Legal-Courts
Topic For Legislative Discussion
The issue of tax-exempt status for non-profit organizations has raised its head once again with the J.R. Simplot Foundation challenging a property tax bill on JUMP during the construction phase. The STATESMAN provided a detailed look at the property tax issue. Private hospitals like St. Als and St. Luke’s pay top staffers huge salaries and […]
Corporate Welfare Costly To Idahoans
Corporate monsters gobbling up local businesses like the Pac Man monsters was easy to understand when the K-Mart, Wal Mart, and Home Depots ran the neighborhood hardware and local clothing stores out of business. When the cities and states created “economic development” departments and urban renewal agencies the equation became cloudier, but no less devastating. […]
NFL Rules Demand Honoring Anthem (Maybe)
Football is a game of rules. For instance if a ball carrier’s knee touches the ground, play stops at that point. Well…the GUARDIAN’s chief legal counsel examined the NFL Football League rules and came up with a rule on pages A62-63 of the official NFL rule book: “the National Anthem must be played prior to […]
Sen. Crapo Endorses Switchblade Knives
Interesting what you can get with a plaque and award when it comes to switchblade knives. This story has all sorts of “cutting edge” elements sprinkled with references about not being the “sharpest knife in the drawer.” The following press release is a great example of how to spin descriptions and prey upon conservative values, […]
God Bless America AND Aerial Fireworks
Disclaimer: The following is NOT the opinion of the GUARDIAN. We accept opinions from all sides of issues. A guest opinion from TROY of Boise And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er […]
Alto Via Court Turns Into Ghetto
Abandoned foothills homes on Alto Via Court have attracted so many criminals the area is now like an inner city ghetto, rife with vandals and drug users. Several high-end homes have been destroyed by shifting ground. Boise coppers have been kept busy making arrests the past few days in the area. Here is their press […]
AG Sheds Light On Fireworks Opinion
At the request of State Rep. MAtt Erpelding, the office of Idaho Attorney General issued a legal OPINION about fireworks which was released to the media by Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan, a strong opponent of aerial fireworks. Today Attorney General Lawrence Wasden released the following “clarification:” “There’s been a considerable amount of confusion regarding […]
Legal Bills Continue To Mount For Ada Taxpayers
A 4th District Court Judge has issued a scathing order chastising Ada Commishes Jim Tibbs and Dave Case for their part in firing Rich Wright, former administrator for the county. A jury unanimously awarded Wright $1.6 million for his claims plus the attorney fees bring the total to be paid by the citizens to $2.46 […]
“Gowen Strong” Is Private Non-Profit Using City Staff In Violation Of “Public Purpose Doctrine,” Ethics Conflict Waived
UPDATE 5/9/17 A GUARDIAN reader sought more information from the Boise City Ethics Commission. To our surprise they had already considered the facts and here is a summary: QUESTION: May the Airport director form a non-profit and sit on its Board of Directors? OPINION: The Airport director may form the non-profit and sit on its […]
Trump And Bieter Admins Offer Similarities
President Donald Trump’s attempt to distance himself from business endeavors while claiming no conflicts of interest sound familiar when one looks at Boise City. The “swamp” is bigger than Washington, D.C. Derick O’Neill has been running Team Dave’s development services department for about five years. We had some concerns about the city buying land from […]
Boise Trains Not Tracking Well In Boston
Back in 2008 Boise’s Mayor Dave Bieter and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo were “allll aboard” using their political clout to force the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to purchase commuter locomotives from Motive Power. Turns out it is difficult to get the trains to leave the station with the faulty Boise-built engines. Here in-part is […]
Political Decisions Costly To Taxpayers
Tuesday was a costly day for Ada County taxpayers. Democracy is a neat concept, but it isn’t free. The school bond elections were well run political campaigns and despite claims to the contrary, taxes will go up. The RATE may not increase, but the $172 million for school facilities doesn’t just appear by magic. While […]
F-35 Noise Issues Fall On Deaf ears
Gov. Butch Otter, with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter standing alongside, signed a bill Tuesday that will authorize expenditure of $100,000 in taxpayer funds to lobby on behalf of basing the admittedly noisy F-35 fighter in Boise. Stars & Stripes, the military newspaper in Japan, recently reported a Japanese court has awarded residents near Kadena AF […]
When the Insane Manage The Asylum…
EDITOR NOTE: PLEASE, NO POLITICALLY INCORRECT COMMENTS The office of Senator Mike Crapo sent out a press release today which defies reason. In short, his proposal will make it easier for people to get guns who are so mentally incompetent they need a third party to manage their Social Security affairs. Here is the entirety […]
Iowa Suit Claims Multi-State Lottery Was Rigged
Officials at Idaho’s lottery told the GUARDIAN Thursday “the Idaho Lottery is aware of the circumstances regarding Eddie Tipton and the Hot Lotto game. Eddie Tipton was not paid the prize. He was caught. The process worked.” The multi-State Lottery Association’s former security director, Eddie Tipton, is charged with installing software on lotteries’ random number […]
2017 Resolutions Unchanged From 2016.
The new year resolution list hasn’t changed, so we will gladly post anything you wish to add. The GUARDIAN promises to at least try to have a more positive attitude during the coming year. One step in that direction would be fulfilling the following list of New Year’s resolutions: –Boise city council will abandon any […]
Caution Advised On Airport Easements
GUEST OPINION BY Monty Mericle Our Boise City elected officials are playing a dangerous game trying to both encourage Boise Airport expansion while at the same time approving massive new subdivision development just south and west of the airport. The airport expansion includes bringing in F-15 and F-35 fighter jets that are 8 to 16 […]
State Sells Tax-Exempt Businesses, Locals Regain $300,000 Annual Lost Revenues
At a public auction Friday the Idaho Land Board sold state-owned commercial real estate holdings in the Boise area valued at $17.3 million. Apart from the ethical issue of competing with private enterprise in tax-exempt government own structures, The GUARDIAN was concerned about the loss of local tax revenues. At the current combined rate for […]
AG Spokesman On Wrong Side Of Snake
Todd Dvorak, former Idaho bureau chief for the Associated Press and spokesman for Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, found himself on the wrong side of the Snake River at Lewiston recently. He was arrested by local coppers and charged with possession of marijuana–legal across the river in Washington, but still a crime in Idaho. He has […]
GBAD Brags About Denying Citizens Right To Vote
By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor When the Greater Boise Auditorium District came up with its convoluted plan to expand the Boise Centre convention center without obtaining voter approval for their debt plan, I asked the board to hold an election as the Idaho Constitution requires. The board refused my request, so I sued them. With […]
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