I don’t know what all the rah rah rah for democracy is all about.

But shucks, I’m an Idahoistan native. I got no experience with democracy. If democracy was good for me, I’ll bet the republican dictators would give me one. Yes sir.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, Dave!

A lobbyist for the bureaucrats suggesting only the elected “representatives” have a say. (Tell me he said it with an ironic wink.)

I agree with you – the prevailing attitude is definitely “Don’t question our authority – you little people need to leave government business to us – your ‘representatives’ and our special interest groups. That’s the way we do things around here.”

Unfortunately, they’ve also insulated themselves by making the election laws highly favorable to incumbents, and eliminating term limits (as desired by a majority of Idaho citizens).

How about a term limits Constitutional Amendment? (Dream on! Yeah, I know – I’m as clueless as The Guardian about running local government.)

I wish all my fellow citizens would join me in the VTBO (Vote The Bums Out) Party! (But on the bright side, adults can now get “likkered up” on Election Day, huh? So the session wasn’t entirely fruitless.)

I’m confused. Does this have anything to do with the local option tax? I support the local option tax and in my opinion, a super-majority is too onerous of a restriction.

Hell, while we’re at it, let’s make all elections be super-majorities. Think about that for a bit. I don’t get it. A minority gave us our current President back in 2000. THE GOSH DARN PRESIDENT OF THE USA! So why can’t a simple majority decide much simpler matters of local taxation and long term indebtedness?

The attitude (of our legislators) argument some of you are making can go both ways. What if us “little people” want to get rid of the onerous super-majority obstacle? Are you the “little people” calling us the “little people,” little people?

EDITOR NOTE–No connection to local option tax. Strictly citizen oversight of debt in excess of one year worth of tax revenue.

It is VERY clear that the city, county and highway districts have convinced the legislature to buy into rhe “tax the public at every turn” or we are st chicken to be accountable for a budget” mentality.

This is really a demonstration that all we NO real conservatives at the state level. ZERO!

If this bill passes and your taxes increase 100-200% over the next 10 years then you have only yourselves to blame – and every elected offical that supported it!! BUt then it will be TOO LATE.

This bill should be called, “the tax’em to death and we don’t care” bill.

Everyone better call the statehouse and get this stopped ASAP – or don’t complain when EVERY PUBLIC agency starts asking for taxing ability – -THE VERY THING THE FOUNDERS OF OUR CONTITUTION SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good article Dave and one that we would not see in the Idaho Daily Mistaken. They did, however, put an article in prior to the hearing written by Kathleen Kreller. I was struck by one thing Chadwick was quoted as saying and that was “What’s the point of going to the voters to ask for short-term debt to get some police cars or road graders?” Chadwick said. “It doesn’t make practical sense and those elections are very expensive.”

I realize Chadwick is a paid propagandist but that has to be the most fatuous and idiotic statement in the history of propaganda. First, police cars are something that should be purchased out of the yearly revenues from things that used to be called property taxes. It would be a very lousy government indeed, and one that should be booted out in a recall, if they went into debt to purchase police cars or any other short term piece of equipment. We are not talking about an average person who finances his/her car. Government should NEVER finance short term debt. If they have to do that, the item cannot be afforded and should not be purchased.

But if they absolutely need to go into short term debt, like the schools or Boise did with the foothills levy, that mechanism exists. An override can be passed with 50% +1 for two years. Maybe someone should tell Chadwick that’s what his county clients should do if they need more police cars. But, oh wait, it would still be up for a vote.

I’m with you on this issue Dave.

Mike, the problem becomes one of:
Pick a completely un-qualified jerk from column A
or,
Pick a more un-qualified jerk from column B!
Some choice huh?

Dave, you really have to understand that Mr. Dan Chadwick is the sort of lawyer that would (do anything) to win a case should that need ever arise.

This is the very same individual that put together the infamous IDAHO COUNTIES CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION deal for Canyon County and the illegal purchase of the Jerome Farm property. A “straw man” deal for counties to circumvent the taxpayers and voters. This crooked deal went to the Idaho Supreme Court via some really ticked off Canyon County taxpayers. The county civil attorney was less than forthright to the supreme court about actual ownership of the property and did it with a stright face during oral arguments last December.

Good news is that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of standing for citizens on Article 8 section 3. Bad news is that what we call “citizen legislators” at the state level are now about to take an entire section of the Idaho Constituion away from us.

I particularly like the first sentence of this bill. It is over 500 words long. I have read this thing several times and simply do not understand what it says. How does this get past the very people we elected to represent the people? THE GOLDEN RULE.. those with the gold make the rules.

The train has left the station on this deal at the state legislature. The only hope is that when it goes for the 50% plus one vote at the polls it won’t get past the voting public.

Simply disgusting!

A constitutional amendment……give me a break. If local people want to vote to tax themselves at the local level, have at it. It’s called State’s Rights.

Just e-mailed my state senator to express my opposition to SJR106 and/or SJR107.

Also expressed (again) my opposition to HJR004, local option sales taxes. You all may remember that this is proposed by the same folks who brought us empty taxpayer subsidized busses and now want to use a local option sales tax to bring us a billion dollars worth of empty light rail cars. You just have to admire the hutzpah of those who are trying to convince us that more people in this valley makes it a better place to live!

EDITOR NOTE–Rod, the damage is done in the senate. We need to try for common sense in the HOUSE before they too pass the bad amendment.

“I agree with you – the prevailing attitude is definitely “Don’t question our authority – you little people need to leave government business to us – your ‘representatives’ and our special interest groups. That’s the way we do things around here.”

I used to live in Maine, a state as infested with progressives as Idaho is Red. In that state there is not even lip service to anything repblican in state government. As a result Maine is the highest taxed state in relation to income in the country and the economy is in the tank.

That said, I was once a member of the Portland Maine republican committee. When our fine Senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted with the dems on one of the numerous issues the local media loved, I sponsored a motion to have the committee write a sense of the committee letter to the goodd seators reminding them that they worked for us and were republicans. When I took the idea to the county I found that they were ready for me and had packed the meeting with every elected official in a 50 mile area to insure we mere peasants didn’t dare remind our demi god elected folk of their duties…