Legislature gives state backward reputation

They point out that it’s full of modern enterprises like computer manufacturing and engineering enterprises that employ thousands of well-educated people. They note that its economy is booming and people have moved here to enjoy the benefits of prosperity combined with a beautiful outdoor environment.

Then, the Idaho Legislature convenes and gives the world a whole batch of new reasons to think Idaho is backward.

And why shouldn’t they? This week’s actions alone could return Idaho to the number one ranking in backward. Move over Mississippi.

First, the Senate decided it would not prohibit school districts from dropping kindergarten.

Legislators reasoned that prohibiting school districts from doing away with kindergarten was unnecessary because all districts already offer kindergarten. Others reasoned that requiring kindergarten would step on the toes of local school boards. They called this an unwarranted intrusion of state power on local control.

Fearful legislators forecast that if the state required districts to offer kindergarten, it could compel children to attend. Compulsory kindergarten--what a thought.

Certainly better to allow districts to throw kindergarten on the trash heap than to butcher the sacred cow of local control. Better to sacrifice kids’ education instead of forcing taxpayers to provide a program that improves academic and professional performance throughout people’s lifetimes.

In a second reputation-builder, the House decided not to require licenses for drivers of all terrain vehicles—no matter their age.

The House made sure kids will get a fair and equal chance at an early death. Even though ATVs can reach highway speeds, some in the House reasoned it should be up to parents, not the state, to restrict kids from operating ATVs.

Twelve-year-olds on ATVs—that’s what we want to see roaring toward us on a dirt road in the backcountry. After all, prepubescent children have a large body of experience with which to judge the effects of blind curves, ditches, washboards and chuckholes when hit at high speed.

In what will probably not be the last of its ground-breaking decisions, the House Resources and Conservation Committee fired the first shot in a feud with the Idaho Fish and Game Commission that promises to be of Hatfield and McCoy dimensions. When the independent commission fired controversial director Steven Mealey, the committee gutted the department’s request for a $4 million fee increase that would have headed off severe cuts in services.

With these kinds of legislative lunacy, Idaho’s reputation is in no danger of improving. Only a quick adjournment can keep it from getting worse.