The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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In this month's off-year general election, there's one thing Idaho and Washington had in common - voter turnout was dismal. But there's more to the story: Idaho holds its elections in person, while Washington is entirely vote by mail. And, once again, we've learned that vote by mail does little to increase voter turnout. When all is said and done, it appears voter turnout in Idaho will be roughly 30 percent. Clearwater county earned top marks with nearly 52 percent turnout....
There's a reason it comes first. Article One, Section One of the U.S. Constitution says, "all legislative powers shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." State Constitutions follow a similar path, vesting first powers in the people via their elected representatives – before anything or anyone else. Policymaking is the exclusive prerogative of the legislative branch of our government. But over the past few decades, a virus of executive overreach and lawmaking f...
Raising the minimum wage is one of the many policy ideas peppered with tradeoffs, but one of the few that have such a direct impact on businesses and employees alike. Lawmakers in Idaho and Montana have introduced legislation intended to raise the minimum wage. The legislation in Idaho has been introduced by Rep. Steve Berch. House Bill 48 would repeal a prohibition on local governments setting their own minimum wage. Meantime in Montana, House Bill 201 introduced by Rep....
