‘Toxic paternalism’ infests Legislature

In his Wedneday editorial, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune comments:

Poor state Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard. Seems like she can’t get a break. There she was last week, trying to put the moribund Idaho Women’s Commission out of existence. It shouldn’t take much. The commission, never budgeted at more than $30,000, hasn’t received a dime in the seven years since former Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, got its funding eliminated. All that’s required now is a simple bill to repeal the 1970s-era legislation that created the women’s commission in the first place. “It’s kind of outdated,” Scott said. “I just don’t think women need a commission to promote themselves.” Unfortunately for Scott, her bill emerged at about the same time her fellow Republican, Rep. Pete Nielsen of Mountain Home, dished out just the latest dose of the “toxic paternalism” Idaho women have had to endure. More here.

Thoughts?