Donald Trump promises to kill the climate for $1 billion from Big Oil | Opinion

Big oil and Trump

Last month, Trump told top oil executives that if they donated $1 billion to elect him he would repay them by eliminating taxes and regulations and by letting them drill much more in the Gulf of Mexico.

The U.S. produces more oil today (13 million barrels per day) than any other country ever has. ExxonMobil alone made $36 billion in profits in 2023. Surely they could pay Trump a billion to keep that oil and those profits flowing.

Never mind that for the past 11 months, each month has been the hottest on record. Never mind that the coming summer may be the hottest that Idaho has ever seen. Never mind that worldwide, wildfires are bigger, hurricanes stronger and tornadoes more frequent than ever. Never mind the smoke seasons, devastating droughts and killer floods.

It is a really bad idea to ask big oil to buy our elections. From here on, with every image of Donald Trump, I’ll see oil dripping across his face while the world burns behind him.

Don Kemper, Boise

Dangerous overpass

The Curtis Road overpass and approaches are ludicrous. Every commercial vehicle in the Treasure Valley uses it, often at the same time. Cars are backed up so far. Then, you have the morons who allow other morons to cut into the turn lane to get onto the freeway, causing further delay and rewarding cheaters. I never allow anyone to cut over. Never. Something must be done. It’s getting worse every day.

Thorpe P. Orton, Boise

Guns in schools

I am a senior at Boise High School. Living in Idaho, I am aware of the rights of owning a firearm. Citizens are fully capable of safely managing a firearm. Everyone should have the right to exercise their second amendment right to own a firearm, as they are used for recreation, hunting and self defense.

As of April 18, there have been around 18 school shooting incidents across the country. Four were on college campuses and 14 were on K-12 school grounds. These incidents left nine casualties and at least 25 others injured.

In 2021, Boise High had an incident with a student bringing a firearm on campus, which triggered some gun owners to organize a protest at Boise High. Boise High administration informed us that these protesters were likely armed, and exempted school absences for the day if students felt unsafe coming to school. The question remains that if school was exempt due to the presence of guns on campus, why would the legislature allow faculty to carry them in a classroom? Gun regulation is the center of this issue. Why would we allow them in the place where they are most dangerous?

Olivia Case, Boise

Gem State Conservatives

Allow us to introduce Gem State Conservatives and what we stand for.

We are Republicans from all 44 counties in Idaho. Many of us built the Idaho GOP over decades. We receive no funding or support from out-of-state organizations.

Our objective is restoring integrity to our party. Our focus is principally these areas:

(1) Trusting the voters: Pulling power to party insiders is the wrong direction. We believe our nominees are answerable to all Republicans, not just a select few.

(2) We need a “big tent” Republican Party: Ronald Reagan believed those with whom we agree 80% of the time are allies, not enemies. We reject efforts to purge the party of all who don’t agree with party leaders 100% of the time.

(3) We value Republican women and youth. The decision stripping voting rights on the GOP Executive Committee from the Idaho Republican Women’s Federation, College Republicans and Young Republicans is short-sighted and must be reversed.

What do Gem State Conservatives do? We help candidates who agree on these principles. Our goal: return the GOP to its rightful owners, the Republican voters of Idaho.

Tom Luna and Trent Clark, Soda Springs

Dan Chadwick

In my 30-plus years working in both elected and appointed positions in Idaho I have met hundreds of people from across the state and across the country. These included legislators, elected school and county officials and staff of various professional organizations.

Out of all those people, Dan Chadwick, longtime executive director of the Idaho Association of Counties, stood at the top. I worked with Dan on a variety of county issues while a County Clerk and County Administrator. There were times we were on the same side and times we were not. In either case he treated me with respect and always worked in the best interest of the counties of Idaho.

At the end of my career I served as the executive director of a small professional organization. Almost daily I would think of Dan and how he did his job with an infinitely more difficult organization. He was my mentor without even knowing it.

Dan Chadwick served his country, his state, and his community with distinction, compassion, and a love of life. The world would be a better place if there were more Dan Chadwick’s in it.

Tom Taggart, Hansville, Washington

Labrador

Raul Labrador’s opinion piece in the Idaho Statesman is misleading. He insists that he cares about the lives of women. He insists the Idaho law does not prohibit saving the life of a mother by abortion. But that is just the point. Only at the point of death are the hospital, doctors and patient protected. Good medical practice does not wait until an imminent threat of death. Good medical practice is about the health and well being of the patient . It tries to prevent the loss of fertility and the danger of sepsis. Idaho’s law, as stated by Labrador, only coincides with the federal law at the point of death. Other medical emergencies do not count.

Cheryl D Halverson, Tensed