Monthly Archives: February 2011

Sometimes I forget Boise is a small town. Heck, Idaho is a small state. Everybody seems to know everybody within a degree or three. I have been staying out east, off Warm Springs Avenue. It is a short ten minute … Continue reading →

Labor and Lazy I have never been in a union. This may make me less sympathetic or less passionate than those who have. Still, I think I understand the importance of valuing the working person and if unions are the … Continue reading →

Last Thursday I took lunch in the cafeteria. We are often entertained for meals by agencies or lobbying groups that provide a spread and make a pitch. But this day I wanted to just sit for a bit. Coming into … Continue reading →

A veteran colleague on the Health and Welfare Committee tells the story of setting regulations for Day Cares about 8-10 years ago. He refers to the process as the “Day Care Wars”.  Strong feelings and passionate testimony surrounded the details … Continue reading →

Not Fraud On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I go from the Commerce and Human Resource Committee to the Health and Welfare Committee. It is rare I can see an overlap, but maybe I was looking for it this day. The … Continue reading →

 The Health and Welfare Department has undertaken an extensive two-year redesign of how they deliver services to children with disabilities. There were two main objectives of the changes. First, the new system was to have capability to individualize care plans. … Continue reading →

More H&W Cuts I heard four hours of historic testimony Friday before last. Over 80 people spoke, almost all saying cuts to state services would negatively impact their lives. One lady, a well-dressed 70-year-old paraplegic in a wheelchair told us … Continue reading →

First Vote   For the first time on Wednesday we had bills for the third reading. That is when they are before the Senate for debate and a final vote. For some of you the arcane meandering through committee and … Continue reading →

Yesterday morning in the Agricultural Affairs Committee we heard from two commissions. These are trade organizations established under authority of the legislature, given the right to tax their members for the purpose of promoting their industry and the state of … Continue reading →