Letters to the editor: Idaho’s senators, abortion, Sawtooths

Senators

Idaho Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo have sat in the Senate for many years, and they have the status and power that comes with that. They enjoy sitting in the catbird seat. They enjoy posing for pictures with veterans. However, they could not see their way to vote for a bill that would have provided care for veterans with health issues related to toxic burn pits. Similarly, they simply couldn’t find a way to approve setting a cap on the price of insulin. “Reckless spending,” according to Crapo. That’s his story, and he’s sticking to it, but what really drives him is his tight connection with Big Pharma, and the money that comes his way as a result. Though both men talk about the importance of keeping manufacturing in the U.S., and about national security, they both voted against the CHIPS Act, which keeps the manufacture of microchips at home, and supports a major employer in Idaho. Wake up, Idaho! These men are controlled by corporate interests, and those are the masters they serve. You can’t pay both your rent and your insulin bill? Don’t talk to Risch or Crapo about that. They don’t care. Instead, do this: vote!

Jan Schlicht, Boise

Abortion

Per Merriam-Webster, abortion is “the termination of a pregnancy.”

Idaho GOP delegates voted against any abortion exceptions for the life of the mother in their platform, approving this language: “We reaffirm our support for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.”

“Natural death” means a death not caused by human interference.

Here is one way Idaho moms will be forced to die if this platform becomes law:

One in 50 pregnancies is ectopic – when the fertilized egg implants itself not in the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies grow, rip apart the mom’s tissues, causing severe bleeding. These moms will bleed to death unless an abortion is performed. There is no other treatment.

Placental abruption is when the placenta tears open. This can happen from trauma – like a car wreck, from pregnancies of multiples, moms who had fertility treatment. Placental abruption often leads to life-threatening bleeding and dangerous blood poisoning. When a baby is not able to live outside the womb, Idaho moms will have to wait until their baby’s heartbeat stops before receiving life-saving abortion care. Usually the mom is dead by then.

Idaho moms deserve to live. The Idaho GOP platform of forced death must not become law.

Kama Parrish, Nampa

Sawtooths

The recent article about the Sawtooth National Recreation Area brings up the question: Why is Idaho the only Western state without an iconic national park? And frankly, upgrading the designation of Craters of the Moon National Monument to National Park status is no reasonable substitution. When the Sawtooth National Recreation Area was started, the U.S. Forest Service made a reasonable attempt to treat it in a “park like” manner. Lately, they seem to have divested themselves and now have three “contracted entities” to handle active management: the Redfish Lake Lodge; a company to manage recreation facilities; and an interpretive association. It is as if they have lost interest in active management. Further, the issues of mining, grazing and hunting are now in significant decline. Maybe it is time to again consider a national park designation, understanding that Idaho’s conservative politics would prevent any debate on this matter. Nevertheless, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is today overcrowded, underfunded and under-managed. An alternative might be to transfer the area of Redfish Lake to be an Idaho State Park. Let’s not remain stuck in the “Idaho way” on this issue.

Dennis McLane, Boise