Supporters of a new tax for Canyon County property owners love libraries about as much as I love ice cream, and their argument in favor of creating a new library district was about as compelling and intricate as my argument for fudgy sundaes.
Supporters of a new tax for Canyon County property owners love libraries about as much as I love ice cream, and their argument in favor of creating a new library district was about as compelling and intricate as my argument for fudgy sundaes.
In the late spring of 2003, as lawmakers considered a bill to raise taxes, Moscow Republican Rep. Gary Young rose to his feet on the floor of the House of Representatives and announced, "My constituents tell me they don't want a tax increase."
The problem is that Young's constituents also told him that they didn't want him, either. They ousted Young. Democrat Shirley Ringo beat Young in the 2002 general election by 736 votes. So how did Young end up in the same office from which voters dismissed him?
You never imagined it possible, but in some cases, you elect people to serve in the Idaho Legislature -- and then those people select someone else entirely to serve. Here's a preview of my Sunday column:
The defeat of several tax increases at the California ballot has to cause people to stop and think. Could the same thing happen here in Idaho – a state that had a really strong turnout from tea partiers and where Gov. Otter couldn't get a tax increase through the House of Representatives?
Besides theoretically restoring the economy to a grow track exceeding 3%, something the Bush economic policies succeeded in doing, President Obama’s policies purportedly will create over 5 million new jobs. Good luck for those who are holding out for these high paying jobs concentrated in the ‘green sector’, but the odds are that they won’t materialize because of what I’ll term ‘logistical issues’ and a misbalance between available labor skills and what performing these 5 million fabulous jobs will require.
Apparently, not everyone likes what we have to say at the Idaho Freedom Foundation. Here's the text of a letter to the editor that appeared in the Idaho Statesman over the weekend:
I have to admit that after two decades of dealing with government agencies, I have a very low tolerance for vague and seemingly secret regulations enacted by government.
To put that statement into perspective, I'm a huge admirer of what former Idaho Congressman Helen Chenoweth-Hage did at the Boise Airport in 2004 - refusing an airport security pat-down unless she could see the rule requiring the practice. She couldn't. So she marched down to the rental car counter and drove the 400 miles to Reno.
This story has me bugged. I was not sure if I would write about it initially, but I really couldn't shake it. It's the story of Challis McAffee, who went to the Ada County Courthouse armed only with a video camera and an expectation that he could document government action. What happened next makes no sense, even though Ada County officials tried to explain it away.
Here's a small preview:
Lost in all the chaos of the past several days is another interesting side story that emerges from the Chris Pentico trespass case: Prior to Pentico's trespass sentencing, Pentico went to the Ada County Courthouse to review his court file. Two surprises came from this visit. First, Pentico was told he can't look at his file; only his attorney or a member of Congress could, Pentico said he was told. Second, courthouse officials refused to allow video recording of Pentico's courthouse adventure.
Christopher Pentico's trespass charge will be dismissed after he completes 30 days of probation, Magistrate Judge Kevin Swain decided Monday. Swain denied prosecutors' request that Pentico serve jail time and pay a fine. Pentico was convicted of trespass after he visited Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's office, but Swain said Pentico is clearly not a threat, and does not need to spend any more time being banned from state office buildings.