Commentary
A taxpayer receipt in Idaho would help provide a snapshot of government spending
We’re all familiar with the shopping experience of seeing the total amount we owe ring up on the register and then being provided with an itemized receipt showing what we purchased. This simple sheet of paper helps us remember and understand where our shopping dollars went. Now imagine if you were provided with a taxpayer […]
Bonneville County GOP ‘SIC ‘Em’ committee wants Idaho legislators to answer to party, not voters
Carrie: Did you know a list of grievances has been filed against all six Republican legislators from Idaho Falls legislative districts 32 and 33? Jerry: By whom? Carrie: The Bonneville County Republican Central Committee. Their legislative chairs appointed a “Special Investigative Committee” to make sure legislators are voting the way the central committee interprets the party […]
Remembering those impacted by HIV and AIDS on World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day, and 2023 marks the 35th year that this day has been observed. World AIDS Day started as a way to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS and to remember those who lost their lives to the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This year, the theme is “Remember and Commit,” urging people […]
John F. Kennedy, Montana’s Mike Mansfield and what real political leadership looked like
Nov. 22 was the 60th anniversary of the assassination of the 35th American president, John F. Kennedy, a “cruel and shocking act of violence,” as the Warren Commission called it, “directed against a man, a family, a nation, and against all mankind.” Montana Sen. Mike Mansfield, a close friend of the murdered president – they […]
Since 2015, Teach For America has reached 30,000 Idaho students. Deep cuts could hurt recruitment.
Teach for America Idaho faces a potentially devastating blow to our programs should the U.S. Congress enact the deep cuts to the AmeriCorps program that are currently under consideration. An important piece of Teach For America Idaho’s work focuses on improving the futures of Idaho youth, particularly those in rural communities. In a number of […]
We don’t need false promises from Pharma during Diabetes Awareness Month. We need reform.
Only eight days of National Diabetes Awareness Month had passed this November when pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced it would be pulling Levemir, a long-acting insulin that millions of insulin-dependent diabetic patients depend on, from the U.S. market. In March, Novo Nordisk had announced it would be lowering the price of Levemir by 65%. This, […]
The federal government must proceed with grizzly bear recovery in Bitterroot Mountains Wilderness
Recovery of endangered grizzly bears in the lower 48 states hinges on critical genetic connectivity between the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental grizzlies provided by the Bitterroot Mountains. Located on the western border between Montana and Idaho, the region contains one of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous states and was historically home to […]
November’s Native American Heritage Month is a complex issue for many Indigenous people
November is Native American Heritage Month, an interesting if not complex time to celebrate Indigenous people. Many Indigenous people complain about November being selected for the celebration. After all, the month holds Thanksgiving. To many Native people, Thanksgiving is a reminder of the attempted genocide of many tribes by the settlers they helped, not to […]
Think you’re prepared to care for an aging parent? Think again.
My father-in-law was the happiest person I’ve ever known. Jon Lee Wray was a simple man — a farmer and cowboy — who spent his whole life within eight miles of his Weiser home. After a heart attack in 2001, my husband and I began supporting his care and had tough conversations about end-of-life planning. […]
As we celebrate Veterans Day, here’s what individual Idahoans can do to honor America’s vets
Americans can commemorate Veterans Day twice this year. The official observance is Nov. 11. It dates back to the armistice ending World War I, which went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. It was originally called Armistice Day, but it was renamed Veterans Day in […]
At Veterans for Idaho Voters, we believe in better government with better elections
Elections are the foundation of American representative government. Bad elections result in bad government. Unfortunately, Idaho’s political parties have gained too much control over our elections, deciding who is on the ballot and who can vote. As a result, Idaho’s taxpayer-funded elections are among America’s least competitive. Fifty out of 105 state legislative seats were […]
Idaho lawmakers should provide at least three-day notice of bills scheduled for public hearing
We’re still a few months away from the start of Idaho’s 2024 legislative session in January, but there is one rule change that we’d like to see lawmakers make to improve public participation in the legislative process. To help maximize public involvement in their governance, lawmakers should amend their rules to require at least three-day […]