Ham 'n' Eggs Crisis

Last Nov. 3 Idaho's Senior Citizens won a notable victory over the Idaho Taxpayers' League. A Townsend-blessed pension plan appeared on the ballot, was approved by Idaho voters. Benefits: $40 a month after age 65; $8 a month extra for those who need wooden legs, glass eyes, dentures, medical care; $100 for funeral expenses. Said Lewis Williams, State Director of Charitable Institutions: "The people want grandpa and grandma to have these pensions, no matter what they cost."

But there was such a thing as a limit. Last fortnight a joint committee of the Idaho House and Senate figured up the cost of the grants (over $13,560,000); looked up the State budget for public assistance (under $5,550,000); checked up prospective State revenues ("materially reduced"). Last week, as the only way out, the Idaho Legislature voted to repeal the law.

Safely out of Idaho's fiscal dilemma now is former Governor Chase A. Clark, who had signed the Senior Citizen's initiative petition, put it on the ballot. Clark thus made himself his own victim. To be valid in Idaho, such a law passed by popular referendum must receive more than 50% of the total vote for Governor. So oldsters voted light for Governor, heavy for their pensions. Result: Clark lost by 434 votes, pensions won by 39,756.

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