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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Sims Defends Vote Vs Health Center

State Rep. Kathy Sims, North Idaho College Trustee Todd Banducci and GOP Senate nominee Mary Souza (back to the camera) enjoy a laugh at the Kootenai County Republican Women's lunch today. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

At the Kootenai County Republican Women's luncheon at noon today, state Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene, explained why she voted against the behavioral health bill last session (that resulted in Idaho Falls getting a mental health center instead of favored Coeur d'Alene). In a letter that she circulated at the luncheon, Sims said: "The bill purports to provide for 'those Idaho citizens experiencing behavioral health crisis where an appropriate level of care to meet their needs is not available.' This is not the only vague term giving too much latitude in determining who gets help and when. The lack of a definition provided in the bill is deeply troubling. For example, what is the 'appropriate' level of care and who decides?" Full letter here.

Question: Does Rep. Sims truly represents the Coeur d'Alene community when she opposed a bill that resulted in Gov. Otter locating a mental health center in Idaho Falls instead of Coeur d'Alene?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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