Please stop by our local Democrat Party booth at the Twin Falls County Fair! Despite the Times-News obituary, local Democrats are alive and well!

As wonderful Congressman Richard Stallings would say, "Democrats are as independent as Idaho." We disagree on a few issues, but we all want to help working families and small businesses who presently take a backseat to the lobbyists that run the Legislature. I'll be at the Fair from 4 to 8 p.m. daily, so please stop by!

Here my top three priorities:

1. Stop paying $30,000 per inmate per year to out-of-state prisons to baby-sit prisoners. Let's put all prisoners to work to pay for themselves.

States like Oregon and Pennsylvania save millions and help rehabilitate prisoners by providing productive jobs, like making blue jeans. Healthy prisoners should be paying for themselves with money left over to compensate the victims of their crimes.

2. Let's cut waste, not raise taxes! The Incentive–for Improvement Initiative.

The "Incentive–for Improvement Initiative" is simple. If a state employee reports a wasteful procedure or a cost-effective alternative that is adopted, they get a cash reward. I want people coming to work alert and eager for efficiency. If we cannot keep a low and balanced budget, why not have a sales tax on cosmetic surgeries, for those who can afford these procedures?

3. First class education for our children. The Incentive to Teach Initiative.

The key area is early reading and math skills. Early learning, in a fun format, is best done by parents, when possible. I propose an incentive program for high school–students to tutor youngsters who are–struggling with–reading and math skills.–They could earn credit toward tuition at an Idaho college for their work. Let's teach parenting skills, and teach struggling young ones before they are truly left behind.

DR. PETER RICKARDS

Twin Falls

(Editor's note: Peter Rickards in the Democratic nominee for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 23)