Newsletter

This Week In Idaho Politics

Idahoans support expanding Medicaid, but not historical horse racing
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Idahoans favor, by a healthy majority, expanding Medicaid to provide health care for upwards of 50,000 low-income residents, a new Idaho Politics Weekly poll shows....

Come to America but do it legally
By LaVarr Webb, Publisher
With a "migrant caravan" headed for the United States, immigration has blossomed once again as a top issue as voters head into the Nov. 6 elections....

History will be made in lieutenant governor's race
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
This election year has been dubbed as the "year of women" in politics. A more appropriate description should be, "It's about time."...

Time to cool political rhetoric
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
Last week's dominant national story was the explosive devices sent to former Pres. Obama, Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joe Biden, various Democratic members of Congress and prominent donors and CNN....

Why I'm splitting my ticket this election
By Jim Jones
Back in the early 1960s, when I was studying political science at the University of Oregon, I first encountered the term "Yellow Dog Democrat." ...

Guest opinion: Idaho principals deserve praise
By Sen. Mike Crapo
One of the things I treasure most about representing Idaho in the U.S. Senate is that I get to cross paths with extraordinary Idahoans doing great work. ...

Education, health care, transportation & housing are issues of top concern to Idahoans
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
The most important issue facing Idaho state government: Improve the quality of public education.So believe most Idahoans in a new Dan Jones & Associates survey.Jones asked 641 Idahoans what are the three most important issues facing state governm...

Ybarra says Idaho schools are on the right path
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
State School Superintendent Sherri Ybarra has said many times that she is an educator, not a politician. So, it's not surprising that she doesn't pay much attention to political norms, even after almost four years in office.If she were to write a "Ho...

Rep. Loertscher fights back with write-in bid
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
Rep. Tom Loertscher has been a fixture of the Idaho House from Eastern Idaho since he was first elected in 1986. He lost a House race in 2002 but won his seat back in 2004, and is now the chair of House State Affairs Committee.He lost his primary rac...

The gaming initiative -- deja vu all over again
By Jim Jones, former Idaho attorney general and Supreme Court chief justice
In the immortal words of that baseball great, Yogi Berra, the historical horse-racing initiative, Proposition One, is "deja vu all over again" for me. In 1986, Idaho voters approved an initiative in the general election to establish a state lottery. ...

Guest opinion: Senate addresses high drug costs
By Sen. Mike Crapo
Concern is growing over the rising cost of prescription drugs.  Drug manufacturers argue that the rising prices of these medications are largely due to the cost of research and development. However, it can be challenging for consumers to disting...

Campaign roundup: Kloc endorses Rob Mason in District 16
By Staff
Longtime State Rep. Hy Kloc has endorsed Rob Mason to take his place in the Idaho State Legislature. Kloc is retiring after three terms in the State House where he was a staunch advocate for early childhood education and protecting the rights of Idah...