Minnick gets an earful

POST FALLS – Freshman Congressman Walt Minnick, representing Idaho’s first district, took to the road this week, visiting with his constituents in North Idaho. At Thursday’s town hall meeting at Post Falls City Hall, he fielded questions for almost two hours on topics ranging from health care to alternative energy.

“It’s a sobering time to be there,” Minnick said of his first stint in Washington D.C. “It’s very, very important to make thoughtful decisions.”

The audience included Diane Haney’s seventh- and eighth-grade leadership class from Post Falls Middle School. Minnick praised their presence, adding that they are what the discussion is all about – our youth.

That said, student Tyler Benjamin was first up to the mike to ask if the employee free choice act will pass. Minnick, Idaho’s lone Democrat in Congress, told Tyler that the issue will be taken up in the Senate first.

Promoting and championing independent living for the disabled, Patrick Blum with the Disability Action Center expressed concern regarding nursing homes having their voices heard louder than DAC, which promotes independence.

“Nursing homes have a very powerful lobby,” Blum said. “We’re doing good work here but need all the PR we can get.”

Minnick said he agrees that if a person can live independently they are more productive, and said that he supported home health care. Health care in general was a hot item.

“Health care is the 900-pound gorilla in the next three months,” Minnick said, calling it a complicated topic which he’s willing to hear input on. “We’re spending more and getting less and I’d be interested in any suggestions.”

Amanda Miller representing Dirne Health Centers, which provides access to health care for uninsured or under-insured patients in Coeur d’Alene, stepped up to the mike, greeting the Congressman, noting that they are FaceBook friends. She said community health centers such as Dirne are the only safety net for many people.

“We see community health centers as a big part of the future with more (people) becoming unemployed,” Miller said.

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said he so believes in the Dirne Clinic that a two-acre site for a clinic in Post Falls has been secured.

“It’s a very critical part of community health care,” Larkin said.

A very passionate Reggie Correll, who declared herself a “blue dog Democrat” echoing Minnick, spoke against nationalizing health care, saying that it’s “not what we want,” speaking from experience.

Having lived in Europe for two years, she said the doctors are less experienced, going so far as to taking medicine away from cancer patients. Correll concurred that facilities like the Dirne Clinic should be encouraged. Minnick opposes nationalizing health care, yet recognizes our system is broken.

Student Breezy Arnone asked the congressman about “No Child Left Behind.”

“The idea behind it is good, but some of the restrictions need to be revisited, such as measuring absolute improvement rather than a base line,” Minnick said.

Breezy’s classmate William Jelsma was concerned about assistance with college tuition.

“That’s a hard thing – when I was a boy, if you worked all summer you could pay your own way,” Minnick said. “That world is gone.”

He said now more than ever college is so important because of the high-tech world we live in, and said it is necessary to find a way to make college more affordable regardless of income level.”

“Education is the future of our world, and so are you,” he said to William.

Student Rachel Britton wanted Minnick’s views on “going green.” He said it’s the third big issue Congress needs to address, stating that the United States must reduce its dependence on foreign oil, which means more domestic drilling – as well as exploring bio-fuels, wind and solar power. He supports the public sector becoming involved in alternative energy.

Minnick serves on the agriculture and financial services committees in Washington. A businessman by profession, most recently running a retail nursery business, he said he’s one of relatively few people “back there” who are serving in Congress “not as a career.”

Growing up on a family wheat farm, and running his own business he recognizes that many of his challenges relate to rural Idaho.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a perspective most people haven’t had,” he said. “I’ve been a bit of an independent on many issues. When times are tough you don’t just throw money at issues. I look at bills from an Idaho perspective.”