Idaho policy making gap larger between rich, poor

We often hear about the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Public policy at both the federal and Idaho level is apparently designed to make it worse.

If you doubt that, look at the recent headlines about the small number of living wage jobs in Idaho. The Northwest Job Gap Study shows that a single person in Idaho requires a full-time job paying nearly $9/hour to make ends meet. For families, the number is considerably higher.

For a state that, in recent years, boasted the highest number of millionaires per capita it is unconscionable that nearly 80 percent of statewide job openings pay less than a living wage.

Even our minimum wage, $5.15/hour is nearly 30 percent lower than our two neighboring states to the west.

One can only ponder why our leaders are willing to raise sales tax but not income tax; willing to cut health insurance for low income citizens but allow field burning; willing to cut unemployment benefits yet give tax breaks to big corporations; willing to defy the law against closed meetings, yet unwilling to make personal financial disclosures.

That's how our state government is working for us.

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint