SENATE: Bad news bearers

Well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news...

The bad news is that our U.S. Senate is showing itself to be derelict in its duty to fill the recently vacated place on the Supreme Court. (Well, this isn’t really news because our Congress has been derelict in so many of its various duties for the past eight years.)

President Obama’s naming of Merrick Garland as his nominee for the Supreme Court is being treated by the Senate Republicans as just another frequent opportunity for them to place their party above their country. Their so-called “principles” reach no higher than the Republican National Committee — the Constitution be damned. Unfortunately, at least one of our Idaho senators, Mike Crapo, has shown himself to be one of those derelicts.

The good news is that we will have an opportunity in November to remove Mr. Crapo from his seat and replace him with someone who is more willing to follow the U.S. Constitution and truly represent the citizens of Idaho in the U.S. Senate.

JOSEPH LYKINS

Coeur d’Alene