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Time to end Daylight Savings Time |
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February 2, 2017 |
An open letter to Senator Shawn Keough
There is currently a bill pending in the
Washington State Legislature sponsored by seven
state senators to end Daylight Savings Time in
Washington state. This has a high likelihood of
passing. In the event it does, I propose that we
pass legislation in Idaho that follows.
Years ago, when northern Idaho was more
inextricably tied to the business and commerce
of eastern Washington state, this was part of
the rationale for us being in the Pacific Time
Zone. That made sense, but it fails to take in
consideration our average meridian location.
When you compare the sunrise/sunset times of
northern Idaho in the Pacific Time Zone to other
locales in the nation relative to their time
zones, we get lighter and darker earlier than
most of our counterparts in the rest of the
country located at the some latitude.
Currently, we get dark at Winter Solstice at a
few minutes before 4 p.m. PST.
If Washington state ends Daylight Savings Time,
we will be one-hour later than them in the
summer season. This will lead to confusion twice
every year at time change affecting cross-border
appointments and commerce.
Attitudes across the country reflect growing
opposition towards the semi-annual time changes,
so it is likely that Washington's bill is a sign
of more to come.
What I propose for Idaho is slightly different
in terms of legislation.
I suggest that a bill be introduced to place all
of the state of Idaho in the Mountain Time Zone
and ending Daylight Savings Time in the summer.
This would give northern Idaho a half-season
"correction" in terms of sunrise/sunset times
while enabling us to have a full day of
intrastate business interaction and ending the
inconvenience of the semi-annual time change.
Southern Idaho would merely be spared the
inconvenience of the semi-annual time change.
I ask you to pass this proposal on to State
Representatives Heather Scott and Sage Dixon.
Your collective consideration would probably
fall on mostly-sympathetic ears throughout the
state of Idaho. Feel free to contact me with any
questions or concerns. |
Gerald B. Higgs
Bonners Ferry |
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