Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

A chance for education

Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2014, at 8:23 AM

It didn't quite approach the level of dancing in the street, but state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's announcement Monday that he wouldn't be seeking election was greeted with great joy in many quarters, especially those involving school administrations and teachers.

Currently, there are two candidates who had already planned to run against Luna, both of whom would bring a breath of fresh air to the position. Luna, after all, never really liked public education and the programs and budgets he pushed through the legislature clearly reflected that. One newspaper in a conservative area of eastern Idaho called him the worst superintendent in the history of the state.

Both of the candidates who are already positioned to run are supporters of public education.

One is Democrat Jana Jones, a former teacher and director of Gov. Ceil Andrus' Office of Children. She also served as chief deputy to two-term Superintendent of Public Instruction Marilyn Howard. She's smart and engaging.

Unfortunately, she's also a Democrat and while this is one of the few statewide races that Democrats could actually win, you can bet the state party won't fund this race adequately, preferring to pour its treasure into a doomed attempt to get some unknown to challenge highly popular Gov. Butch Otter. So, while qualified, the odds are against her to win.

The other candidate is Republican Randy Jensen, who originally intended to battle Luna in the primary. At first glance, Jensen looks like an excellent choice.

A long-time educator in the American Falls schools, he's a former national Principle of the Year. And in his initial announcements, he talked about the need to support local educators and school boards, not dictate to them, which is largely what has happened during the Luna administration.

Policies that return funding flexibility and local control to local school boards are welcome at any time.

As a Republican, he naturally has a good chance to win in Idaho.

In either case, for the first time in a long time, Idaho voters may have a choice to elect candidates who actually believe in public education -- and that alone is a refreshing change for the better.

-- Kelly Everitt

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You can almost feel the hate Kelly is harboring inside....

-- Posted by Trouble2011 on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 3:05 PM
I could care less about Luna one way or the other but he is still another human. I bet he cheared when his tires were slashed and his family was terrorized in his home a few years ago. That is the trouble it doesn't sound like relief but hate to a neutral party.

-- Posted by Trouble2011 on Mon, Feb 3, 2014, at 9:20 AM

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