AMENDMENTS: On ballots prematurely

I live in a home for old people. I recently sent for my absentee ballot and upon its arrival, immediately sat down to read it. There were four amendments to the Idaho constitution. I read them four times and it sounded great for taxpayers, but something was bothering me. My daughter came to visit me later and I had her read them. She covered the material four times, but was also bothered.

Then we discovered what it was. SJR 101, about education, sounds like it might give alien students the same education privileges as American-born students.

HJR 4, about health care, states in the last four lines, "as subdivisions of the state of Idaho have limited ability to incur debt without the approval of a two-thirds vote at an election held for that purpose."

HJR 5, about our airports, states in the last paragraph, "without a two-thirds vote at an election held for that purpose."

HJR 7, about our electrical system, in the last three lines states, "without voter approval."

That doesn't sound too threatening, but it includes buying, selling, building, and acquiring technology and real property, and affects fees, charges, rents, payments, grants, and also affects school tuition and student fees.

From past experience, would we be buying and selling to America or foreign countries, or our enemies? Are they changing the constitutions of all 50 states? Do we need to notify friends and families in other states? I believe these amendments need a little more discussion and questioning before votes are cast. If I had only read them once, like we used to do at the voting booth, I probably would have voted for all four, to keep from raising taxes. Now I'm rethinking and I'll bet you can guess how I'm voting.

JEAN HEDGES HALL

Coeur d'Alene