Comments on: Crapo Seeks Law To Increase Local Debt Load, Tax Burden

By: dog

dog — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:08:26 +0000

All Mr. Crapo has to do to get re-elected in Idaho is say the other guy will take your guns. What a state!

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:33:15 +0000

The Democrats tax and spend the Republicans borrow and spend. We all get stuck for the poor decisions these elected rascals make.

Time for Crapo to get another job lower on the totem pole of having to actually pay for these goofy decisions.

Reality is us Idahonians will reelect him so he can do more of the same.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Sat, 15 May 2010 06:04:47 +0000

“Pocketing unspent cash”?? I hope none of our finest have done this… so happy we’ve got Nancy looking out for us. LOL
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703950804575242751142413016.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_RIGHTInDepthCarousel

By: grumpy ole guy

grumpy ole guy — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:20:02 +0000

Lex, why does a simple majority work in other states if 2/3 is so wise? I would not mind voting more often on more tax increase proposals, since those elected to office don’t seem to have the fortitude to tackle tax issues. Perhaps the voters could, in fact, make the decisions. I don’t think that lessening a democratic vote protects us from anything.

EDITOR NOTE– Grumpy, I oppose a feudal system in which only property owners are allowed to vote. However, in Ada county about HALF of all the assessed property value has NO REPRESENTATION (commercial property like the mall, downtown towers, etc. as well as land owned by non-residents of Ada). In Valley county the vast MAJORITY of parcels are owned by non-residents (mostly cabins). The 2/3 is a legitimate safeguard to prevent 100 voters imposing taxes upon 6,000 land owners….representation WITHOUT taxation is safeguarded with a 2/3 vote.

In the private sector, banks can require a 10% or 20% down payment to sort out bad loan applicants. The 2/3 does much the same thing in sorting out ill-conceived public projects to be funded by those who can’t vote. Good bond proposals are passed all the time.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:09:50 +0000

2 Terms? Vote the Bums out!

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:58:48 +0000

Bikeboy, in addition to term limits, we need public financing of election campaigns.

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:22:42 +0000

grumpy….if you allow a simple majority then yout taxes will likely double and you will see everything from convention centers to swimming pools at every election. The founding fathers knew what they were doing when they set the rule at 66.6%. I thank them for protecting us.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:11:03 +0000

RE Senator Crapo:

I like the guy, and have voted for him. But I believe he’s right on the edge of transitioning from “citizen legislator” to “career politician.”

One might argue that the seniority system in D.C. is set up to give career politicians the real power. Which is true. That’s why I’d support TERM LIMITS! (Way too many of them have “been in DC too long.”)

RE Voter Approval of Expenditures:

I like it just the way it is. Granted, a 2/3 majority is a high hurdle… but that’s 2/3 of the people who choose to vote. Those who are “involved” are the ones who vote, and that super-majority has worked for a long time. Bond elections for school improvements, purchase of foothills land, etc., etc., DO get the thumbs-up regularly.

By: grumpy ole guy

grumpy ole guy — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:10:28 +0000

I think that the 2/3 majority requirement is too high and would favor it being made a simple majority, just as in electing officials into office. But these proposed constitutional amendments are little more than attempted end-runs around the will of the people as expressed in a free and fair election. I believe that the proposed Federal measure is also an attempt to get around an informed electorate making the necessary decision regarding the people’s business and will. Those people who believe that the electorate is not well enough informed to make such decisions seem to forget that it is the same electorate which puts the “winners” into office. Certainly there are uninformed voters in every election, but that is not the fault of the process.

BTW – love the duck story!

By: Simon Says

Simon Says — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:24:37 +0000

Not sure this is the time or place but just wanted to say thanks for the blog. I don’t always agree with you but I do think you are a much needed local voice and a gadfly in the oitment of business as usual. Thanks for the effort and keep up the good work.

EDITOR NOTE– We can always make room for nice words like yours!