Author Archives: ddxdx

About ddxdx

A Family physician, former county coroner and former Idaho State Senator

Legislative End Run

Posted on February 12, 2017 by ddxdx

  Idaho voters thought it wise to place the legislative authority for administrative rule-making review into the Idaho Constitution this last November (HJR5). Now we are seeing the arrogance and hubris of the legislature in action. The recent rejection of … Continue reading →

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Idaho’s Uncounted Deficits

Posted on February 11, 2017 by ddxdx

Idaho conservatives are proud that the state runs a balanced budget and doesn’t do deficit spending like “the Feds”. But I have long maintained we do sustain deficit spending in three areas, we just don’t put these figures on the … Continue reading →

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Throwing Ideas into the Abyss

Posted on February 4, 2017 by ddxdx

  Small ideas take a lot of words; big ones need just a few. This was a small idea I stumbled upon, and the idea itself is not that important, but what happened, more so, what didn’t is the story. … Continue reading →

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Crisis Centers: What are we measuring?

Posted on January 24, 2017 by ddxdx

Crisis Centers and Mental Health: What’s the Plan? : What are we counting? Idaho has many problems in our mental health system. I have always argued that access to community behavioral health care would save money from prison budgets. There … Continue reading →

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The Idaho’s Weather in the Health Care Storm

Posted on January 19, 2017 by ddxdx

  It’s cold here on the Palouse, lots of snow on the ground and near zero temperatures. But hot politics continues with a new Congress and Chief Executive vowing to “replace and repeal” the ACA. Health care policy has always … Continue reading →

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Advice for Idaho

Posted on January 16, 2017 by ddxdx

Advice for Idaho from an Idaho Democrat: “What I stand for is what I stand on.”  Wendell Berry If you love where you live, stay put. Get to know your neighbors, your countryside, the history and the institutions. Ask yourself … Continue reading →

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Idaho Economic Development; The Back Story

Posted on January 10, 2017 by ddxdx

Senator Keough is right, small towns and rural counties in Idaho need help. Dialing in the details of the Tax Reimbursement Incentive (TRI) to suit smaller marketplaces is an appropriate move. This graph of labor force in the North Central region … Continue reading →

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Pay the Piper

Posted on January 7, 2017 by ddxdx

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) will propose a $11M expenditure to the legislature this session. The goal is to provide mental health and drug abuse services to recently released convicts who are back in the community. The … Continue reading →

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Idaho Economic Outlook, from the backseat

Posted on January 6, 2017 by ddxdx

As EORAC (The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Joint legislative Committee) starts it’s meeting for this year, I am reminded of a comment by a fellow member a few years back. EORAC is tasked with recommending a revenue projection to … Continue reading →

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Legislators Prayer for the Press

Posted on January 5, 2017 by ddxdx

May God give you the wisdom To leave out my stumbling words And just print the upright phrases That may inspire. Please God, guide the photographer Away from my bald spot and Instead let the camera capture My pure and … Continue reading →

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