Idaho’s Legislature, being more than 80 percent Republican, sure did struggle a lot to pass conservative legislation in the just-concluded 2020 legislative session. And don’t blame viruses; the dearth of pro-liberty, limited government legislation was the rule well before COVID-19 got in the way.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
In 1942, Idaho voters thought they were getting a pretty good deal. A proposal, in the form of a citizen initiative, was for every senior citizen to be granted a pension, funded at taxpayer expense. Idaho voters were clearly enamored with the idea. They voted 68 percent in favor of …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
The U.S. Supreme Court should announce its ruling soon on the constitutionality of the government takeover of health care. It’s no secret that I hope the court will throw out the whole law. Its requirement that everyone buy health insurance is just one outrage. There are many other outrages, including …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
For the last several years, advocates for higher sin taxes have tried to cajole the Idaho Legislature into raising the tax on cigarettes, arguing that such increases are wildly popular with the electorate. It’s the ploy that the American Cancer Society tried with the Legislature last winter.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
The failed multimillion dollar campaign to boot Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker from office is on its way to Idaho. We don’t know what form it will take, but you can imagine that some of the messages tried in Wisconsin will also be attempted here—all in an effort to return Idaho’s …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
In some respects, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s decision to ban big sodas is somewhat better than Idaho’s decision to ban Five Wives Vodka from sale in Idaho.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Mattel makes a line of Barbie dolls under the moniker of “I can be …” in which Barbie shows she can be in any profession she wants: doctor, a teacher, a computer tech and a variety of other occupations. Ah, but Barbie has never had to confront an occupational licensing …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
One of the more curious legacies of the 2012 legislative session will likely be Senate Bill 1274, the bill to ban texting while driving. The bill passed the Senate 29-6 and the House 53-17. The bill is awaiting Gov. Butch Otter’s signature.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
It’s been a long wait for Mike and Chantelle Sackett, but they finally beat back the federal government. In 2005, the couple from Priest Lake bought less than an acre of property intending to build a three-bedroom family home. When they began construction, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency served the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
