Electricity costs a manufacturer 4.48 cents per kilowatt hour in Idaho. The same company would pay 26.05 cents per kilowatt hour in Hawaii. In Connecticut, it’s 14.93 cents. In Alaska, it’s 14.17 cents. The average worker in Idaho earns $647 a week. Next door in Washington state it’s $906 a week. So why aren’t companies standing in line to move here? Three reasons: Our schools aren’t good enough, our business taxes are too high, and, except for Boise, our transportation infrastructure is lousy/Twin Falls Times-News. More here.

Question: Does the Twin Falls editorial assessment apply to North Idaho —  “our schools aren’t good enough, our business taxes are too high, and our transportation infrastructure is basically lousy?

Across the border in Washington, former state Rep. John Ahern was famous for floor speeches trotting out the specter of unhappy Washington businesses decamping en masse for Idaho. “That great sucking sound you hear,” he’d warn, as Democrats rolled their eyes, “is business heading for Idaho.” Ahern’s now gone, ousted by a Democratic challenger in November. Yet the issue clearly isn’t. “Democrat bills send clear message to employers: Go to Idaho!” said a recent press release from Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake. She blasted several bills that she said would “rip the welcome mat away from our employers”/Rich Roesler, Eye On Olympia. More here.

• Bill protects people living in RVs
• Amateur dams and broken hearts
• Bill would protect athletes after concussions
• House votes to force Pierce County to vote by mail

Question: Does Idaho have a better business climate than Washington? Or are Washington lawmakers simply over-reacting to perceived business competition from Idaho?