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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Rep. Sayler: Lessons learned

George Sayler taught government to high school students for 31 years, but when he arrived in the state Legislature eight years ago, he said, “I had a lot to learn.” He understood how the system worked. “But actually seeing it in effect – seeing the role of a committee chair to deny hearing a bill, or how personalities could affect the process, was a bit of a revelation,” the four-term Democrat from Coeur d’Alene said. “It made me more aware of the strategy that has to go on.”

Sayler is retiring after this year’s session, capping a legislative career in which he championed landmark day-care licensing legislation – often against opponents who said moms should just stay home with their kids – and took on issues ranging from grandparents’ rights to water rights, and property tax relief to absentee voting. “I tried to represent the district as a voice of reason,” he said, “to represent the broad diversity of interest in our district – not push a long agenda of my own.” But, he said, “Unfortunately, I learned that we often legislate based on emotion – not always on sound logical reasons.” You can read my full column here from Sunday's Handle Extra.



Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.