Ed Morse doesn't think politicians should have special rights.

The incumbent representative in District 2B introduced or cosponsored two government reform bills this past legislative session.

"I will continue working on repealing perks for elected officials so we have a more open and equitable government," Morse said.

One bill would have repealed a law protecting state-elected officials from having their wages garnished or levied if a creditor has a judgment or if a government entity has a tax lien.

"That is the law that prevented the State of Idaho from collecting their delinquent taxes from Rep. Phil Hart, who I replaced," Morse said. The bill passed the House, 65-2 but didn't get a hearing in the Senate.

Morse cosponsored another bill to repeal elected officials' right to carry concealed weapons without a background check.

"I feel elected officials should have to go through the same process and be entitled to the same burdens that other citizens and voters are," he said. That bill also passed the House, but was killed in the Senate.

Though there may not be enough support in the Legislature to get words added to Idaho's anti-discrimination laws to add protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, Morse said "those kinds of issues probably deserve fair and open hearings."

"A lot of the cities in the state have adopted nondiscrimination ordinances," Morse said. "A lot of the rural areas and counties have not."

Morse said the law in that area is changing very quickly.

"I suspect that it's going to be slow-going at the state legislature," he said, "until we get a better idea about what protections are provided federally and what protections our constituents feel, on a statewide basis, should be legislated."

"The federal government says they will underwrite 90 percent of the cost of Medicaid Expansion, but they don't have any money," he said. "The expansion of 30,000 to maybe 60,000 is a huge cost to the state at considerable risk if there is no fixed, long-term ability of the federal government to pay that."

By waiting, he said, Idaho is able to see how other states are addressing the issue.

One alternative being eyed is expanding private insurance.

"I think it is good to look at all those alternatives rather than rush in because of the huge risk and budget implications," he said. "I'm fully aware that taxpayers subsidize the (catastrophic) fund and we have the opportunity to free up some of that money if we adopt a system that would be revenue neutral and at the same time the state does not assume a huge amount of risk and it is very difficult to find that system at the current time with all the changes that are taking place in the health insurance field."

Legislating a minimum wage is not a solution to Idaho's low-wage problem, Morse said.

"There's been one academic study done on the low-wage situation in Idaho and they found it was largely related to the low skill set of Idaho workers," he said. "We have not transitioned our economy and we have not put out highly trained, highly educated workers that command premium wages."

The problem, Morse said, is more complex than trying to legislate a wage level.

"It's a combination of economic development and workforce training," he said.

Economic development is not a simple problem, he said.

"States are competing with recruiting industry," Morse said. "In order to attract jobs, states are in competition with one another."

To compete in attracting new jobs and development, Morse said the state must have a combination of desirable factors: A good tax structure, trained workers and an attractive regulatory environment.

Profile:

Ed Morse

Born: 1950

Profession: Real estate appraiser and consultant. I hold an Idaho and Washington certified general appraiser's license, an inactive Idaho Real Estate Broker's license, and an inactive Idaho Bar license. I also have two professional designations, the MAI designation, and the CRE designation.

Education: Bachelor's of Science, University of Idaho; Master's degree in Business Administration, University of Idaho; Juris Doctor of law degree, cum laude, Gonzaga University

Public Service: 2012-present, Idaho House of Representatives, Seat 2B; Coeur d'Alene Library Foundation; Idaho Real Estate Appraiser Board; Appraisal Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation.

Resident: 41 years in county, 44 years in state.

Marital status: Married to Terri Morse.

Family: Wife, one son.

Hobbies: Fishing, gardening, hunting and boating