EDITORIAL: Idaho Launch deserves booster rockets

Did you know that the Idaho Department of Labor and the Idaho Workforce Development Council are part of a socialistic cabal?

It’s true — if you believe a small but loud legislative group calling itself the Idaho Freedom Caucus.

And did you know that Idaho businesses, large, medium and small, are very likely socialistic, anti-individual conspirators drooling at the prospects of fooling citizens and hoarding every possible taxpayer-provided penny?

Well, that’s true, too — if you’re willing to buy the baloney being peddled by the Idaho Freedom Caucus, a handful of legislators who look suspiciously like little soldiers marching to the drumbeat of the Idaho Freedom Foundation.

The Anti-Gov. Brad Little Caucus, which is a more accurate name, but a bit unwieldy, has come out in ferocious opposition to a program called Idaho Launch. Specifically, the governor’s proposed budget contains up to $8,500 for each Idaho high school graduate to spend on continuing their education at an Idaho state college or university, a professional/technical program in the state or an Idaho workforce training program.

Never mind that the injection of funds would improve Idaho’s anemic go-on rate. Just over one-third of Idaho high school grads are going on with their education, which is one of the big reasons so many good jobs across the state are going unfilled or qualified employees have to be imported from elsewhere.

The Idaho Labor Department is guilty by association, in the Anti-Gov. Brad Little Caucus’s bloodshot eyes, because it supplies the Idaho Workforce Development Council with data framing where today’s jobs are and where tomorrow’s jobs likely will be.

“If this program [the boost to Idaho Launch] is passed into law, the Workforce Development Council will determine what jobs are ‘in demand’ and, with no accountability, have the power to direct money to the council’s private interests,” an Idaho Freedom Caucus press release declares.

Here’s a list of members of the Workforce Development Council, which is readily available for anyone with a computer to peruse: https://bit.ly/3jE17Ze

If that looks to you like a group of self-serving socialists, we recommend you make an appointment with your optometrist soon.

On Monday, the Idaho House narrowly passed the Idaho Launch measure. Now it's on to the Senate Education Committee.

The Press encourages state senators to support the measure. This issue isn't about socialism, corporate welfare or even Brad Little. It's about helping Idaho high school graduates improve their job qualifications so they can also improve their lives.

The top 10 industries in North Idaho where job growth and opportunities are strongest, per an Idaho Workforce Development Council survey:

1) Construction

2) General business

3) Health care

4) Transportation

5) Hospitality

6) Education

7) Retail

8) Government

9) Agriculture

10) Technology