EDITORIAL: State Lawmakers: Did They Make the Grade?
By The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Below is our take on how each of the
Sen.
Co-Chairman,
Cameron heads the committee that controls the purse strings, which means he wields substantial power over state operations. The spats that dragged JFAC to a halt last year were noticeably absent in the 2014 session. It made for an efficient session that didn't drag on and cost taxpayers millions. That said, the big ticket issues, such as funding our schools and highways, went unaddressed. That's not all Cameron's fault. We were repeatedly told that the votes weren't there for any substantial reform, especially as many lawmakers readied for re-election. However, he could have pushed harder.
We were pleased that JFAC slashed the amount that will be used to fund wolf killing, from the
Cameron's performance is inexorably linked to JFAC's operation. While bigger things could have been addressed, Cameron did his duties admirably.
Sen.
Minority Leader
Stennett's role is tough to grade. She's the minority leader in a body where the majority enjoys veto-proof control.
Stennett says her job is to keep the conversation going, and we agree. So, that's how we'll judge her.
She rightly opposed Sen.
Yet, Stennett was oddly silent on Add the Words and spending state money defending
Sen.
Chairman, Transportation Committee
Brackett's session can be summed up in two words: Wolf slaying.
He carried the controversial bill that would have spent
Brackett has been pitching for years ways to boost revenue so the ailing state highways could be addressed. His current idea, a
Sen.
Chairman,
Heider was unsuccessful last year when he tried to pass meaningful reform to the largely unregulated payday lending industry. This year, he got something passed. But, even though Heider called it "the best thing since sliced bread," it was a weak, watered-down handout to the industry.
His about-face troubled us, and was exemplified by the support of payday lenders for his bill. If Heider's bill had teeth, lenders wouldn't have liked it. Other senators expressed similar concerns during the legislation's debate.
We believe Heider truly wants to do something about payday lending, which feeds on the poor's inability to access credit. But he ultimately carried a toothless bill.
We also believe that, as chairman of the
Sen.
Vice-Chairman, Commerce and Human Resource
We're honestly torn on Patrick's ag-gag. We worry about infringement of First Amendment rights and the appearance that the bill supports abusive practices. But we also agree that private business has a right to privacy and the state should step up and better monitor animal treatment. Regulation shouldn't be the job of agenda-driven animal rights organizations. The bill should have bolstered state agriculture department oversight. It didn't.
Regardless of one's opinion on the ag-gag -- and everyone seems to have one -- Patrick showed real grit when carrying the bill. But he followed his victory with a pretty nasty gaffe when he glibly called for a boycott of
Rep.
House Speaker
Speaker Bedke often says he prefers to "let the process work," meaning he allows bills to wind through the committee, get debated and have the democratic process decide their fate. It's an admirable leadership style that stands in stark contrast to his predecessor,
But Bedke's willingness to permit a free and open House leads to some embarrassment. Rep.
Yet, Bedke was instrumental in finally getting the historically ignored water issues to the front of the legislative line. He moderated standoffs between water users and championed recharging dwindling aquifers. He represents his district and the people of
We only wish he could sometimes find a middle way with his leadership style, where he respects the process while reining in the lunacy.
Rep.
Co-Chairwoman,
We could essentially say "
But Bell took it a step further this session when she openly defied the
Rep.
Chairman, Commerce and Human Resources
It was an unusually quiet session for Hartgen, who typically makes a wave or two. He was recovering from complications following a serious surgery, after all.
Hartgen's session was more about what he didn't do this year. In the past, he's taken shots at the media -- newspapers, in particular -- by proposing crackdown legislation, such as a bill that would have required papers to release the identities of commenters on their websites. None of that was to be had this year from the former newspaper editor and publisher.
Hartgen's biggest moment this session was when he killed legislation that would have permitted longtime firefighters to automatically claim cancer treatment under workers' compensation insurance. Hartgen's move irked the
The Times-News Editorial Board went back and forth about the merits of the firefighter insurance bill. A lot of variables contribute to the development of cancer. But one's work can certainly boost the odds of developing the disease.
Either way, we're glad Hartgen didn't spend the session trying to weaken the industry that launched his political career.</p>
Rep.
Chairman, Health and Welfare
Rep.
Clow is a solid official, but we're waiting for him to get his footing. This session was his second since jumping from city government to the Capitol. His strengths on the
He's also spent his two years in
Like Bell, his vote against guns on campus took grit, maybe even more so because of his relatively new status. By voting against guns on campus, he made himself vulnerable, while doing the right thing.
Rep.
Kauffman is another member of the freshman class of 2013, and he aims high. A lot of newcomers push low-impact issues, while learning the game and building alliances. Not Kauffman. He prefers the big stuff, specifically targeting
His willingness to remain in the background is holding him back. Maybe he's shy or maybe he's just waiting for his moment, but Kauffman has real potential as a leader. We hope he starts tapping it soon.
Rep.
Miller is the third
Miller did raise a fuss when lawmakers tried to push for large raises for
Rep.
Pence, like Stennett, must be judged differently from her Republican counterparts. She showed independence from her party when she voted in favor of the ag-gag, but stuck with fellow Democrats while opposing guns on campus. Pence knows dairy issues inside and out and has proven to be an independent but strong voice for the
She's been a supporter of the streamlined sales tax measure and a propopent of a value-added tax credit for businesses that expand and bring jobs to a community. The retired teacher is also a stalwart defender of
We wish she had pushed her tax proposal harder.
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