Letters to the editor: Primary voting, Idaho legislature, extremists, affordable housing
Primary voting
I’ve lived all my life in the West. I’ve enjoyed peace and freedom away from crime-ridden cities. 2020 kind of destroyed that feeling of contentment. Along with the epidemic, the continuing lawlessness and push by groups to change Idaho has frightened me. This is one of the hottest topics when people gather together. What is life going to bring? How much more will our government intrude in our lives?
I’ve been attending candidate meet and greets. Wow! Never in the 25 years I’ve lived in Idaho has there been such a great selection of candidates wanting to return Idaho to the wonderful place it’s been. Maybe it’s time to bring in new blood. Secretary of State, Attorney General, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, all these positions have new good blood running for office like Janice McGeachin, Dorothy Moon, Raul Labrador and Priscilla Giddings. These candidates bring back hope that Idaho can take advantage of the natural resources of Idaho, protect our water rights and curb taxation.
So, May 17, vote for Idaho. Vote to protect our state from encroachment by the government.
Paula Hunt, Nampa
Legislature
Highlights of our 2022 legislative session:
1. Added yet another abortion-restricting bill, copying Texas’ probably unconstitutional one.
2. Voted against making contraception available in six-month increments.
3. Cut library budget and threatened to hold librarians liable for “pornographic” materials in the children and teen sections of the library. Copying Florida book bans on naked mice.
4. Underfunded yet again the circuit breaker for property tax relief. Still against new development paying for itself.
5. Brought up “critical race theory” again, proving they still don’t understand what it is.
6. Tried to make voting laws more stringent, apparently thinking that Canadians were coming over the border during the pandemic to vote. No proof to offer.
7. Tried to take away the rights of parents of gender dysphoric children and the doctors who treat them.
8. Will help financially struggling Idahoans with a magnanimous increase of $20 to the food credit on taxes, beginning in 2023. Totally ignored the needs of the homeless on their doorstep.
9. Rushed through a bill to help fund all-day kindergarten at the last moment, that all agree is a “start,” as in not really good enough.
Please vote in the upcoming elections.
Lori Poublon-Ramirez, Meridian
Vote out extremists
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, the Idaho GOP makes clear and unmistakable the belief that women lack the moral, ethical and spiritual values to make their own reproductive decisions. Make no mistake, SB 1309 is about dominance and control of women, not “a right to life.”
Queer and trans women, youth of nonbinary gender identification and children generally are being targeted by limiting their access to books and information addressing issues of importance to their lives by labeling such books obscene and harmful via the appropriately numbered HB666. HB 675 would insert the state government between trans youth, parents and physicians regarding gender-affirming health care.
The continued refusal to “add the words” makes clear that the GOP believes LGBT folks do not deserve equality under law. Senate Resolution 118 targets teaching the actual history of African-Americans so snowflake whites won’t feel badly about four centuries of oppression of Black and indigenous people in America.
Idaho progressives, liberals, moderates and, yes, traditional conservatives, have all spoken out against extremism in a growing, if unofficial, coalition for rationality, equality and democracy. Now we have to vote out extremism and return control of our state to the people.
Tim Teater, Boise
Affordable housing
The dichotomy of two front-page articles on March 28 hurts my soul. One article, a chapter in a series called “Affording Boise,” addresses seniors held in the hospital while families try to find affordable, safe housing options. “There are enough family members going through this in Boise to fill Bronco Stadium.” The article immediately next to it is a gaga review of the opulence of Velma Morrison’s 14,093-square-foot mansion, including spiral staircase and12-car garage, back on the market for nearly $5 million. The gross excess of that home sharing front page news with yet another chapter of the bigger issue of affording to live in Boise (even for those of us with 30-year careers in a good job) just makes my Monday morning more depressing. Like everyone, I have no answers. It’s our culture. It’s our America. It’s front page news, and it’s so sickening.
Deb Olson, Eagle