Letters to the editor: Romney, Trump, education funding
Romney
Wow! This is really exciting! A new human species has been discovered, right here in our backyard. It is called an honest Republican United States Senator, who seems to care more about doing what is right than worrying about following the party line. We thought they were extinct, as we haven’t seen anything like them for years and years in Idaho, but it may be that they simply can’t thrive here. This one lives in Utah. If they find any more like him there, I wish they would send a few our way. We could sure use one or two.
Mary Alice Davis, Garden City
Education
Some legislators appear to be focusing on the wrong issues while continuing to introduce education-related legislation ignoring the basic underlying reason. Yes, there is a teacher shortage and school districts often introduce bond levies. Both are caused by ignoring why.
There are few, if any, construction fees to offset the increased enrollments and aging infrastructure of our schools. The salaries for teachers are abysmal thus not attracting teachers to enter and/or remain in the profession in Idaho. Schools and teachers need to be supported with adequate funding to provide a decent salary and benefits package reflective of the skills, years served, and the training required to be effective educators. Funding must provide for school maintenance and construction. To limit levies and to withdraw credentialing requirements does not answer the underlying issue, and it will only further add to the problems facing education in Idaho schools at all levels. When funding is adequate, the other issues will be resolved.
Maudeane McKee, Garden City
Senators
I used to have some faith in our senators, Crapo and Risch. They both have great educations, and Crapo said in October 2016 that he could no longer endorse Trump because of his treatment toward women. I imagine his wife pushed him on that, but I saw a sign of decency and independence. What’s happened? Were they wildly cheering at the State of the Union show? Are they OK with Trump sullying the Medal of Freedom by giving it to ranting racist Rush Limbaugh? That he is on the same list as Jackie Robinson and Mother Teresa? Do Crapo and Risch think Lt. Col. Vindman lied? Probably not, but they obviously were untroubled by the truth from a professional soldier’s point of view. The Republican Party is now a cult. No moral compass. And Crapo and Risch have revealed themselves as silent, pliant cowards, unfit for public office -- in a democracy, that is. But just right for a totalitarian state. We must vote them out of Congress.
Diana Armstrong, Moscow
Risch
I read Senator Risch’s response in the Feb. 8 paper to Paulette Jordan’s announcement with interest, particularly his statement that he looks forward to “. . . putting my record of fiscal conservatism . . . against any of these individuals . . . ”. It reminded me of the statement he published on his website in December 2017 that the tax cuts he voted for “ . . . will result in greater dynamic revenue generation to reduce the deficit”. Since then, deficits have ballooned by almost 50%. Senator Risch: when will we start seeing these reductions?
Rick Simon, Boise
Trump
I have observed that many Democrats are limiting themselves to the truth, while President Trump’s lies grant him unlimited ammunition. The more Trump touts vice president Biden’s corruption in Ukraine, the lower Biden’s poll numbers drop, despite independent investigations proving him innocent. If President Trump’s behavior proceeds unhindered, he may become the first U.S. president to be impeached twice.
Wayne Douglas, Eagle