twitter rants.

Should Idaho help more with diabetes?
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
A couple years of ago the Centers for Disease Control released a report detailing that 30.3 million Americans - 9.4% of the population - have diabetes. If that number holds in Idaho, over 160,000 Idahoans have diabetes. And, the numbers are growing . . .

Guest opinion: Working to lower prescription drug costs
By Sen. Mike Crapo
On Dec. 19, 2019, Senate colleagues and I introduced S. 3129, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, to lower prescription drug prices and encourage the development of new therapies and cures.  

Guest opinion: The case for Driving Privilege Cards
By Senator Jim Guthrie, District 28
Years ago, I served as a member of the Bannock County commission and one of our duties was to appoint citizens to various boards like planning and zoning, fair board, and many others.

Liberal legislative agenda not right for Idaho
By Stephen Hartgen
A recent liberal newspaper's "dos and don'ts" list of what the Idaho Legislature should pass or not pass provides a good checklist for doing mostly the opposite of what The Idaho Statesman calls for.

How can you have a fair jury trial without witnesses?
By Jim Jones
The object of any trial under American law is to achieve an impartial and just result. In a trial in the judicial system, jurors take a solemn oath to render a true verdict "according to the law and evidence." That would be practically impossible without sworn testimony from witnesses.

Guest opinion: Take action to solve Idaho's jobs crisis
By Luke Mayville & Rebecca Schroeder, Reclaim Idaho
Imagine if an Idaho company employing more than 7,600 people announced today it was closing down its operations and moving to another state.

News release: Idaho's unfilled STEM jobs double in three years
By News release
The number of unfilled STEM jobs in the state continues to grow, according to the Idaho STEM Action Center's budget request presentation before the Legislature's Joint Finance Appropriations Committee. However, agency officials said the number of computer science teachers and students grew dramatically over the last year.

News release: Little signs two executive orders cutting red tape
By News release
Gov. Brad Little was joined by legislators in signing his first two executive orders of 2020, both aimed at keeping Idaho regulations streamlined, user-friendly, and easy to understand.

News release: Vote no on HB 317 allowing optometrists to perform eye surgery
By News Release
Idaho's ophthalmologists are asking lawmakers to vote no on HB 317, a bill that would expand the scope of practice of optometrists allowing them to perform eye surgery with lasers and scalpels. 

Political news notes: Gerrymandering . . . town hall meeting . . . salmon workgroup . . . add the words . . . criminal justice
By Idaho Politics Weekly Staff
Idaho Democratic Legislators Host Event for Gerrymandering Expert and Author, David Daley. Idaho Democratic legislators are holding the "We Need You to Defend Fair Elections in Idaho" event on Feb. 6.

Paulette Jordan eyes run against Risch
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
There's speculation, with perhaps some wishful thinking among Democrats, that former state Rep. Paulette Jordan will run for the U.S. Senate this year giving Idahoans at least one competitive high-level race.