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Posts published in “Malloy”

Angel Wings

With a name like “Angel Wings Network,” you’d gather that this must be a special nonprofit organization. It goes far beyond that, according to Mabel Dobbs, the executive director.

“It has become my ministry,” she says.

She’s right. Angel Wings Network is doing the Lord’s work, without a sermon, a choir and congregation.

“I’m 83 years old and I know of people who retire, sit down, do nothing and get old,” she says. “This (Angel Wings Network) has become so much a part of my life. The cool thing is that my board of directors are just as committed as I am. It’s gratifying that we do what we do with people who are all volunteers.”

Angel Wings provides services for cancer patients, mostly transporting them to and from treatment appointments throughout the region. The “angels” in this case are the 15 volunteer drivers who give up untold hours to be with patients.

One of those drivers, Eleonore Huggins, who has been driving for about 10 years – traveling somewhere around 100,000 miles over that time. But that’s not the downside of her volunteer job.

“I’ve lost a lot of friends,” she says, wiping away tears over her sadder stories. But she brightens up when talking about the friendships she has made.

“It’s very rewarding – extremely rewarding,” says Huggins, a member of the Payette Lions Club. “They don’t cry about their condition, and they are very positive. It makes you think about how incidental personal problems can be. For instance, I don’t grow my fingernails well. How stupid is it to think about that when people have no eyebrows, no breasts or no hair.”

But with Huggins, and other drivers, conversing with the patients is one of the best aspects of the job.

“We can talk differently with them, and it’s not all about their condition. They always are so grateful,” she says. “I’ve been a real estate agent, I’ve rodeoed, raced Dune Buggies and raced sailboats. I’ve been in construction and farming, so I’m well versed in just about any conversation that the person next to me wants to talk about.”

And she’s always up for grocery shopping, going to a show or dining with her client friends.

“With one of my good friends that I’ve lost, we went to every Mexican restaurant on the way home from treatment to find the best salsa … and we still hadn’t found it,” she said, chuckling.

Although the drivers don’t get paid, they are reimbursed for expenses. The network has raised thousands of dollars for gas and restaurant cards. So, drivers and patients can count on getting gas and at least one meal for every trip. Angel Wings also offers extensive “goody bags” to patients, including “prayer blankets.”

None of that happens through wishful thinking. As Dobbs says, “Without fundraising, nonprofits don’t work.” So, there are many “angels” in this community, and beyond, who recognize, and respond, to the needs of this nonprofit network.

Generally, Angel Wings serves people within 70 miles of Weiser … but angels don’t operate with those restrictions. Angel Wings is available for anyone who needs it from neighboring rural communities – and there’s no question about the need for the service in this peaceful rural area.

“There is a huge need,” Dobbs says. “You’d be absolutely astounded at the number of people who have no one and no family. We have become a lifeline in a lot of ways.”

Some of the patients may have family, or a spouse. But the spouse, for whatever reason, may not be able to drive or treatment times may conflict with working schedules of family members. In either scenario, Angel Wings comes to the rescue.

And one person who makes it all work is Kelli Banks, the “super angel” who coordinates driving schedules and who cheerfully fields calls – sometimes during the late hours at night. There’s no question about the value she brings.

“We have a large number of clients who would not be able to get treatment without a ride to get there,” she says.

Indeed, these angels do have their wings.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist, is a writer with the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

Spirit of giving

Evin Bask has 5 million reasons to be happy. Actually, 5.1 million reasons.

That was the dollar amount raised during the recent Idaho Gives campaign to help nonprofits and Bask has been beaming ever since. This was the first time that Idaho Gives exceeded $5 million in its 12 years of existence.

Bask’s title is “senior philanthropic impact director” for the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation, which hosts Idaho Gives, so the annual campaign is a big part of her job. But charitable giving is an even bigger part of her life, starting with her childhood in Seattle.

Her first fundraising effort was selling banana bread to golfers. Her dad, Marty Bask, helped start a foundation in memory of a friend who died from cancer. The foundation, which operates today, offers a wide range of assistance to individuals and families impacted by cancer.

Enter Evin and her banana bread.

