Jim Jones
See the latest column from Jim Jones here!
OPINION: Extremist GOP legislators are at it again, attacking our public libraries
The claim that Idaho librarians are dispensing pornography and other harmful materials to kids fell flat last ye...
OPINION: Weaponizing government against transgender kids and their doctors
Idaho’s legislative culture warriors are at it again, weaponizing the government against families with transgender kids and criminalizing their doctors. Hous...
OPINION: The Idaho House has voted in favor of sticking its head in the sand
The Idaho Legislature took a bold step to improve the efficiency of state government in 1994. Tired of being blindsided by poorly performing programs, the Le...
OPINION: What an Idaho school funding lawsuit might look like
It is not inevitable that the Idaho Legislature will invite a school funding lawsuit, but legislators appear at the present time to be heading toward provoki...
OPINION: A disheartening preview of coming attractions at the Statehouse theater
Based upon a preview of the coming attractions that will play at the Idaho Statehouse this legislative session, it appears there will be an excess of needles...
OPINION: Cure for Idaho’s extremist politics is reform of our election process
As another session of the Idaho Legislature cranks up, Idahoans shudder at the prospect of more needless political discord and legislative shenanigans. Inste...
OPINION: What’s with the Mountain States Policy Center big-spending plan? Part 2
The Mountain States Policy Center, which bills itself as a “free-market-oriented think tank,” has been promoting what it calls a “school choice” plan. The wo...
OPINION: Labrador encounters conflict of interest situations as he takes office
It did not take long for newly elected Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador to be confronted by two troubling conflict of interest situations. He mishandled ...
OPINION: What's with the Mountain States Policy Center? Part 1
The Mountain States Policy Center recently burst upon the political scene in Idaho with 10 policy recommendations for the legislatures of Idaho, Washington, ...
OPINION: An Idaho Attorney General transition that courts danger
As far back as I can remember, transitions in the Idaho Attorney General’s office have been rather seamless and non-political. The manner in which I took ove...
OPINION: Will Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde control the soul of Idaho’s Republican Party?
The serious split in the personality of the present-day GOP in Idaho was demonstrated in two articles that recently appeared in the media. The Kootenai Count...
OPINION: Idaho owes a debt of gratitude to its longest-serving Attorney General
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden will be stepping down at the end of the year, after providing 33 years of dedicated service in the AG’s office. I hire...
OPINION: Idaho must once again send the hate mongers packing
Hate and bigotry often lurk just beneath the surface of civil societies. So long as a society is united in disapproving of hateful words and actions, those e...
OPINION: Can we improve public education by subsidizing private education?
The president and CEO of Mountain States Policy Center, which styles itself as an “independent, free market think tank,” recently floated a thought piece on ...
OPINION: Supreme Court strikes out its own team ahead of the 2022 elections
The Supreme Court doomed the Republican Party’s chances in the Nov. 8 election when it issued its abortion decision last June.