In September, I joined Reps. Ricks, Raymond, and Furniss for a joint, District 34-35 town hall with House leadership. The questions ranged from wildlife overpasses and road construction to education standards and water management. As I sat and listened when the others spoke, I was struck by how many issues we’ve already worked together on even as we represent different …
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For the last few weeks, we’ve been digging potatoes. It’s not glamorous, and it’s far from straightforward when you consider everything that goes into growing a crop. But I love it, and it’s something I’ve been a part of for 40 years. I want similar, long-term opportunities for our rural communities throughout Idaho. It’s no secret that a lot of …
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Last month, I saw firsthand the wisdom of Justice Louis Brandeis when he described the states as laboratories of democracy. Joining with other Western legislators at the annual meeting for CSG West, the ideas for better public policy took center stage. Over four days, we explored a wide range of issues. Everything from education to economic development received a deep-dive …
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In all the noise that passes for news, one story in recent weeks stands out to me: the catastrophic flooding throughout the Midwest. Homes, businesses, roads, and farms all sit under feet of water with more projected to come. One farmer saw his 10,000 acres of wheat, two weeks from harvesting, swallowed by the Arkansas River. He estimated losses of …
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This morning, I sat down to run through my schedule for the rest of the week. With at least one thing on the calendar for each day, it reminded me of something Abigail Adams said, “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.” Over the last few weeks, I’ve done my best to …
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With the 2019 session in the history books, I’ve debated whether to “review” what happened from January to April. It seems a little silly to go back and rank what did (or didn’t) happen only a few weeks after the final gavel. After all, some of the laws we passed won’t go into effect until July 1, and even then, …
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