[Vision2020] Consequences of Idaho's Closed Primary

[Tom Hansen]

With thanks to a friend and fellow Viz subscriber and courtesy of the Idaho Statesman at:
 
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/04/23/2088255/westviews-opinions-from-newspapers.html
 
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West Views: What are the real consequences of Idaho's closed primary?
HOFFMAN LETS A STATE SECRET SLIP

Our take, from Kevin Richert’s column: A new rule requiring voters to reveal whether they voted in GOP or Democratic primaries isn’t just a problem for journalists. It compromises anyone who might want to keep their political leanings to themselves — for personal or professional reasons.

Lewiston Tribune

Sought or not, Wayne Hoffman has earned your gratitude.

The director of the right-wing Idaho Freedom Foundation is credited with exposing the inner workings of Idaho’s new closed Republican primary election.

This was presented as a way to purify the GOP from independent thinkers, moderates and even the handful of Democrats who choose to cast ballots in what is often the real election in a one-party state.

But it’s also a way to publicly document who votes Republican in Idaho, how often they vote Republican in Idaho — and by inference, all those who do not vote Republican in Idaho.

All of which already was causing consternation among professionals who are expected to show impartiality — journalists and judges come to mind. Hoffman then supposedly hinted that he might out any Idaho journalist who votes as a registered Republican. That set off a debate in newsrooms across the state.

Hoffman maintains he said no such thing. Maybe he didn’t. Here’s what he told the Tribune’s Brad Gary: “I never said I was going to go around and make an effort to publish that information. I said that information would be useful.”

Useful?

To whom?

Certainly to political parties. Election after election, the Idaho GOP will compile a list of its reliable voters. Its base. The people it can count on to turn out at the polls. To put up yard signs. To contribute money.

But there’s also room for mischief.

How about the political operative who wants to discredit a newspaper reporter before the campaign begins?

Or the liberal lawyer who wants to disqualify a judge as a card-carrying Republican?

What happens to the small-town high school government teacher whose voting pattern gets scrutinized by a group of parents? Does he edit what he says in class about historical or political figures?

Or the small-business owner who can no longer hide his political affiliation from his customers?

It’s illegal for a boss to inquire about a worker’s politicalleanings. But nothing can stop that employer from probing the voting behavior of people he has hired, might hire or plans to promote.

What about the physician who is pro-choice and wants to make certain any nurse on his staff shares that view? A good clue would be whether he votes as a Republican, which has a historyof attracting pro-life voters and candidates.

Or the state agency head who wants to guarantee that his next chief deputy or press spokesman is a steady Republican voter? Registration records will fill in the blanks.

Even the conservative corporate executive who wants to promote a like-minded staffer has the opportunity to research the voting registration of his subordinates.

Far-fetched?

Don’t be so sure. Hoffman didn’t corner the market on imagination. He’s merely more talkative.

SUBSIDIZING THE IDAHO CENTER

Idaho Press-Tribune, Nampa

For years, Nampa taxpayers have helped sustain the Idaho Center to the tune of approximately half a million dollars a year. That must come to an end, and that might happen soon.

The Nampa City Council last week unanimously approved giving the entertainment and event venue just off Interstate 84 $500,000 from the city’s general fund.

The fact that the city is giving the Idaho Center money again is nothing new: It got $400,000 in 2009, $500,000 in 2010 and $600,000 last year.

But here’s what’s different. In past years, that money has come from urban renewal. The urban renewal well has run dry, so this year it’s coming directly from the city’s general fund.

So Nampa is opening its pocket to the tune of a half-million bucks to help sustain an entertainment venue after it just said it wasn’t going to fill seven positions in the police department and four in the fire department due to a budget crunch. On top of that, the city still must find a way to raise an additional $1.6 million to implement a federally required stormwater program.

The Idaho Center must live within its means. Maybe that means a change in leadership. But given the city’s financial position, it is no longer feasible to continue shoveling taxpayer cash the center’s way.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown


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