“My dad’s buddies were paying way too much for probably terrible banana bread, but that was my first introduction into giving,” she said. “I grew up in an environment where giving was a part of your life and a part of your community.” (Photo: Evin and her dad, 2000.)

I’m guessing that Evin underestimated the quality of her banana bread. She was using her grandma’s recipe, which is a winning formula to begin with. And to hungry golfers, there’s no such thing as “bad” banana bread. The golfers in Marty’s group could not resist buying from a cute little girl with an infectious smile.

But for Bask, that was the start of a career path. She attended Boise State University, where she received a degree in communications and a minor in nonprofits. Later, she received a master’s degree in business, with an emphasis in nonprofit management. Her career with the Idaho Nonprofit Center started with an internship 10 years ago.

Her job now is to ensure that nonprofits in the Gem State have the resources they need and, of course, to help them prepare for the Idaho Gives campaign – Idaho’s Super Bowl of charitable giving. As Bask sees it, the campaign is fitting to Idaho.

“The Idaho Gives campaign is what Idaho is all about. We are a low-government state, and that means people in the communities need to step in and help the nonprofit sector solve some of the problems, such as feeding the hungry and helping people who are homeless. You can enjoy the river, the trails and the arts – and so much of that is upheld by nonprofits,” she said.

“Something that I noticed when I moved here more than a decade ago (2013), Idaho has friendly people. They will look you in the eye and wave, if you are walking on the Greenbelt for going into buildings. These are the qualities that drew me to this state. Our communities take care of each other, and supporting nonprofits is a great way of doing that.”

Idaho Gives, which started in 2013, raised about $500,000 in its first year – “and we’ve added a couple of zeroes since then. Last year, we raised $4.3 million,” she said. “It tells me that Idahoans are generous people, and they recognize the needs that nonprofits are facing.”

The needs are amplified by cuts in federal funding, which takes away the “safety net” for people in need. Nonprofits have helped fill the void.

Idaho Gives is no small operation … 640 organizations are involved, and there are at least that many compelling stories. A lot of work goes into running the campaign (which runs from late April to early May), but that’s the fun part of Bask’s job. It’s a whirlwind of activities, parties and celebrations, with $45,000 in prizes given out.

“There is so much energy and buzz through that week,” Bask says. “People are excited to participate and support their favorite causes. This campaign really takes a village to host, and it is so much fun to see Idahoans get excited about giving away money. It’s also amazing to hear and see nonprofits supporting each other.”

Bask learned at an early age the value of good people working for noble causes. That’s the purpose behind Idaho Gives.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist, is a writer with the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

One very cool cat

By Crash

(As told to Chuck Malloy)

Pssst! My name is Crash and I am the owner of Simply Cats, Boise’s premier cageless, no-kill, feline adoption center.

OK, I don’t own the facility. That would require money, and I have no idea what money is – unless it’s measured in catnip. But I do run the place, with staff people and a medical team responding to my every Meow. For my hard work, I get regular meals, a soft place to sleep and my litter box scooped daily.

That’s the least they can do for someone of my stature.

Yes, I am a celebrity – and I’m sure you have heard of me. Two years ago, I received the coveted Cadbury Bunny, which in my world is akin to sweeping a half a dozen Oscars in one night. Maybe I can get my paw prints on the Walk of Fame. Some of my friends have nicknamed me “Hollywood,” but I’m not sure I like that. “Hollywood Crash” sounds like a box-office flop, and I don’t want anything to do with flops – unless I’m about to get a belly rub.

But my life hasn’t always been about fame and glory. In 2018, when I was not even a year old, I was hit by a car and left on the side of a road. The director of Simply Cats saw me there, not knowing if I was even alive. I wasn’t sure myself. I lost my right eye and suffered a broken jaw and right arm. Thank goodness for nine lives! And good doctors, too.

Today, I’m as fit as a cat on a hot tin roof. I found my forever home at Simply Cats and my winning personality promotes all the good things that we do.

Every kitty here has a story, and some are sad. Buddy’s owner moved away and left him abandoned on a neighborhood street. Gerald was found near the foothills, tired and hungry. Nobody knows where he came from. Chum’s owner moved to a long-term care facility. Strix’s loving mom died unexpectedly, turning his life upside-down.

