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The Idaho Women’s Commission would receive no state funding next year and its only part-time employee would be eliminated, under a budget that just won 15-5 approval from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, made the motion for zero funding. She said each of the programs that the Women’s Commission undertakes is duplicated by other private non-profit or government agencies in Idaho, with the exception of a booklet about Idaho laws and how they affect women - and Keough said she’s contacted several of those other groups and they may take on the booklet. “I have no doubt that the folks that are involved in that group do good work and have good intentions, but for me, the priority this year is for those that are needy and for K-12 education,” she said. “I simply cannot support spending money on the commission this year.”
Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, offered a motion to cut the commission’s funding roughly by half. Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, backed Keough’s motion. “I think this is the right thing to do - the original motion, I think, is just prolonging the agony at this time to make this decision,” he said. The five “no” votes came from Reps. Bilyeu, Bell, Bayer, Ringo and Jaquet; all other JFAC members voted in favor.
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slfisher on March 23 at 8:30 a.m.
About time.
stebbijo on March 23 at 3:05 p.m.
This was wrong in all aspects. I remember when the timber commission was put through and under the noses of many of us, until we were greeted with bills to fund this commission. It was to be used for education and to teach the public how the timber industry works. It still operates and the bills are mandatory and enforced BY the state of Idaho. You have to pay if you are in the lumber business or own timber properties.
Keough and Broadsword are all about educating the public concerning lumber but when it comes to women and resources they would just rather shut us all up.They are a disgrace and obviously managed by Paul Bunyans.