Buildings are nice, people are better

I have nothing against the Capital renovation plan, really.

It's great to see the state taking care of its historic buildings and preserving its past.

I just wish the Legislature was willing to make the same commitment to our schools and our roads. Think of how many books and teachers we could afford with the $75 million for the renovations and the $40 million budgeted for the additions at the Capitol.

Sure, it lacks meeting space, but I'd rather fund classrooms. Think of how many schools we could get up to snuff with that money.

And then there are the state's roads and highways.

I won't even bring up how an eastern Idaho road project got the Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee's approval and the more critical Garwood-to-Sagle project was left out in the cold.

Think of how much safer our roads and schools would be if the same attention was paid to people as buildings.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.