Category Archives: Idaho Politics

Wile E Coyote and Party Loyalty

Posted on January 3, 2017 by ddxdx

Loyalty is a fine quality, but in excess it fills political graveyards. Neil Kinnock It has been encouraging to get all the emails, texts, condolence cards, and even phone calls after my election loss. There have been many hands on … Continue reading →

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Abortion at the Door

Posted on December 13, 2016 by ddxdx

Some folks would never vote for me. I accepted this. A frequent comment I made: “I might get elected by 51% of the voters, but I represent 100% of the people in my district.” Thus it was hard for me … Continue reading →

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How Do You Know?

Posted on December 9, 2016 by ddxdx

Our last forum was for students at the university. We had forums in small towns, two in the city, at a Christian college, and a call-in radio session (not a one in Benewah County). Forums are not really debates; there … Continue reading →

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Losing

Posted on December 4, 2016 by ddxdx

  So I lost my bid for reelection. I worked hard, didn’t take it for granted, but still lost. I’m trying to sort out how I feel. I’ve run for public office seven times now, thrice for county coroner (four … Continue reading →

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Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse in Idaho

Posted on December 2, 2016 by ddxdx

As the Latah County Coroner for 15 years, and as a practicing family physician, I was well aware of the prescription drug abuse problem long before I came to the Idaho legislature. Over 200 Idahoans die annually from prescription drug … Continue reading →

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Fathers

Posted on June 19, 2016 by ddxdx

Our legislative leadership will sometimes schedule events to educate us or augment our skills as legislators. This last session we started with a half day mandatory meeting on civility. I guess they thought we needed the help. Early in the … Continue reading →

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Push or Pull

Posted on May 19, 2016 by ddxdx

It was August 2nd 1979 and we were about to head into a fire of incredible magnitude. But there was no smoke to be seen, just 4 or 5 helicopters in Bruce Meadows of the high central Idaho wilderness and … Continue reading →

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All Votes Count

Posted on April 16, 2016 by ddxdx

  There was a recent Opinion Piece that got me thinking. In it, Idaho House Majority Party Assistant Leader Brent Crane was cited: He offers caution to those who think Troy’s district would be better served by a Democrat, who … Continue reading →

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Tragedy and Public Policy

Posted on February 8, 2016 by ddxdx

  We had a hearing this last week to consider whether Idaho should change Medicaid eligibility so all folks in Idaho can have insurance coverage. This sometimes gets shortened to “Medicaid Expansion”. The hearing was short and mostly civil. One … Continue reading →

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Choose your Blandishment

Posted on January 22, 2016 by ddxdx

“We look to the States to defend their prerogatives by adopting the simple expedient of not yielding to federal blandishments when they do not want to embrace federal policies as their own.” Justice John Roberts in the Affordable Care Act … Continue reading →

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