Rents aren't cheap
... I am one of the "wealthy tenants" at Priest Lake. How did Marty Trillhaase get into my financial records?
Again you are "light" on your facts in "CHEERS" to Lawrence Wasden in the March 26 Tribune. You should change it to "JEERS" because of the following:
1. The real issue the Tribune and others miss is not whether the return is 2 percent or 10 percent, but what is fair market rent. (This is required by law and Wasden misses the point.)
2. The endowment land was given to the state by the U.S. government, not purchased.
3. The total return to the state from 2006 to 2009 on the endowment lots at Priest Lake is approximately 17.8 percent (not less than 2 percent as claimed).
4. The state has done nothing to increase the value of the lots, thus increase their worth. Only work done by the lessees has contributed to the increase in value.
5. Wasden and the Land Board have done little to nothing to get the "maximum return" on endowment lands by developing lots and other land on Priest Lake.
6. It is hypocritical to demand "maximum return" on certain lots but do nothing to get any return on the other endowment lands.
7. Rent on Priest Lake lots has increased approximately 550 percent since 1993. Now, the state wants to increase rent another 54 percent.
8. The expert opinions and evidence furnished by the lessees to the state have been totally ignored.
9. The average lessee at Priest Lake since 2001 has paid between 9.3 percent and 14 percent of the median U.S. income for rent. That will go to 18.56 percent in 2015 under the state's proposal.
I say "JEERS" to Wasden. ...
Steve Rice
Lewiston
Proud of the president
Every congressman who voted for President Obama's health care bill risked his entire career to improve health care for us all. They have nothing to gain, but plenty to lose.
Most of them also voted for the Obama stimulus, which has saved our stock market and the retirement savings for millions of us.
For years, American families have been paying huge, unaffordable medical premiums while our congressmen have been subsidized. Only a greedy, selfish congressman would vote against correcting this highway robbery by the insurance industry.
The Idaho hypocrites in Congress have spent years stalling and are experts at "let us start all over again." These Idaho congressmen have no intentions of helping us on health care.
We also have a governor with the state of Idaho in an economic mess. He has no money for schools, but plenty to sue Obama on health care.
On the deficit: After the huge deficits that Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush left us with, how can we complain about Obama? After the mess that Bush left us with, he should have declared a national disaster.
Robert G. Schultze
Riggins
Conflicting land uses
The March 28 Tribune article concerning proposed motocross on Wilma, Port of Whitman County property, strikes a responsive chord.
The melodious purr of motorcycles combined with the ... occasional drum beat of the log chipping plant will greatly enhance the atmosphere of the area.
Of course, prospects for housing development on the property overlooking the Snake River and in the far distance, the Blue Mountains, might be considered for the increased traffic on the "down river" road. ...
Well, Whitman County Planning and Zoning Commission, keep up the good work.
William N. Laval
Clarkston
