Mountain Home Casino, BLM Protection Rule, Schools, Debt

Why are games so overregulated?

I liked Angela Palermo’s story about the tension between two tribes who were bickering over plans to build a casino outside Boise. We hope the tribes will do well because tribal gaming is good for the country. Why? State law requires tribes to make donations to schools, which provides millions of dollars in revenue. Credit must be given to the tribes because it was their lobbying that made this requirement a part of Idaho’s gaming law.

However, any proposed Mountain Home casino would not be able to compete with non-tribal casinos in nearby Jackpot, Nevada, because Nevada casinos allow table games and sports betting, as well as video slots. Will Boiseans support this new casino or drive another hour to enjoy the freedom of less restricted gaming? Locally, I sympathize that our philanthropic society, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, is hampered by excessive regulation by the state of Idaho, which prevents them from operating on an equal footing with the Kalispel and Spokane Tribes in Airway Heights, Washington, who have the freedom to offer table games as well as table games for the extremely popular sports betting .

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Where do the draconian state restrictions come from? This red state supposedly stands for freedom. So when will our legislation give Idaho tribes the freedom to offer a full range of games that we all enjoy and that will improve our schools?

Jon Ingalls, Coeur d’Alene

The BLM Conservation Rule is a step forward

We, the people of Idaho, have extraordinary hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities on the millions of acres of public lands that Idaho is blessed with. I believe the BLM’s recently completed “Landscape Conservation and Health Rules” are good for wildlife, their habitats, and sportsmen.

The BLM manages a diversity of habitats, from mountain rivers and streams, to wetlands and sage plains, to grassy foothills and pine forests. These lands offer world-class hunting and fishing opportunities that help strengthen the state’s $3.4 billion annual outdoor economy and are a key component of why Idaho has such a high quality of life.

That’s why I was happy to hear about the BLM rule that puts fish and wildlife habitat on par with development. Big game herds like elk, mule deer and pronghorn need connected habitats to move daily and seasonally, and many of the state’s most valued hunting units rely on BLM lands for valuable winter range.

If we, as Idahoans and sportsmen, want our children and grandchildren to experience the wild places and animals we love so much, we should support the BLM in prioritizing conservation to improve fish and wildlife habitat in our state.

Drew Wahlin, Meridian

The legislature continues to fail students

Idaho Constitution: “It shall be the duty of the Legislature to establish and maintain a general, uniform and fair system of public schools.” Idahoans voted to approve 45 additional school fees, all of which were made necessary by inadequate legislative funding. Now, as districts across Idaho strive to provide our children with the highest quality education, they are faced with painful decisions such as teacher layoffs, school closures, bus route eliminations, cuts to athletic funding, SRO layoffs and maintenance staff reductions.

It is no secret that disregard for the constitutional mandate has been going on for years to the point that it would be a shame for legislators to be forced to spend time on school grounds.

Legislators’ time seems to be spent on other shiny goals, like banning books and driving obstetricians and gynecologists out of Idaho. Another major concern is the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s efforts to divert funds to school vouchers. Any legislator who supports vouchers is in direct conflict with his or her duty to the Constitution.

We, the voters, can correct this abuse when we vote in November. Do your research and vote for those committed to solving this high-priority deficit.

We all know the definition of insanity.

Jay Combs, Eagle

Solution to public debt

There was a lot of talk about the National Debt. You may be wondering how we got to this point. Well, just look in the mirror. Remember when you sent your representatives to Washington to collect some of the free money so that state taxes wouldn’t go up. Well, that’s what happened with debt.

You want the debt to go away. Here’s one solution: start holding states accountable for their actions, instead of dumping your problems on the rest of the nation. If you want to expand this airport, tax the residents of your state for it. You want this highway enlarged, let the people of the state pay for it. You want to build levees to hold back floodwaters and then let your state pay for it.

What about people in your state who are on welfare? You, the states, must start being responsible for these people, not for the rest of the nation.

For a change, let’s make states’ rights also become states’ responsibility. I know you will never vote to send someone to Washington to do everything in their power to keep you from getting free money.

Jerry Johnson, Payette