Bsu President Declines Call To Debate Tax Initiative

The leader of the One Percent Initiative campaign has challenged Boise State University President Charles Ruch to a debate over the property tax limitation measure.

But Ruch declined the offer Wednesday, saying others with a broader view of the effects of the initiative should be represented.

Ron Rankin, a Coeur d’Alene anti-property tax activist and president of the Idaho Property Owners Association, said he wanted to debate Ruch after the university president outlined possible effects the tax cut could have on Boise State.

“President Ruch has been shooting at the One Percent property tax relief initiative from his taxpayer-financed ivory tower,” Rankin said. “Let’s test his anti-tax cut doom-and-gloom predictions in an open public debate.”

Ruch said he had not personally heard from Rankin, but that a debate on the initiative should include more than higher education - such as tax policy and the effects on public schools, economic growth and local government.

“My statements regarding the initiative have focused only on the impact it will have on higher education in general and the students at Boise State in particular,” he said. “It would be inappropriate for me to speak on issues outside that arena.”

Rankin called Ruch’s decision to criticize the ballot measure in the media rather than in an open forum “guerrilla warfare” and said Ruch was “hiding behind his institution.”

Rankin will face initiative opponents Oct. 17 in a debate scheduled to air statewide on Idaho Public Television. No on One Percent campaign spokesman Scott Peyron said that and other forums would be comprehensive.