Vote to help Scott keep doing a great job
Politics is a blood sport, and in the run-up to this election we have seen some vicious examples in the attacks against Heather Scott, our state representative.
In George Orwell’s words: “The further society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
What we know about Heather Scott is that she speaks the truth — about how things are run in the Legislature; about how constituents are purposely kept divided and fighting about issues while the left and the establishment implement their own agendas; about how legislators blow smoke about the need for higher appropriations and taxes; and how they keep us in the dark about what our powers are in fighting rules and regulations.
How many of us knew, prior to Scott arriving in Boise, that legislation important to parents and endorsed by Republican central committees across the state, like the abolishment of the insidious and outrageously expensive Common Core testing program, SBAC, disappeared into the drawer of a committee chair, never to be seen again? The people’s voices were ignored to further an agenda.
Was anyone aware, during all the years our previous incumbents and our current senator, Shawn Keough, have been in office, that citizens could be granted a hearing in their own district (without having to travel to Boise) on administrative rules and regulations so they would have clarity before they become law, and that it requires a mere 25-citizen signatures to get that hearing? Thousands of pages of rules and regulations on numerous subjects are written by invisible bureaucrats during the interval between legislative sessions, and the legislature reviews and votes on them during the first three weeks of session each January. Once approved, they become law. Most legislators just go along with someone’s recommendation and approve them without understanding their impact or even reading them. We did not know this — until Heather Scott educated us on it. We’ve since demanded hearings and we got them.
And let’s talk about crony capitalism — alive and thriving in the legislature and sold to us under various guises. A recent example: the Clagstone conservation easement. In a nutshell, Stimson Lumber received millions of taxpayer dollars to designate part of its timber land as a conservation easement.
No motorized access is allowed, making it virtually useless for hunting, something that was touted as the main benefit. And despite the huge taxpayer gift, Stimson retains ownership of the land with all the privileges that go with it. This scam was pushed by Sen. Keough as an altruistic move by Stimson and a win-win for taxpayers. The truth, exposed by Heather Scott, is that Stimson could have conserved this land on its own without fleecing taxpayers.
Worth noting is that Keough had a conflict of interest in this issue but voted for it anyway. She is generously funded by the logging industry, and her “day job” is an executive position at Associate Logging Contractors, a timber industry lobbying outfit. Heather Scott drew the ire of the establishment, environmental non-profits and certain government agencies for shining the spotlight on this corrupt use of taxpayer monies.
How about free speech? Heather Scott is a staunch defender of it, which, it turns out, is anathema to the left when it conflicts with their agenda. A patriotic photo of her on a Timber Days parade float with dozens of American flags and a single Confederate flag is offered as proof of racism. The First Amendment gives us the freedom to fly flags of our choice, whether Confederate, Gadsden, rainbow, diversity, or United Nations, all of which are often displayed in our state and country and which many consider ridiculous or offensive. Thanks to Heather Scott for providing a reminder that free speech is not selective — it applies whether you like the topic or object or not.
And finally, education: here’s where speaking truth to power is sorely needed. Consuming two-thirds of the entire state budget, education funding is nevertheless portrayed as woefully underfunded. We appreciate that Heather Scott has put the spotlight on the fact that most of the funding does not go to the kids and teachers, where it belongs, but to bloated administrative salaries, bonuses, perks, expensive programs and curricula, and the peripheral industries that feeds off of constant curriculum changes. Whether you’re a parent or not, this should trouble you. For that reason Heather Scott and other fiscally responsible legislators gave a no vote on education appropriations. Hopefully, common sense and fiscal accountability measures will take hold in the Legislature.
You will find that on these topics Heather Scott’s Democratic opponent will be on the opposite end of the spectrum. She likes to point out that she’s on the same page as Sen. Keough on issues — in other words, continue business as usual, more crony capitalism, tax-and-spend policies, and adherence to establishment preferences.
But who’s going to look out for us? We trust Heather Scott.
Please vote to keep her in office to continue the fine job she has been doing.
BOB BROWNING
Sandpoint