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McAlister provides a clear choice |
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October 28, 2016 |
Elections are about choices and choices are
about values. The race between Heather Scott and
Kate McAlister provides a very clear choice for
the voters of District 1.
At present we have an incumbent who has one the
most negative voting records in the House. Of
the 378 bills passed by the legislature in 2016
Scott voted NO 114 times. That’s 30%! Of those
NO votes hers was the only one on seven
occasions.
Oddly those negative votes garnered her an A+
rating from the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF),
an ultra-conservative anti-government
organization. By contrast the IFF gave Senator
Shawn Keough an F for her voting record, a grade
that she admittedly wears with great pride.
To fully appreciate the IFF grading system you
need to know that they awarded grades of C or
higher to only 30 out of 105 members of the
Idaho Legislature. 51 got Fs. The worst thing a
legislator can do in the eyes of the IFF is to
vote to spend taxpayer money whether it’s for
education, roads, or medical care for the
indigent.
We have a challenger in McAlister who comes from
the local business community. She has been
endorsed by the Idaho Association of Commerce
and Industry, the trade association that
represents businesses large and small at the
legislature. They rarely endorse a challenger to
an incumbent.
Their reasoning for their support is that Scott
"has one of the worst voting records on
supporting commerce."
McAlister received another coveted business
endorsement from the Idaho Associated General
Contractors, a trade association representing
the state’s commercial construction industry. If
you value economic development and jobs, Scott
is not going to help.
Education is an important value to most voters
whether Democrat, Independent, or Republican.
McAlister has actively supported local education
programs as a Board and Committee member for a
number of years. In the 2016 legislative session
there were nine bills supporting public
education. Heather Scott voted NO on four bills
amounting to $1.5 billion or 60% of all
education spending.
The Idaho Education Association has endorsed
McAlister. If you value supporting good
education Scott is not going to help.
One issue that clearly distinguishes the two
candidates is their position on Federal lands in
Idaho. Scott wants to ignore the Idaho
Constitution which specifically disclaims all
rights to those lands. (Interesting how some
constitutional provisions are more important
than others.) She wants the state of Idaho to
take ownership.
McAlister is concerned that the cost to Idaho
taxpayers for fire suppression alone would be
prohibitive, while agreeing that joint
arrangements such as “The Good Neighbor
Authority” between the Feds and the State would
go a long way toward improving land management,
including increasing timber harvests. She is
also concerned that the State would sell lands
to private owners as we have seen happen in
other states, making access to all impossible.
McAlister has been endorsed by the Idaho Forest
Group. If you value public lands Scott is not
going to help.
There have also been some disturbing activities
in the Scott camp that should concern voters.
She conjured up an incident in Priest River in
2015, claiming that the Veterans’ Administration
was going to confiscate guns from a disabled
vet.
While Scott took credit for holding off the
government, the truth is they never were trying
to do any more than help the vet qualify for
needed financial benefits. If you value veterans
Scott is not going to help.
Scott took time off during the last legislative
session to visit Oregon’s Malheur Federal
Wildlife Refuge, and support its takeover by
armed scofflaws Ammon and Ryan Bundy. Both are
currently on trial in Federal Court for their
actions. The Bundys have been abandoned by all
but a few ardent supporters. Heather Scott
continues to support them.
Then there was the Confederate Flag incident
during the 2015 Timber Days celebration in
Priest River. Scott embraced a major symbol of
racism and division in this country. That sort
of judgment raises serious questions about her
qualifications to represent North Idaho. If you
value support of outlaws, racism, and division
Scott will help.
Scott has developed an appalling working
relationship with her colleagues in the
legislature. She is disliked by most of the
leadership for her disruptive tactics. Last year
she prevented a vote during the regular session
on a bill designed to ease collection of child
support from deadbeat parents residing out of
state or out of the county. She publicly took
pride and credit for delaying the legislation.
The bill ultimately passed in a special session
of the legislature called by our Governor a
month after the regular session. That special
session cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.
If you value disruption in the legislature and
wasteful spending Scott will help.
Interestingly Scott has spent most of this
campaign ducking forums and interviews with any
but her most ardent supporters. On October 26,
she chose to miss a highly respected candidate
interview program hosted by Suzy Prez and Chris
Bessler on Bonner County public radio station
KRFY. She also refused an invitation to appear
on Blue Sky Broadcasting’s “Face to Face”
program with Debby Trinen and Bob Wynhausen on
KSPT. She did however appear on a similar show
with Dan McDonald during the summer. McDonald is
a staunch supporter of Scott.
Kate McAlister has built a career working with
others in a collaborative fashion, getting
things done. It seems clear based on
temperament, balance, perspective, and devotion
to her community that Kate McAlister is clearly
the better candidate to represent Legislative
District 1.
Vote for Kate on November 8! |
Charlene Godec
Sandpoint |
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