Idaho Lt. Gov. skips committee meeting on education funding, despite call for urgency
By Scott McIntosh, Opinion editor
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On Aug. 19, Idaho Lt. Gov. Jancie McGeachin issued a statement seeking urgency in helping Idaho’s schools struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Four weeks later, McGeachin got her chance to help “more than 300,000 K-12 students whose education and futures hang in the balance,” as she wrote in her statement Aug. 19. “I strongly encourage the Governor and Legislative Leadership not to delay acting on this matter.”
Gov. Brad Little had announced that the Trump administration had just given states authority to put additional CARES Act dollars into schools, and he was recommending plowing $99 million back into Idaho’s K-12 public education funding, roughly the same amount that was cut when the pandemic began.
All that was left was for the state’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee, on which McGeachin sits, to give its stamp of approval on Tuesday. That action was widely anticipated, practically a done deal.
Just before the meeting started, though, with 13 of 16 members present, McGeachin sent an email saying she couldn’t make it and wanted the committee to delay voting on it.
Earlier in the day, McGeachin had tweeted a photo of herself in a convertible announcing she was driving to Stanley to see Donald Trump Jr., who was holding a fundraiser that evening.
State Street Demonstration for American Values
So I got to have some fun this week.
I’ve been meaning to get out to this demonstration I had been hearing about for several weeks, called the “State Street Demonstration for American Values.” Apparently, they’ve been demonstrating every day at noon, seven days a week, for the past several weeks on State Street behind the state Capitol between Sixth and Seventh streets.
It was a fun assignment because, first, I was able to get out of my home office and talk to some people face to face instead of by Zoom call, Google Meet or phone. Second, this was a decidedly fun group, all upbeat, positive people.
Third, I got to see Gary Multanen again. Multanen is the now-retired CEO and founder of Bestbath, a maker of walk-in shower and bath systems, now based in Caldwell. I’ve known Gary since 2007, when he was working on moving his company from Boise to Kuna. I won’t get into those details, which could be a book by itself. Suffice it to say that I have long admired Gary and the way he conducts himself (even if he and I have gotten into it from time to time).
Little did I know that he was one of the main organizers of the State Street demonstration. There he was, happy to give me a tour of the demonstration and to introduce me to some of the participants.
How does Congress work?
Not very well, according to someone who’s been there, done that. And his reason may surprise you. It surprised me.
Former congressmen Raul Labrador and Larry LaRocco participated in the first of a four-part series of live, online conversations about the functions of government. The Idaho Statesman is partnering with Boise Young Professionals on its b|voting program, which encourages young professionals to engage in local politics.
This year, b|voting is focusing on county, state and federal government by hearing from former elected officials dedicated to the greater Treasure Valley.
Mat Erpelding, Boise Metro Chamber’s vice president of government and community relations, and I are co-hosting the discussions, which are free to watch and available on our social media platforms.
The first one, on Tuesday, talked about federal government.
Labrador said during the conversation that top-down leadership puts too much constraint on members, leading to hyperpartisanship and gridlock. Gridlock is not necessarily a bad thing, but Labrador said leadership — of both parties — discourages any sort of cooperation across the aisle.
You can watch a replay of the hourlong forum here. Lots of interesting behind-the-scenes details from two guys who have seen a lot.
The next conversation is Tuesday with state legislators Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, and Rep. Robert Anderst, R-Nampa. You can watch that conversation here.
The final two in the series address Ada County Commission and the Ada County Highway District.
Renters face long-term challenges
This week, we heard from Peg Richards, who is the president of the Boise City/Ada County Homeless Coalition, who is urging Congress to pass long-term rental assistance for people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. A federal moratorium is helpful in the short term, but these folks are still going to need help once the moratorium expires, she writes.
What you’re saying
This week, I received letters to the editor about Idaho’s education science standards, voting by mail, the Idaho Central Credit Union building proposal and, of course, Trump. You can read those letters and more by clicking here.
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