Time to vote Democratic

Dear editor:

Twenty years of Republican leadership in the Idaho Statehouse have not served us well.

Two areas of vital concern to all Idahoans are the economy and education.

Yes, the governor and our legislators talk about the importance of improving the economy and providing quality education for our children. But actions speak louder than words and their actions do not paint a pretty picture.

On the economic front, Idaho ranks last in the nation in family wages. Idaho does have one first place ranking when compared with other states: the highest percentage of minimum wage jobs. Instead of trying to attract better paying jobs to Idaho, our leadership touts our low wages as an incentive for businesses to come here!

The results of their education policies are no better. We hear that more than 60 percent of our 4th and 8th graders are not proficient in math and reading. On the 2013 statewide SAT, the percentages of Idaho juniors who scored 500 (deemed "college ready" by the College Board) were: Critical reading -- 33 percent; Math -- 32 percent, and Writing -- 31 percent.

Idaho ranks 46th in high school students graduating on time and going directly to college, and many of our graduates require remedial classes when they do pursue higher education.

What is Idaho doing to address these problems? Not much.

We are 49th in per pupil spending. Economist Mike Ferguson recently said: "Over the past decade, no state has committed fewer resources to public schools than Idaho. Every state has grown beyond Idaho."

Well into the current legislative session, we have seen little action on either the recommendations of Idaho's Task Force on Education or on an innovative bill regarding pre-school education.

As long as we continue to elect the same people to positions of leadership, none of this will change.

But change is possible.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2014, A. J. Balukoff, Democratic candidate for governor, and Bert Marley, candidate for lieutenant governor, will be in Mountain Home. They want to talk with us about how to build a better future for Idaho.

The meeting is open to the public at no charge, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the multi-purpose room of the Mountain Home Police Department. All are welcome to join in this important conversation.

-- Leslie Goddard