Driving to distraction: A larger view

Before writing yet another letter on individual bills coming before the Idaho Legislature, I'd just like to point out that the bills are coming so thick and fast that letter writers don't have time to research or digest them. Legislators don't have time to discuss and amend them: the House State Affairs Committee has introduced three bills to "combat the use of environmental, social and corporate governance" — in what was planned to be the last week of the session, no less.

And when we do testify before committees or write to people we elected to serve us (Mark Sauter, Scott Herndon, Sage Dixon and Brad Little) we are mostly ignored. Even when there is overwhelming opposition to things like gutting our libraries and threatening their staff, undermining education and throwing women's health and self-respect under the bus.

The distraction is intentional and perpetrated by a minority. This minority is backed by out-of-state money. We can vote to replace legislators and elect a majority of Idahoans who will not use distraction tactics. Stay tuned.

I'd love it if somebody would give us some evidence that I am wrong and relieve us of the distress caused by distraction-partisanship politics. Anybody out there?

NANCY GERTH

Sagle