Hucks: Do-Not-Call List Has Hangups

Seems one lobbyist with past ties to the Idaho Legislature has more clout than a million Idahoans. How else can you explain the unanimous vote by the House State Affairs Committee in favor of compromising Idaho’s popular do-not-call list? More than 1 million Idahoans have signed up for the list, which blocks pesky telemarketers. But panel members, like Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, brushed off that wide and deep resentment when lawmaker-turned-lobbyist Jim Clark, of Hayden, came calling last week with a sob story. The restrictions (sniff!) prevent phone, cable and cellular companies (sniff!) from cold-calling their customers to sell them new products (honk!). Clark represents Frontier Communications. Said Barbieri, who received a $150 donation from Clark for his 2012 GOPrimary race: “I think, given the inequities here, we should eliminate the restriction for telephone companies.” Ninety-six percent of voters in a Huckleberries online poll disagree. P’haps Barbieri’s constituents should call him at suppertime to explain to him the error of his ways?/ DFO , Sunday Huckleberries. More here.

Other SR weekend columns:

• Fix fly-by-night policy /Gary Crooks
• Idaho losing money by cutting costs /Betsy Russell
• Downsizing invites simplicity, savings /Rich Bonino
• Sounds like grounds for hidden camera /Paul Turner
• Sweeney kept perspective & humor /John Blanchette
• Indictment alleges Greg Jeffreys dark side /Shawn Vestal
• Spokane native lands state-record mackinaw /Rich Landers
• The face on U.S. penny keeps common sense at bay /Doug Clark