OPINION: Small numbers will make huge decisions in Idaho

Among those who have agreed to do so are Republicans Cindy Agidius, of Moscow, and Colton Bennett, of Troy, Rep. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston, House candidate Maureen Anderson, of Lewiston, and state Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins.

Medicaid expansion — Even before they succeeded in imposing a work requirement so technically onerous that it may disenfranchise up to 34,000 working poor Idahoans from healthcare coverage simply for failing to fill out the paperwork, lawmakers made a serious run at repealing the 2018 voter-approved Medicaid expansion outright. Last year, a measure aimed at doing that passed the House 38-32 and was held up by the Senate. Given the GOP-led Legislature’s antipathy for the program and the initiative process that implemented it, a few seats in either chamber could hold the balance of power.

Higher education — Legislative hostility toward Idaho’s colleges and universities has been on full display, first by removing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and then by disproportionately cutting state funding to correct a budget deficit brought on by the GOP’s overzealous tax-cutting propensities. As a result, annual student tuition is within striking difference of the bellwether $10,000.

At the same time, support for Gov. Brad Little’s Idaho Launch program — which promised $8,000 to help high school graduates pursue training and higher education — was tepid at best. It cleared by a 39-31 vote two years ago and already lawmakers are whittling away at it.

If you need to see what the GOP activists have in mind, look no further than the state Republican Party platform: “We strongly support professional technical and continuing education programs that provide career readiness and college preparation, but do not support using taxpayer funding for programs beyond high school.”

Legislative power brokers — Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, is plowing new ground by allocating $350,000 to a funding apparatus that is funneling big checks, untethered by campaign finance limits, to legislative candidates. It’s not just that a sitting legislator is openly picking winners and losers among incumbents and challengers. There is so much money involved that it could make a difference.

For instance, Redman’s PAC has allocated $16,478 to Bennett’s campaign — which is almost half the amount Bennett has raised for his own campaign. Agidius, on the other hand, has raised $25,789.

Redman’s PAC also has distributed $17,383 to Harris’ effort, coming close to the $23,874 the incumbent has accumulated. Harris’ challenger, former Lewiston Mayor and City Councilor Mike Collins, has collected $30,031.

If voters are prepared to tolerate that, you have to ask at least two questions: What kind of IOUs is Redman collecting from the 20 candidates he’s supporting? And who will be the next lawmaker to follow his example?

Someone is going to decide these questions Tuesday. If not you, who? — M.T.