By Rep. Tom Loertscher, District 31

I was delayed in getting to town to vote on election day, and being my normal optimistic self I thought that it might have been a good thing because early at my precinct there would surely be a line. The 10:30 AM line was almost out the door. Waiting in a line for twenty minutes is not what I had anticipated but the optimistic view is that at least I got to visit with a lot of my friends and neighbors. The person standing next to me wondered out loud just how he should be voting on one item on the ballot. I saw a look of horror come across the faces of several in line, but they were all eagerly awaiting my answer. I said, “Well if we were three hundred feet from here I could answer that question.” A good laugh followed along with a sigh of relief.

In the aftermath of election day comes the inevitable question, “Are you satisfied with how it turned out?” What can you say to that? Nationally at least it was not the best news for Republicans and in the Idaho House we lost six, one here in River City. There is a lesson here somewhere and depending on who you talk to there is a different answer. So what do I think? When the lines get as blurred as they are now the result is predictable. In Idaho state-wide races there were some clear choices and we win when that is the case.

After the election there is a North Idaho Tour for the newly elected and re-elected. I have been on several of these in the past and decided to go this time as well. Post Falls was the HQ for the tour and for me it was interesting to see some of the changes that have occurred in the intervening years. I went to the Silver Valley and since the dismantling of the smelter the years have brought back the vegetation to the surrounding hills.

Another noteworthy observation is the way the economy there has changed. Four years ago they were experiencing 18% unemployment and today it is at 3.3%. Back then they were complaining about the depressed real estate markets and today things have increased so rapidly that they are complaining about un-affordable housing and high property taxes. Just can’t seem to keep them happy. I think they like this better but it is human nature to complain. The growth is very noticeable and new businesses are cropping up all over the place. What struck me most is that for the most part it has taken place without government involvement and time after time new business owners in the area cited their reason for coming to Idaho was less government regulation. Imagine that, looks like some of us have been right all along.