A Reasoned, Nonpartisan Discussion?

In an age where any public display of bipartisanship is rare and forced, Idaho’s two House members comfortably checked their affiliations at the door. Given this summer’s town hall debates over health care - which Simpson described, tongue in cheek, as “rambunctious” - a civil discussion is nothing to take for granted. Not when the takeaway point was identical. Simpson and Minnick share a must-have: Health care reform must include cost containment. That can mean increased use of health care paraprofessionals, as Minnick suggested. Or tort reform, as Simpson advocated. Or weaning the health care profession off of “defensive” procedures, as both congressmen support. But cost containment is a reasonable starting point to refocus this rancorous debate/ Idaho Statesman . More here .

• Daily Politics Brief /Treasured Valley
• Government meddling isn’t healthy for business /Spokesman-Review
• Luna can reform federal school reform /Lewiston Tribune
• UI finally making necessary hard decisions /Murf Raquet, Moscow-Pullman Daily News
• Idaho House members take different approaches to dialing for dollars /Kevin Richert

Question: Are you concerned/delighted that Idaho’s two congressmen appear to model bipartisanship in looking for an answer to the health care dilemma?