Simply Cats shelters about 50 cats at one time, and more when kitten season is in full bloom. The younger ones are sent to one of our many loving foster homes until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered. Foster care is kind of like a boot camp for kitties, without a drill instructor yelling, “I CAN’T HEEAAR YOU!”

We have the adoption process down to a science, at least as scientific as herding cats can get. It’s not a matter of coming in, picking out a cat and taking it home. We do our best to match a cat with the customer’s personality, and there are several categories (get it?) to choose from. With a “personal assistant,” it’s all paws on deck. They’ll be with you when you are watching TV, working on the computer, or reading a book.

If you don’t want that kind of attention, then you could look for a “sidekick” or “secret admirer.” There’s also “the leader of the band,” which means laughter and fun for everyone. If you really want something special, then take a look at the “love bugs.” Those cats must have fur made from Velcro.

But don’t take those designations too seriously. A sidekick or secret admirer can turn into a personal assistant with the drop of a whisker. After all, we are cats, and we do have minds of our own.

The staff also is there to help with whatever problems might occur with the adopted felines. I’m always available for consultation, and the quality of my advice gets better if you feed me a few treats.

As you can see, I do work hard, and some folks think I should be taking a vacation once in a while. I’ve looked at brochures for Catalina Island and the Catskills, and they look like nice places to visit. Maui might be fun for a few days (I like the name). I’ve also thought about taking a 12-day cruise on a catamaran, where I could have catnip on demand.

But it’s probably best that I stay here, since that crash took away most of my nine lives. Besides, they need me here at Simply Cats, where I have a purrfect life.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist, is a writer with the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

Breaking the cycle

208 343-7025

Women should keep this number filed away, especially those who live in remote rural areas of the Gem State. And this is the number to call if you want to get out of an abusive relationship, which may include domestic violence or sexual assault.

That’s the number of the Women’s & Children’s Alliance hotline, where a friendly voice will hear your story and direct you to resources in your area. The WCA fields almost 4,500 calls a year, so don’t think you are alone with this situation.

Bea Black has heard her share of stories during her 17 years as WCA’s executive director, and she cringes at just about every one of those tales.

“It’s chilling what individuals can do to others,” she says.

While listening to horror stories is not the most pleasant aspect of her job, what she does afterward keeps her going to work every day. With a team of 56 who come to the rescue of women and children going through some form of domestic abuse, Black’s role is to promote those efforts.

“These are the real heroes of the story about the WCA. These are the ones helping the people during the worst times of their lives,” she says. “For me as the spokesperson, I have the opportunity to provide education about our services and how those services impact the people in our community.”

Of course, that’s only a snapshot of what she does. A CEO can make, or break, an organization and Black’s record is one of resounding success. She’s not an expert in the field of domestic abuse (her background is as a CPA and entrepreneur), but her work history has helped give the WCA a strong footing. She also knows enough to let the field experts do their jobs.

Within the WCA, there are the “technicians” (guardian angels) who sit with the children and moms who are going through monumental pain. The court advocates who tirelessly work on obtaining restraining orders. The counselors who help clients process their trauma. And the case managers who help figure out what’s next in the victims’ lives, starting with the basics.

Black lists some of the questions: “Do I need a job? Do I need to learn how to drive, because I’ve never been allowed to handle a vehicle? Do I need to get a GED, because I never finished school?”

Then, there are people who work at the WCA shelter – supplying a safe temporary home for abuse victims. Women and children can stay up to seven months, but the average stay is 90-120 days. The WCA also works with other community agencies to provide low-cost housing.

“We have two buildings with a total of 30 rooms. At the end of last month we had 27 women and 20 kids that were sheltered. In a year, we serve over 200 women and children,” Black says. “Our mission is safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault.”

The WCA doesn’t win them all. Some women, for whatever the reason are unable to break the cycle. And some abuse cases are not as clear-cut as others.

“We use the term ‘abuse’ because it’s a broader term. Domestic abuse is more ambiguous, because in many cases there are no black eyes or broken arms. There often is no outward sign of abuse, but it’s there. It’s all about control and the eventual outcome depends on how fixated that control is,” Black says.

