Idaho’s workers deserve better employment opportunities – Idaho’s families, a better economy
Idaho is first in the nation for the percentage of its workers earning minimum wage. This equates to a lack of opportunity for Idaho’s families.

The state’s current taxation and economic development policies – driven by ideology rather than clear thinking – are simply not working to attract high-quality employers that pay a living wage; nor are we encouraging the growth of Idaho-based companies. It’s time we looked at best economic development practices from around country and the world, and do what needs to be done to put Idaho’s economy back on a sound footing.

Idaho’s children deserve great schools – Our future depends upon them
Our children cannot compete in a world economy without a world-class education. Just as we lead the nation in the percentage of workers on minimum wage, Idaho is close to the bottom for the percentage of its children who go on to college or post-secondary training. In a knowledge-driven economy, this is a formula for relegating our children and the generations to come to second-class status in the world’s workforce.

	As president of the Idaho State University Foundation, Mark co-chaired the largest fundraising campaign in ISU’s history, helping to raise over $150 million for capital improvements and scholarships.

We cannot continue to reduce our investment in education in Idaho and expect to see the state’s economy thrive. While efficiency in our public education system is a worthy goal, there is a limit to how much we can reduce investment in our schools without doing irreparable harm to our children, and in turn to our state’s economy. We need to make a world-class education system a priority in Idaho.