Contrary to what you may have heard -- or even read on this page -- the GOP-led Idaho Legislature is not totally enslaved to rigid ideology. In fact, when lives are at stake, lawmakers show a remarkable ability to make rational, humane choices. Take immunizations, for instance. About 70.2 percent of kids ages 19 months to 35 months have been vaccinated, a sliver behind the national average of 70.4 percent and the 25th best rate among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not bad, but certainly this is no time to back away from the public health commitment -- especially with reports of measles outbreaks. So lawmakers had no problem extending for another two years a program that spends federal dollars to provide vaccinations to children without health insurance. The same bill continues the practice of allowing the health care community to purchase vaccines in bulk to help keep prices in check/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here.