“Not everybody is going to be able to break the cycle and move forward,” she says. “It takes an average of seven attempts for someone to leave an abusive situation. It’s like breaking a bad habit, such as smoking or alcohol abuse.”

But it’s the success stories that make the WCA such a valuable lifeline. Black tells a story about a mother and three daughters who moved into the WCA shelter, and some of the challenges that went with that transition.

“I could hear the difference in their voices and the ways they interacted,” she said. “When the girls started counseling, there was anger and unpleasant interaction – particularly with the older ones. The mom gained some culinary skills and ended up taking a job in a grocery store, and you could tell that the kids were much happier. They were admiring what their mom had done.”

The work and challenges of the WCA are incredibly difficult, as Black will attest, but the victories are worth celebrating.

“I tell people that I have the best job in the world,” Black says.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist, is a writer with the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

(image/Idaho Community Foundation)

 

A thousand points

Writing about good people doing good things. That’s a big change for me.

For almost half a century as a writer, I’ve been focused mostly on politicians who try to fool people into thinking they are doing good things. In fairness, many of the political people I have known – from Arkansas to Indiana and Idaho – served with the best of intentions.

But today’s environment is not conducive to “good things” being done in politics. Hatred runs deep among Republicans and Democrats nationally and, with either party, the objective is not to “unify” the nation or serve the common good. The purpose is to gain power – absolute control if possible – and bury the opposition.

It’s no better on the state level, where Democrats don’t win major offices and the GOP is divided into two factions: Republican and “More” Republican. The goal on either side is to gain an overwhelming majority and control the state’s agenda, at the expense of any group that opposes those efforts.

I’ll leave it to the politicians to fight among themselves. I have taken a writing position (volunteer) with the Idaho Nonprofit Center in the Idaho Community Foundation. People in this world are not obsessed with an “R” and “D” by a person’s name, nor are folks worried about who’s a “liberal” or “conservative.” It’s about people working to make their world – and their communities – a better place.

These groups are following the politics, mostly in the interest of self-preservation. After all, politicians have been known to derail noble deeds. But the nonprofit world does not revolve around who’s occupying the White House, or governor’s office.

Check out these organizations: Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Faces of Hope, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Idaho Youth Ranch, Idaho Food Bank and Simply Cats. There are more – hundreds or more, in fact. And there are thousands of volunteers who are working for those worthy causes.

There’s more “goodness” here than any 10 Hallmark movies. And it goes beyond organizations associated with the Nonprofit Center. Civic organizations, such as the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis are important cogs of their communities. Within these groups, more gets done in a week than a 90-day legislative session or a full calendar year of Congress.

One former president seemed to realize who America’s true heroes are. I had the pleasure of covering the 1988 Republican National Convention when then-Vice President George H.W. Bush talked about a “kinder and gentler nation” and the “thousand points of light,” celebrating volunteerism. With Bush, it wasn’t all talk – it was one of the cornerstones of his administration.

“We can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves,” he said. “A shining purpose, the illumination of a thousand points of light … we all have something to give.”

You don’t hear that kind of rhetoric on a campaign stump. One party is labeled as socialist, while the other is called fascists, with both aiming to destroy democracy in one way or another. Winning candidates are more apt to talk about elections having “consequences,” which ends up being bad news for the losing side.

We’ve heard a lot of talk over the last decade about making America “great again,” as if one person or a political movement can pull that off. But America is, and always has been, great – regardless of who is sitting in the Oval Office or seats in Congress. And it is the nonprofit organizations, civic groups and millions of volunteers will ensure greatness in the years to come.

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist, is a writer with the Idaho Nonprofit Center/Idaho Community Foundation. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

Party’s Over, Life Goes On

Recently, I sent a note to editors and friends saying I was stepping aside from column writing and pursuing other interests. Then the thought occurred to me that I should share my thoughts one more time.

Why am I leaving? Mostly because what’s happening in Washington, D.C., makes no sense to me.

Let’s start with President Trump’s pardons of the Jan. 6 rioters from four years ago. It was a dark day in American history, and I cannot forget what happened that day, or Trump’s role.  It was not, as some supporters suggest, a “patriotic” event by honorable people.

