The Idaho Way: How should Idaho use our $1.4 billion budget surplus for tax relief?
By Scott McIntosh, opinion editor
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Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced that the state finished the fiscal year with a $1.4 billion surplus.
Little said Idahoans can “expect more tax cuts and additional investments,” without giving many details other than “education investments will continue to top the list of his legislative and budget priorities moving forward.”
Last year, the Idaho Legislature cut personal and corporate income taxes and issued tax rebates, totaling $600 million.
Most of that money went to the wealthiest. Granted, that’s because they paid more in income taxes. Still, it’s not the best way to return tax money to those who need it most.
So here are three better ways we can use that $1.4 billion surplus: Eliminate the grocery tax, pay off school building debt and increase public education funding.
Read my full column here on why these ideas provide better tax relief.
High-speed Eagle Road
Is Eagle Road through Meridian a high-speed freeway or is it a local shopping district? Idaho Transportation Department officials are trying to have it both ways — to fatal consequence.
As Idaho Statesman reporter Rachel Spacek reported, a local family is trying to get the speed limit dropped along Eagle Road from 55 mph, which they say is dangerous and, coupled with left-turn access, contributed to the death of their 21-year-old daughter, Kess Boesch.
Eagle Road’s relatively high speed limit is coupled with a wealth of access points and left-turn and center-turn lanes, making the road more dangerous at high speeds.
Read our full editorial here on why it might be too late to make some fixes on Eagle Road, but we should apply lessons learned to other roads, such as Meridian Road and Ten Mile Road, which promise to be the next Eagle Road.
Quality Education Act
There’s a small bump in the road for Reclaim Idaho’s Quality Education Act. As James Dawson of Boise State Public Radio reported, both the attorney general and the secretary of state agree that passing Reclaim’s initiative would unintentionally reverse the tax cuts passed during this year’s legislative session. Reclaim Idaho disputes this, and said it would take the matter to court if needed. Bottom line: The attorney general’s office is probably right on this one.
Read Bryan Clark’s column here on why the Quality Education Act is still worth passing.
Fulcher’s vote against families
Last week, the U.S. House passed the Respect for Marriage Act — aimed at preserving same-sex marriage rights in the event that the Republican supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges — in a 267-157 vote. Forty-seven Republicans, including Rep. Mike Simpson, crossed party lines to back the bill. Rep. Russ Fulcher, who on the campaign trail bragged about his support for family values, opposed the bill.
If Fulcher is so in favor of families, why did he vote against this pro-family bill, asks Bryan Clark.
Discrimination against women
Thirty years after the Women’s Business Ownership Act, women still face discrimination, writes Amanda Watson, president and founder of Atlas Strategic Communications.
Still no tipping point for Idaho’s lawmakers
One would think that the killing of both parents of a 2-year-old boy, now an orphan, from the mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, would be a tipping point for America against gun violence. But there’s no sign of caring from Idaho’s federal lawmakers, writes Bob Kustra.
Born-again American
NPR’s decision to skip the reading of the Declaration of Independence and instead provide an in-depth discussion about the meaning of freedom and equality in America and where our country has fallen short led guest writer Keith Thompson to double down on his study of the Declaration, the U.S. Constitution and U.S. history. Read his guest opinion here.
I’m listening
Send me your story ideas, news tips, questions, comments, or anything else on your mind. You can reach me via email at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com.
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What you’re saying
This week, we received letters to the editor reacting to the Idaho Republican Party convention, consequences of abortion law and limits to the Second Amendment. You can read these and more letters by clicking here.
You can submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion by clicking here.
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