Legislators Not Exempt From Freedom Of Religion
Attorney General Al Lance struck a blow for religious freedom by ruling that legislators can pray in state office buildings. A Genesee spoilsport raised the ol’ church-and-state bogeyman after learning five Republicans regularly prayed together in the Len B. Jordan Building: Sen. Gordon Crow of Coeur d’Alene and Reps. Tom Dorr of Post Falls, Jeff Alltus of Coeur d’Alene, Dan Mader of Lewiston, and Dave Baumann of Boise. Imagine! These guys are praying when they could be lying, conniving or at least arranging a book deal! Lance told the complainer that the five had as much right to free speech as the state employees who routinely reserve public space for their functions. Attaboy, Al.
ACLU fails to see the light
The American (un)Civil Liberties Union now has its sights set on a lighted cross that has overlooked Boise for 39 years. Last week, ACLUers wailed to Land Board members that their predecessors illegally granted a site deed to the Boise Junior Chamber of Commerce. The ACLU complained that the 1972 Land Board behaved improperly by declaring the sliver of public land surplus (sniff!), by reserving the right to refuse bids other than that entered by the Jaycees (sniff!), and by limiting public notice of the land auction (honk!). Gov. Phil Batt & Co. told the ACLU to take a hike. Now, ACLUers are threatening to sue the state. Too bad tort reform couldn’t do something about these grinches.
Denton, Mary Lou don’t make cute couple
Hmmmm. Something’s wrong when arch-conservative Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, and arch-liberal Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, vote alike. On Tuesday, it was their vote. The political odd couple opposed a bill that will allow homeschoolers to take part in public school activities and sports. Mary Lou said the homeschoolers will be disruptive. Denton feared bonehead athletes will drop out of schools to get around academic eligibility requirements. Fortunately, 95 of 105 legislators brushed aside these thin excuses in voting for the bill. Parents of homeschoolers pay taxes, too; that gives their kids a right to participate in the extracurricular activities.
Correction: NEA didn’t provide $$$
The Associated Press incorrectly reported that the National Education Association contributed $1.7 million to a goofy history curriculum. A Hot Potato Tuesday used the information in a dig at the NEA.
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