But Trump won the election, fair and square, and he is our president for the next four years. It doesn’t mean I am obligated to write about it.

So now let’s look at just a few of his outlandish statements and actions. I do not understand why he wants Canada to be the 51st state or what there is to gain by imposing steep tariffs on our trading partners. I’m confused about his idea to turn war torn Gaza into a resort paradise.

There are some positives, too. I’m all for deporting illegal immigrants who are violent criminals – if that’s who we are detaining. And as much as people complain about Elon Musk, I’m all for getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse in government – if that’s what’s happening. Trump is correct when he says that government has not worked as it should for a very long time.

Unfortunately, Musk and his band of cost cutters are nibbling around the edges. We’d still be trillions of dollars in the hole if you eliminated the Department of Education, spent zero dollars on the military and got rid of the FBI. We won’t make headway on the $36 trillion deficit unless rules change on “entitlements” such as Social Security and Medicare.

Under normal circumstances, I’ve relied on our congressional delegation to help sort out what’s happening. It’s not so easy these days.

I haven’t talked with Congressman Mike Simpson more than a couple of times over the last decade. I’ve been writing about congressional politics in some form since 1978 and he is, at least for me, the most inaccessible member of Congress I’ve encountered over those 47 years. Congressman Russ Fulcher, who has been a reliable source over the years, has not responded to interview requests lately.

So that leaves Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, who (along with almost all Senate Republicans) issue rubber stamps for the Trump administration. They’ve approved cabinet appointments, regardless of the level of competency, and they certainly are not the ones to contact for critical views of this administration. I understand the politics and realize that our senators would go nowhere as outcasts. Crapo (who chairs the Finance Committee) and Risch (who chairs Foreign Relations) stand to be major players in the implementation of Trump’s economic and foreign policies – and those are enviable places to be.

I am not convinced that Trump will be leaving office in four years. I know what the Constitution says, but Trump doesn’t always pay attention to that. I can see him attempting to run in 2028, with Idaho’s congressional delegation – and Idaho voters – overwhelmingly backing him.

So while much of this doesn’t make sense to me, there are other things in my life that do. I am a member of the Lions Club, and one of my passions is to promote awareness about diabetes – a disease that almost took my life 20 years ago. I’ll be doing more public speaking on the issue, and perhaps some writing on the subject. I’m also throwing my hat in the ring for a seat on our HOA board of directors, which will allow me to learn more about matters that are important to our neighborhood.

I am thankful that health has allowed me to write these commentaries over the last 11 years, and especially grateful to editors throughout the state who have been kind enough to publish my columns. Throughout my work, I have connected, or reconnected, with so many wonderful people. But in my next chapter, there are new ventures in my future and many more good days ahead.

To borrow from the great Bob Hope, thanks for the memories.

Chuck Malloy is a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

IACI and the right direction

Drawing a laugh from Alex LeBeau is easy – if you refer to the Idaho Association of Commerce as a “liberal” organization. LeBeau, the longtime IACI president takes exception to that reference.

That is, when he stops laughing.

That is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard,” LeBeau told me. “We have elected more Republicans in the state than just about any other organization, except for maybe the Republican Party.”

Business operators in Idaho don’t tend to be “liberal” by any measure, and LeBeau – who has been the group’s president for almost 20 years – wouldn’t be sitting in the president’s chair if he were promoting some form of a “woke” agenda. Over the decades that I’ve been following Idaho politics, IACI has been called a lot of things. “Liberal” is not among the more prominent references.

Our organization’s membership employs about half of the state’s population, and I’m very proud of our membership,” LeBeau says. “They work very hard to do the different things they do and make the economy great. You are going to have to tell me why that’s a liberal thing.”

Well … the organization generally backs Gov. Brad Little, who is widely panned by the GOP’s right-wing faction. And IACI supports the governor’s Launch program, which some Republicans have dubbed as a socialist scheme. As LeBeau sees it, the biggest objection for some is the fact that Little backs it.

It’s another level of school choice,” LeBeau says.

