Letter: Vito sails under false colors

In a letter to the Coeur d’Alene Press editor, former legislator Mike Blackbird comments:

The phrase “sailing under false colors” was a reference to a tactic used by pirates roaming the seas to attack vessels with desired booty. By hoisting a friendly flag, the unsuspecting ship would allow the pirates’ ship to approach without resistance, allowing the pirates to storm aboard and capture the ship.

Sailing under false colors describes Rep. Vito Barbieri’s no votes on state school funding, as required the Idaho State Constitution. By consistently voting no Rep. Barbieri and his like voting colleagues have forced 97 of 115 Idaho school districts to run levies to fund education. School levies are funded by increasing property taxes. Kootenai County residents, and particularly harmful to seniors on fixed incomes, have been victimized by Rep. Barbieri’s negative votes on state mandated school funding. More here.