Batt Gleans Right Message From Initiative’s Defeat
Idaho Gov. Phil Batt earns Sweet Potatoes for not misreading the overwhelming vote against the One Percent Initiative as some sort of mandate. Idahoans want property tax relief. But they weren’t willing to gamble on the draconian measures of Proposition One. After Ron Rankin’s initiative crashed again, Batt promised to work “vigorously” with the 1997 Legislature to curb the rapid growth of property taxes in some areas (read Kootenai, Bonner counties). Batt will need to follow through, too. Rankin, the Everready bunny of Idaho politics, is gearing up for a fourth attempt with his initiative, beginning in January. But Rankin won’t have as much free time to circulate petitions as he’s had before. Also in January, he’ll be sworn in as a Kootenai County commissioner. Yes, we’ll keep an eye on his time card for you.
Goodbye, good riddance to hydroplanes.
Most Coeur d’Alene residents owe a debt of gratitude to Scott Reed, Jeff Coulter and friends for blocking efforts to bring back hydroplane racing - finally. They collected the signatures last spring to put an official hydroplane ban on the ballot. And the voters did the rest. Now, by a 2-to-1 margin, the community has reconfirmed its opposition to this goofy idea, which resurfaced last year after being dormant for a decade. A future City Council, of course, could overturn the twice-expressed will of the people by rescinding the new law. However, it would be politically unwise to do so. And if someone should try? He or she should be taken to the center of town - right on Sherman Avenue and Fourth Street - and flogged.
Darlene King: I still miss ye
A year in jail at the most for crashing into Darlene King’s car Jan. 24 and killing her? Michael R. Opland should consider himself lucky. Opland’s also lucky the jury wasn’t allowed to hear about his lousy driving record before he killed the Kootenai County commissioners’ popular assistant. Opland had been cited for drunken driving, operating an unsafe vehicle and driving on the wrong side of the highway. In September 1994, he injured another woman by hitting her car from behind. This time, Opland tried to pass a string of cars on glare ice along state Highway 41 and collided head-on with Darlene. Darlene always defended her bosses, particularly against the barbs hurled at them by yours truly. She was proud of her hunting prowess and her family. She’s still missed. But Opland won’t be when he’s packed off to jail for too short a time.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.