Idaho Politics Weekly newsletter - August 5, 2019

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Idaho Politics Weekly Newsletter

Monday, August 5, 2019

Your one-stop source for Idaho political, government and public policy information, presented by Zions Bank. Subscribeto have our weekly e-newsletter delivered to your in-box each Monday morning.

This Week In Idaho Politics

Idaho delegation splits on budget votes
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
When President Trump asks Republicans for a vote on something, Sen. Jim Risch normally offers his support. But when it comes to the budget well, that's another story.Risch was one of 28 Senators opposing the bipartisan budget bill backed by Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Call it the "Miracle on Pennsylvania Avenue," since Trump and Pelosi can't agree on the color of grass. But they managed to join forces on a two-year budget package that will end the drama, or threats, of government shutdowns.

Idaho GOP needs to focus on younger voters
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly Contributor
Ronald Reagan's run for president in 1980 is what drew me into politics at age 15. His message of reinvigorating our economy and rebuilding our military resonated with many young people. The Republican party I knew then was filled with young activists who believed in free markets and free trade, entrepreneurship and a strong, activist foreign policy designed to spread democratic institutions and defeat tyranny abroad.

A new Idaho model on forest and rangeland management
By Stephen Hartgen
Idaho officials and U.S. Forest Service land managers are quietly working on an expanded land management approach that could help revitalize some of Idaho's remote rural communities' economies and add additional protections for recreational users, resort areas and expanding homes in those regions.The projects have mostly been beneath the public radar, but recently Idaho and federal officials identified some 6,700 square miles of land within the state as good candidates for landscape-sized efforts to thin dense timber, improve access, reduce fire threats to nearby towns and protect the human/forest lands interface.

Risch & Crapo must protect America's elections
By Jim Jones
The Senate Intelligence Committee released a bi-partisan report on July 25 that should curl the hair of every patriotic American. The committee, chaired by Senator Burr, a North Carolina Republican, determined that Russia targeted the election systems of every one of our 50 states in the 2016 presidential election.The committee report documented "an unprecedented level of activity against state election infrastructure." The report reinforced dire warnings from the U.S. intelligence community, the FBI director, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller that the Russians are presently gearing up for an attack on our 2020 elections.

Guest opinion: U.S. Senate is working to end robocall scams
By Sen. Mike Crapo
Nearly everyone has received those calls in the middle of dinner, in the middle of getting kids to sleep, or in the middle of trying to finish a project. We stop what we are doing. We hurry to answer the phone only to hear a long pause followed by an automated voice trying to defraud us of our money. The calls are beyond annoying. They are invasive and can be financially destructive. Legislation I am backing would help end what are known as robocall scams.

Guest opinion: Idaho lawmakers working year-round for you
By Representatives Laurie Lickley, Clark Kauffman, Linda Wright-Hartgen, & Lance Clow
Being an Idaho legislator is not a full-time job: it's more than that. This Idaho Legislature convened Jan. 7 and adjourned sine die on April 11. The session lasted 95 days -- the third longest session in history. But, that was only part of our job working for the people of this state.What happens after sine die? While some of us are retired, many of us have a day job we return to, but that doesn't mean our legislative work stops. We take the wheat tours and the mine tours, the Medicaid Expansion meetings and the Education Task Force meetings. We have conversations about water challenges, early childhood exchanges, and Supreme Court Rulings.

Guest opinion: What you should know about Hepatitis A
By Dr. Kevin Cleveland
Some would say we live in an age of technological enlightenment because we have instant access to volumes of information at the tips of our fingers. I remember not too long ago that it would take days to read through stacks of books and Encyclopedia Britannica, the grandfather Wikipedia, to obtain enough information on any topic. However, the price of our technological world is the amount of misinformation that can be found.

Press release: Idaho Travel Council announces grant awards
By Editor
During its meeting held in Twin Falls last week, the Idaho Travel Council (ITC) granted $6,141,270 in tourism marketing funding to non-profit organizations through the Idaho Regional Travel and Convention Grant Program.Eligible award recipients include non-profit local and regional tourism development organizations such as chambers of commerce and convention and visitors bureaus. The organizations use their awarded grant dollars to promote cities, towns and regions of the state as travel destinations. Program elements are varied, but often include print and digital advertising, videography, brochures, attendance at travel shows, public relations, direct mail, industry research, and the creation of websites.

Political news notes: Idaho Speaks tour . . . Kauffman elected to CSG post
By Editor
Packed house in Coeur d'Alene for town hall on citizen initiative rights. Stop No. 3 on Reclaim Idaho's #Idaho Speaks Town Hall series drew a packed crowd at the Coeur d'Alene Library where close to 140 people turned out to debate Idaho's citizen initiative rights. The event featured all three state legislators from District 4, Sen. Mary Souza and Representatives Paul Amador and Jim Addis, as well as former Idaho State Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones. Senator Jim Woodward of District 1 (Sandpoint) also attended.

Labrador will build bridges, not walls, with GOP
By Chuck Malloy, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
Chuck MalloyJudging by some of the statewide political commentaries that rail against Republicans, one might get the impression that Idaho is a legitimate two-party state and a toss-up in any presidential election.

Danger ahead on Idaho Medicaid expansion?
By Steve Taggart, Idaho Politics Weekly contributor
I am a fan of Netflix's reimagining of the old television show 'Lost in Space'. The robot is famous for the phrase: "Danger, Will Robinson!" That means some threat is imminent.

Should government interfere in family care decisions?
By Jim Jones
Jim JonesDee Childers and her two sisters love their Dad and want to make sure he has the best care possible. As he descended into dementia, needing more intensive care, they became his legal guardians and found a good quality residential facility where he could live out his final years in safety and dignity.

Political Calendar Highlights

See our full political calendar.

Meridian Chamber Luncheon Speaker Series
When: Tuesday, Aug 6, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Galaxy Event Center (at Wahooz Family Fun Zone), 1385 S Blue Marlin Lane Meridian, ID
Join your Meridian Chamber of Commerce for our monthly speaker series luncheon sponsored by Treasure Valley Hearing. More info.

Idaho Falls Chamber Out of the Box Lunch
When: Tuesday, Aug 6, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Pinecrest Event Center, North Ballroom, 560 E. Anderson, Idaho Falls, ID
This is your opportunity to build your professional network and learn more about businesses in the community. Door prizes, introductions, and other interactions will make this a casual, fun opportunity to meet others and build your professional network. More info.

Kootenai Democrats Progressive Diners Monthly Meeting
When: Wednesday, Aug 7, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Seasons Of Coeur d'Alene
Progressive Diners meets the first Wednesday of each month for dinner and lively discussion of a topic of interest that is presented by a speaker. Please RSVP to Steve Moss.

To submit events to the Idaho Politics Weekly calendar please use our contact form here.