The inaction and distraction of Idaho’s Legislature

In 2018, I wondered why we were spending so much of our time working on problems facing Idaho rather than enjoying our own lives. My sister said, "Because we are doing the work the government is not doing."

Inaction and distraction by the Legislature force us to resort to citizen initiatives to get critical things done.

We have Medicaid expansion because of a citizens' initiative. More school funding was on the way in last year's citizens initiative, except that the governor promised school funding, and then, after we withdrew the initiative, he broke his promise. The Legislature even passed legislation aimed at making citizen initiatives impossible!

Legislators are attacking individual rights and meddling in family business. Prime examples are the right to read in our libraries and legislators forcing the closure of an entire department in our hospital and driving doctors out of Idaho.

These moves are distractions from what Idahoans need and want, using up time and money, and expanding the power of state government. By offering circuses without bread, they cover up inaction on the part of too many of our elected officials.

Something's got to give, and we are the ones who have to make it give.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle