JOB GROWTH

Where businesses go

Being duly respectful of Roger Madsen/Jeffery Sayer's essay in the Statesman March 10 on job growth in Idaho, short and sweet, just keep government out of the way and taxes at a minimum. Entrepreneurs start businesses and thrive where they're welcome with a minimum of permitting and hoops to jump through. You might add one more factor. There was a sign in front of the Denver convention center some years ago that read, "Business goes where people want to live." I believe it's still true.

BOB JESSEN, Meridian

MERIDIAN MENU

Kids have too much access to junk food

The Meridian School District is doing our children a great disservice.

March is National Nutrition Month; we just received a school newsletter announcing that our children now have an a la carte option at their school including ice cream, cookies, brownies and Rice Krispies treats.

And, here's the good news, parents: Your kids can pay for these items using the account you have set up to pay for their school lunches.

The National Education Association reports that 23.5 million children/teens, 1 in 3, are overweight or obese.

Given the scope of the childhood obesity problem, it is shortsighted for MSD to sell junk food to our children. Kids eat less of their lunch, consume more fat, take in fewer nutrients and gain weight when schools sell unhealthy snacks.

Studies show that diet can have a significant influence on a student's ability to learn efficiently and effectively, making the concept a no-brainer for schools. By creating school environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice, schools can help foster better health and greater academic success for students.

MSD needs to take responsibility for their poor choice and rectify this problem.

RUTHANN HOWARD, Meridian

HURLOCK REJECTION

Pearce misses mark

I agree with Fran Collette and Eric S. Rossman of Boise regarding the Senate's rejection of Joan Hurlock.

Sen. Pearce, I only have one question for you. If it's not OK to have someone "not qualified" to lead the Fish and Game Commission, what makes it OK to have someone "not qualified" to lead the Board of Nursing? Nurses are professionals and as such deserve qualified people in charge just as the Fish and Game Commission. Joan Hurlock's rejection was a mistake.

JO JEFFRIES, Payette

POSTAL SERVICE

Cut waste, not Saturday delivery

I appreciate what John Paige had to say about the U.S. Postal Service cutting out Saturday delivery, but my reason for being against the cut is not the same as his.

My "beef" about losing a day of mail delivery is that this move is being made supposedly to save money for this poorly managed service.

I ask, if the Postal Service loses so much of our money every year, why has it been allowed to spend $30 million to sponsor Lance Armstrong?

If this was a privately run company whose executives had made such an absurd expenditure while, at the same time, cutting employees' hours to "save money," I'm certain those executives would soon be looking for another job.

Why are we expected to put up with this ongoing mismanagement?

Instead of allowing the cutting of delivery days, why are we not turning over the operation of postal delivery to someone who will use their money wisely rather than sponsoring a cyclist for $30 million while crying poverty?

HELEN FISHER, Eagle

NUXOLL

Senator uses hearing to push personal agenda

As I watched the Senate debate the bill to create a State Health Insurance Exchange (S1042) on Feb. 21, I was astounded that Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, turned the debate to contraceptives, using her position on the Health and Welfare Committee to advance her personal agenda.

Her repeated description of the fertilized egg as a baby and "preventing implementation into the uterus" are wholly inaccurate in anatomical and medical terms, and continue to display her lack of knowledge regarding these topics.

More importantly, Sen. Nuxoll refused to debate the actual bill before the Senate and continued to expound upon her opposition to other policies.

I find it disturbing to watch this senator utilize her elected position to pursue an agenda that greatly limits women's rights and access to appropriate health care.

As a registered medical ultrasound technologist, I am highly concerned that Sen. Nuxoll continues to provide false information to her colleagues and constituents in an effort to inject the government into the doctor-patient relationship.

LAUREN GUSINOW, Boise