TOWN HALL: Didn’t address the real issues

Forget the gospel fidelity checklists — there’s a Daffy and Porky flick at Riverstone, but the real Looney Tunes were at the old Showboat. Ten legislators, two hours, and pre-screened questions. Joy.

Idaho faces real challenges. Kitchen table stuff: Our public schools are underfunded, over half of Idaho renters are cost-burdened, wages are flat, housing costs are up, and the abortion ban is driving doctors out of the state. You’d think those issues might get some airtime. Nope.

Did they talk about restoring enrollment-based school funding? Nope. Instead, they passed a voucher scheme that siphons public dollars into private schools (oh, but don’t worry, they’ve got cursive proficiency handled). Did they address the housing crisis? Nope. But they did propose selling off our public lands to the highest bidder. Did they have any serious plan to address the provider exodus caused by our abortion ban? Nope. But they did try to repeal the Medicaid expansion (again!) and they gave ample time to … chemtrails? Did they raise wages? Of course not. Instead, they banned SNAP recipients from buying Coca-Cola. Coeur d’Alene’s finest Ben Toews called the Coca-Cola ban “a significant solution to a serious problem.” Is that what passes for governance now?

This is what one-party rule gets you: culture war distractions while Idahoans fall behind. Here’s a “radical” idea: independent-minded leaders with real plans for schools, housing, wages and health care. Actual fixes to real problems. Maybe that person’s reading the Press right now. We sure could use you. We need to reclaim our state from these special interest looney tunes.

That’s all, folks.

Your Cd’A man yelling at (metaphorical) clouds,

JIMMY ROBNETT

Coeur d’Alene