The Idaho Women’s Commission had its budget hearing this morning, with legislation pending by one JFAC member, Sen. Joyce Broadsword, to eliminate the commission entirely; Broadsword sees it as obsolete. But director Kitty Kunz got not a single question from the joint committee after giving her budget presentation. “We feel our purpose and value is still necessary,” she told the lawmakers. “Have women in Idaho achieved equity? We only have to look at this body and the leadership in Idaho to see that that hasn’t happened. We have achieved a great deal … but we have … a long way to reach equity.” Less than a third of Idaho’s lawmakers are female, and just one of its statewide elected officials, state Controller Donna Jones. Kunz said the tiny agency used just $26,700 of its state budget of $30,600 last year. “Because of our frugality, we had money to give back to the state last year,” she said. “We’re well aware of being fiscally responsible and try to use our funds wisely.”

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