Author Archives: ddxdx

PURPA Sounds like a designer color, doesn’t it? It’s actually a federal program: Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act, and it has a big impact on the state of Idaho. Part of the joy of this job comes when I get … Continue reading →

Idaho wants citizen (read “part time”) legislators. We are paid part time and expected to live our lives in our districts when not in session.  I respect that. We have legislative session from the first Monday of the first full … Continue reading →

The clouds parted and the rain has stopped. Trees try to bud and crocuses spring forth. We are working long and hard to get bills through the session. We took a Friday noon break to get a picture of us … Continue reading →

It has been hard for me to find the heat in all the smoke surrounding this one. I expected to have an advantage understanding this, but maybe I am seeing too many subtleties. Peer review is a medical staff process … Continue reading →

I learn something new every day. Maybe those who have done this for years can see the bigger patterns, like sensing the storm when sniffing a wind shift. I am still immersed in reading each word of each bill and … Continue reading →

  We passed the “Bad Dog Bill” [SB1143] out of the Senate yesterday. I first saw it on the Agricultural Affairs Committee. The author, a veterinarian from here in Boise deserves a medal for perseverance and heroism. He donated two … Continue reading →

Leverage The Senate follows rules from a different century. I am not sure if they serve the current one. The argument that “this is how we have always done things” has never sat well with me. Still, these rules serve … Continue reading →

Church and Message I stayed in Boise last weekend to attend some state Democratic Party functions, particularly the Frank and Bethine Church Dinner. It was sunny and pleasant here and snowy on the Palouse, but I still missed my home. … Continue reading →

Sometimes irony is everywhere. We had a full agenda in Agricultural Affairs this morning. I did not expect such a hubbub over raising fees for brand inspections. But such is senate life. Brand inspections are done by state brand inspectors. … Continue reading →

I have heard this term used with respect to our federal government and the degree of debt we face as a nation. It sounds alarming. I wonder if alarm is the intent. I remember the frugal ways of my parents. … Continue reading →