He has a point there. Launch gives Idaho students an opportunity to further their education by training for high-demand jobs, giving students the opportunity to pursue career opportunities in the Gem State. One immediate benefit, he says, is that community-college enrollment in Idaho is going up, while other states are experiencing a downward trend.

House Speaker Mike Moyle, among others, have talked about “tweaking” the Launch program, and LeBeau is receptive to that idea.

We’re perfectly fine with tweaking it. There will always be room for improvement when you have something new, but getting rid of it is not an option,” LeBeau says

In IACI’s world, the same can be said for keeping Little for a third term as governor. He has not announced his intention for seeking a third term in 2026, although signs seem to be pointing in that direction.

We definitely will get behind the governor if he chooses to go for another term,” LeBeau says. “He’s a former chairman of our organization and he has been a tremendous leader for our state.”

LeBeau gives props to the governor for his recent state-of-the-state message, which outlined his agenda for this session. The governor talked about most of the things that IACI likes, including the Launch program, tax relief and money for highways.

I think he touched on all the right notes in terms of doing what it takes to make this economy going,” LeBeau says. “I look at the state of the economy and the direction that Idaho is going … what are you upset about? We have the most freedoms, the best economy and the most opportunities. And people are saying they don’t want more of the same? I don’t understand what they are upset about, other than the fact that it’s Brad Little and they don’t like Brad.”

To the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the governor is “out of touch.” Ron Nate, president of the IFF, described Little’s state-of-the-state message as “90 percent platitudes, 5 percent rambling and awkward jokes, and 5 percent something – anything – resembling a conservative thought. In other words, disappointing.”

So, brace yourself for a spirited primary election campaign next year. LeBeau and IACI are ready for the fight.

Leadership in government matters,” LeBeau says. “It matters to employers, employees and the quality of life. What we see in Idaho, and from the standpoint of a lifelong Idahoan, we’re in a great spot and I’d like to see it keep going.”

Chuck Malloy is a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

The fall of Lava Ridge

Idaho’s congressional delegation has spent years battling with the Biden administration and the Bureau of Land Management over the Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project, which would have turned a stretch of southern Idaho into a sea of ugly wind turbines.

It took one day of a new administration to put the kibosh on the project and it was Idaho Sen. Jim Risch who wrote the executive order that was signed by President Trump. The senator may never have a more joyful assignment from the president.

Of course, Risch was not writing the order in a vacuum. He had conversations about the project with Trump and the senator emphasized the importance of stopping Lava Ridge during Gov. Doug Burgum’s nomination hearing for Interior secretary.

Risch probably didn’t need to do much to sway the president to his side. Trump made it clear during his inaugural address, with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris watching, that green new deals would be replaced with “Drill, Baby Drill.” So, it’s unlikely that the president gave much hesitation to putting his name to an executive order to scuttle one of the Biden administration’s pet energy projects.

For good measure, Risch had plenty of political support from Congressman Mike Simpson, Sen. Mike Crapo and Gov. Brad Little, among others.

The BLM had its reasons for wanting the turbines. The project northeast of Twin Falls, according to a BLM news release in December, “could power as many as 500,000 homes with clean energy, while creating hundreds of jobs and supporting local and regional economies.”

Folks were not buying the line. The political response from the delegation and beyond: “Not in our back yard.” They wanted nothing to do with hundreds of wind turbines sitting on nearly 100,000 acres, visually compromising the Minidoka National Historic Site – which served as a relocation for more than 13,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II.

Risch documents numerous battles on the Lava Ridge issue, going back to 2021. During that time, he opposed two nominees for Interior secretary, based on support for Lava Ridge. Risch and his colleagues wrote letters that were ignored. Simpson has a similar history of banging his head against a bureaucratic wall, including putting together legislation to stop Lava Ridge.

Then, in just one day of Trump 2.0, it all went away with the stroke of the president’s pen.

“President Trump demonstrated on his first day of office his commitment to listening to the valid concerns of Idahoans, Minidoka survivors and descendents, families, ranchers and sportsmen,” said Crapo.

Simpson chides the Biden administration for “blatantly” disregarding the voices of Idahoans. “The Lava Ridge wind project is unwanted and has zero place in our state. I stand fully behind President Trump’s decision to end it once and for all.”

