Legislature needs to walk the walk before penalizing voters

While you have to applaud legislators for taking some steps to help fix the state's aging schools, you have to wonder why Idaho isn't doing more.

The bill, which was approved by the Idaho House of Representatives on Wednes-day, would earmark about $5 million for school maintenance and create a $25 million loan fund to fix school.

And yet …

The Legislature doesn't address the super-majority, which mandates school bonds receive approval of 67 percent of those voting.

The Legislature would force the districts to set aside money each year for maintenance, something most do already.

The Legislature would allow the state to take over a district with unsafe schools, fire the superintendent and order a property tax hike to pay back a state-financed construction loan if voter reject a bond two consecutive times.

Idaho is the only state in the country that provides no direct support for public school construction.

Which makes their recent vote seem pretty harsh … and hypocritical.

Legislators aren't willing to meet their obligations to provide Idaho students with a quality education, but are willing to penalize residents for voting their conscience.

Something is very wrong with this picture.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Bonner County Daily Bee.