At first blush, there’s something intrinsically repulsive about the state’s decision to provide taxpayer handouts to the developers of a luxury hotel complex in Ketchum. Maybe it’s in the words “luxury” and “hotel,” conjuring images of “opulence” and “exclusivity” all funded with special tax breaks out of reach to the rest of us. Odious as it might sound, it’s actually a lot worse. There is only one Ketchum, Idaho. If you want to build a destination resort to capitalize on the unique year-round recreation and tourism opportunities of the Sun Valley area, you pretty much have to build there. And yet, the state Department of Commerce decided to award a $132,000 tax handout for a 100-room luxury hotel complex that, according to press reports, will occupy a city block and include residences and timeshares. Department of Commerce Director Jeff Sayer contends the project deserves a special taxpayer deal because the company could have chosen to focus its considerable resources elsewhere/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here.