Twin Falls: Keep Human Rights Panel

Maybe Idaho can do without a Commission on Hispanic Affairs, a State Independent Living Council, a Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or even state-funded public television. But it needs to keep the Human Rights Commission. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter wants to phase out the five agencies over four years as a budget-saving move. There’s a strong case to be made for saving each of them, but none as compelling as the Human Rights Commission. That’s because Idaho has an image problem across America. Market researchers who ask New Yorkers or Floridians or Californians about Idaho hear the word “potato” first. The next word they hear is “racists.” We owe that, of course, to Richard Butler and his Aryan Nations/ Twin Falls Times-News . More here .

• Speaking out for human rights /Marc Johnson, The Johnson Post
• The Aryans State cuts civil rights cops /Marti Trillhaase, Lewiston Trib

Question: Does Idaho need a Human Rights Commission?