Rep. Mike Simpson has played politics with the lives of thousands of 2nd Congressional District residents, by endorsing "extreme budget plans which gut Medicare and decimate jobs," state Sen. Nicole LeFavour said.

Responding to the Statesman's endorsement of Simpson, a Republican and House appropriations subcommittee charirman, the Democratic LeFavour pledged to protect Medicare and oppose any attempts to cut or privatize Social Security.

An excerpt:

Rocky Barker, Dan Popkey and I spent a few minutes talking about the upcoming Nov. 6 elections — namely, Propositions 1, 2 and 3, the legislative elections and the presidential election's impacts on Idaho.

Our Katherine Jones shot the video, and you can watch it here.

(A personal aside: As an Oakland Athletics fan, I decline comment on Dan's wardrobe.)

If you happen to know David Bailey, John Browder, David Dineen, David Koehler, Tom LeClaire, Julia Rose Pierko or John Seidl, be sure to thank them.

You probably don’t know them, in political circles. They labor in volunteer obscurity, serving on the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission. They serve because they were appointed by county commissioners — an irony that will become apparent momentarily.

Usually, candidates who don't get a Statesman editorial respond with a case for their campaign.

Ron Twilegar, the Democrat opposing 30-year Ada County prosecutor Greg Bower, followed his own path.

Our editorial board met last week with Idahoans on both sides of the debate over Propositions 1, 2 and 3.

And you can listen to the audio, in full and uncut.

• Supporters. Tom Luna, state superintendent of public instruction; Ken Burgess, Yes for Idaho Education.

• Opponents. Mike Lanza, Maria Greeley, Brian Cronin, Vote No on Propositions 1,2, 3; Sonia Galaviz, Boise teacher.

Graham Paterson is no political newbie, having done campaign work for Dirk Kempthorne, Steve Symms, Helen Chenoweth-Hage and Brent Coles.

But asked to offer his take on the House Republican leadership team, the normally glib Paterson slowed down to pick his way through the field of rhetorical cowpies. The silence was awkward, and Paterson tried to break the tension. “I can hear the clock ticking.”

Updated to reflect that Durst says he was criticizing the endorsement process in general, not our endorsement in his race.

Posted without rebuttal is this Facebook comment from Senate candidate Branden Durst. Durst, D-Boise, is running for state Senate against Boise Republican Sen. Mitch Toryanski, who we endorsed on Friday.

There's a better way to reform Idaho schools, say two leading opponents of the Students Come First education laws.

And the first step, say Mike Lanza and Maria Greeley, is to vote against Propositions 1, 2 and 3.

In a guest opinion, the two Boise parents argue against the laws — and the premise behind their passage in 2011.

Here's an excerpt:

Education Voters of Idaho, the group that gave at least $200,000 in support of the Students Come First education overhaul, says it has no signs of backing down.

In a guest opinion released today, the group shed no light on the donor (or donors) behind their money. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa has ordered the group to identify its donors; Education Voters of Idaho describes itself as a nonprofit group whose donations are not subject to disclosure.

Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill is probably right.

He predicts the 2013 Legislature will do away with the “personal property tax,” which requires businesses to inventory, and pay tax, on furniture, computers and supplies as sundry as staplers.

Book it. This is a dead tax walking.