Gov. Brad Little followed the president’s executive order with one of his own – called “Gone with the Lava Ridge Wind Project Act.”

The star of this show was Risch, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations who used his influence and personal working relationship with Trump to make this executive order happen. The two will have plenty of time to talk about Russia, China and Iran.

“I made a promise to Idahoans that I would not rest until the Lava Ridge Wind Project was terminated. On day one, President Donald Trump took action to keep that promise,” Risch said.

“Lava Ridge has been the embodiment of liberals’ disregard for the voices of Idahoans and rural America,” he said. “Despite intense and widespread opposition from Idaho and the Japanese American community, the previous administration remained dead set on pushing this unwanted project across the finish line. Finally, our nation has a leader who recognizes that people on the ground should have a say in how our natural resources are managed.”

Not all of Trump’s executive orders on day one had such a warm reaction, but this one put smiles on the faces of Idahoans – and the political leaders who found a way to kill it.

Chuck Malloy is a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com

 

Calling for choice

Sen. Lori Den Hartog of Meridian, the new Senate Republican leader, has identified the best reason why political leaders – from the governor on down – are backing expanded school choice (a.k.a. vouchers).

The public demands it – it’s as simple as that. Or, more cynically, the demand comes from out-of-state interests that are pushing the concept of state money going to private schools. However you want to look at it, voucher advocates are winning elections and the incumbents who say “no” are being bounced out.

Gov. Brad Little, who takes pride of his record on education, is now friendly toward tax credits for those seeking alternatives to public schools. He’s asking the Legislature to set aside $50 million for that purpose. House Speaker Mike Moyle of Star said bluntly in a pre-session news conference that the money should follow the student – to the chagrin of a couple of leading Democrats appearing at that same gathering.

So, that’s where the conversation in the Legislature begins and it will take at least a few months to sort out the details.

Den Hartog is no late-comer to the fight. She spent her school days at Nampa Christian School, and that’s been the home for her three kids. She has nothing against public schools, but the private school has been the best fit for the family.

“My parents believed strongly in the value of Christian education – what is taught in our home and at church on Sunday,” she told me. “And that’s the choice we made for our three children, and we made choices in our budgeting to make that happen.”

Now, she wants other Idaho parents to have similar options.

“It’s all about making sure people can find the right education setting for their children, and that can change – even with the same kid,” she said. “And the reasons are different.”

Over the years, Idaho has done much to provide school choice – from establishing open enrollment to creating charter schools and providing a better environment for home schooling.

“What we’re talking about during this session is just one more piece of the puzzle – providing resources to families, particularly to families that may not have the means to some of those choices,” she says. “We’re not trying to take anything from anyone. We’re trying to provide additional options for families.”

She rejects the notion that choice advocates want to raid public-school budgets or the general fund. Den Hartog doesn’t see a future of high budget deficits and massive program cuts as a result of modest efforts to expand school choice.

“We’re talking about a fraction of the state budget that competes with other priorities,” she says. “Part of the reason that it’s in the conversation now is this is what Idaho voters are asking for. These are Idaho taxpayer dollars, and these are Idaho kids whose parents pay taxes.”

Den Hartog does not join the chorus of public-school bashing. She doesn’t buy the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s analysis that public schools are glorified indoctrination labs for the political left, and she earns her “F” rating with the IFF by voting for education budgets.

“Our public schools do a tremendous job with the resources that they have, and it’s not all about test scores,” Den Hartog said. “Introducing a little competition in the mix is good. We saw that with open enrollment, where districts highlighted what they were doing well. If you have a monopoly and parents are not happy, for whatever the reason, what is the motivation for schools to respond?”

Over the next few months, we’ll see how many “choice” proposals will come to the table. An early frontrunner is a bill by Den Hartog and Rep. Wendy Horman of Idaho Falls (co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee). That would provide $5,000 tax credits to students who don’t attend public schools (up to $50 million) – with the priority going to those with lower incomes.

There will be plenty of pushback to the Den Hartog-Horman plan, of course. But if early political momentum means anything, we’ll be seeing some kind of subsidy for families seeking alternatives to public schools.

Chuck Malloy is a long-time Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com