Edit: Otter’s Report Buried Real News
Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter’s latest snapshot on Idaho’s economy reads like an account of a football game. The sky was blue. The temperature was pleasant. The crowd was brimming with enthusiasm. The hometown team scored a touchdown. Located in the fourth paragraph was the score - with the visiting team winning the game. Otter’s Labor Department highlighted how Census data shows an uptick in incomes - median household incomes were up 2.8 percent vs. a 1.7 percent national average. Poverty rates also fell about 0.3 percent to 15.6 percent. All to the good - but Otter’s administration buried the real news:
- At $27,932, Idaho’s individual median income is dead last among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. By contrast, Washington’s individual median income is $36,861 - putting it at 10th.
- Idaho women earned a median income of $21,908, again dead last. In 2006, they were ranked 47th in the country.
- For Idaho men, a median income of $33,623 was ranked 48th. Eight years ago, Idaho men came in 45th. More here.
Question: This is the editorial I’ve been waiting to read, one that spotlights all those last-place-in-rankings that Idaho has been piling up. In journalism-speak, Gov. Otter “buried the lead.” Thoughts?
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog