In an earlier blog post, I asked aloud what a nonprofit group hopes to accomplish by squiring Idaho legislators around Turkey for 10 days. Well, nothing, exactly. Or so says one of the legislators on the trip. “They certainly didn’t ask for anything,” Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said in an interview Tuesday.  After the Turkey trip first hit the news — when state Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, went on his Facebook page to report Idahoans were unhurt in a fatal bombing in the Turkish capital of Ankara — the public scrutiny and online comment traffic have focused on the group that footed much of the bill. While lawmakers covered their airfare to Turkey, the Pacifica Institute picked up the rest. The Turkish-American group paid for travel within Turkey, meals and lodging — although the accommodations included some nights in hotels and some nights staying with Turkish business people/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: None of our North Idaho lawmakers are on the list that Richert provides (in link). Aren't you glad of that? Can you think of any reason that Idaho lawmakers should be taking this junket?