Eye On Boise

Otter: ‘Pass those transportation bills’

April 21, 2009 2:26 p.m. • 39 comments

Among the bills that are being vetoed: Budgets for the state Department of Water Resources, the Industrial Commission, the Commerce Department, the Military Division, the Arts Commission, the Division of Human Resources, Idaho Public TV, the Blind Commission, the liquor dispensary, the Idaho Historical Society, and more. “These are operating government,” Gov. Butch Otter said. “Without these bills, these divisions of government cannot operate.” He said of lawmakers, “This is their responsibility.” Otter also had a message for the public: “I think the public ought to start calling the Legislature tonight and say, ‘Pass those transportation bills and get out of town.’”

39 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

OlBlue on April 21 at 2:36 p.m.
This is a democracy, if the legislators are listening to their constituents and voting against the fee (tax) increases, well that’s the will of the people. (Hear that Anderson and Eskridge?) Maybe it’s the Guv that should “get out of town.”
JamesBond on April 21 at 3:34 p.m.
Governor Tax Increase and his cadre of Construction Lobbyist Welfare Queens need to move their operations to Taxachusetts. Screw ‘em! Go House!!!!!!!!!
Sisyphus on April 21 at 3:52 p.m.
LOL Bondo. Actually the governor is the one trying to save the state money. Of course, that’s so counter intuitive to House leadership its about as impossible to explain to them as how the paradox of thrift justifies the stimulus package. Not exactly the best and the brightest.
stebbijo on April 21 at 3:59 p.m.
Well, I called the Governor’s office 208-334-2100 and quoted Betsy about the governor thinking we should call the legislature and get them (legislators) out of town.

I told the message girl that I think the governor needs to listen to the people and to quit forcing his bullwhip tactics down our throats - or something like that.

Anyway, I had a slight lisp because I just got back home from the dentist with a pulled tooth and a fitted partial. I hope she got it right. Really call them - hit them early tomorrow am or leave a messge if you can.
Digger on April 21 at 7:11 p.m.
Can I be the first to say how cool it is to see the Governor use his Veto stamp against a House of Representatives who, is by all standards, out of touch with Idaho?

Yes, 007 will say that it has nothing to do with road funding and all about special interest funding with contractors and the like.

But lets be honest here folks - would the people calling the Govenror “childish” and saying he needs a “time out” be singing the same song if, for example, the Governor were stamping bills with the big red stamp over education funding?

I think not.

We hear from the House that this is so bad becuase an economic downturn is not the time for a tax increase. I beg to differ - we’re talking about .03 per gallon of gas. Thats chump change in the long run.

I did the math and (revised from my ealier post) it would cost Spazz and I an extra $2.40 per month assuming we use our budgeted maximum fuel allowance of 80 gallons between the two cars we own. (My Tahoe takes 20 per fill x 3 per month and his Cavalier takes 15 per fill only once a month) That goes to a whopping $4.80 per month in a year when the tax goes to .06 cents.

DFO, I challenge you to make this a front page issue. The question needs to read:

“How much more will you be paying in fuel taxes if the House were to approve a $0.03/per gallon fuel tax increase.”

That way we can see some real numbers and maybe people will realize that the Governor is actually doing a good thing here.
Sisyphus on April 21 at 8:48 p.m.
Nobody’s questioning the motive, Digger. Its the method that’s in question.
stebbijo on April 21 at 9:11 p.m.
Digger, please pay my share of chump change.

People are strapped now. We don’t need ONE MORE PENNY taken out of our wages.

And, if it’s just chump change, why is the Governor vetoing so many bills?

He needs to learn to control his bullwhip.
Digger on April 21 at 9:22 p.m.
I meant chump change to the average consumer. A $0.03 increase in the gas tax will hardly be noticed by anyone - as I said before, its a whopping $2.40 a month to my household if it passes on the average 80 gallons of fuel we buy in a month’s time.

Thats about $28.80 for the year - or one meal out. If it means that I can get from Moscow to Worley on halfway decent roads then I’m all for it. If it means that they can maintain the state highways that run through Moscow (and double as city streets) then I’m all for it.

There needs to be one more provision added - the dollars raised from the gas tax within a given transportation department district need to remain in that district to pay for repairs. That would be fair to everyone - including those areas (such as Ada county) who have more cars, consuming more gas, causing more damage to the roads.
JamesBond on April 21 at 9:33 p.m.
I have long offered the idea that the Treasure Valley gets its proportionate share of transportation dollars. That tends to fall on deaf ears from anyone not living in the Treasure Valley. :-)
stebbijo on April 21 at 9:58 p.m.
Digger,

What do you mean by average consumer? I am tired of giving up. What you want me to give up is a Christmas or a Birthday present to someone and I don’t eat out, and I don’t travel much except to work. You want to take my Turbo Tax program away? They are passing a $7.8M school levy election in my area now. How many pennies do you want me to give up? There are THOUSANDS of people like me in Idaho.

The Governor should hold another press conference, reconsider and weigh in for the people. It might help him in the long run to save a few of our pennies. It just has to stop and he is the man that can do it.
slfisher on April 21 at 10:12 p.m.
Digger, that’s the thing. It *is* a very small increase. However, the methods that the Governor is using are not being effective even for implementing that small increase.
Digger on April 21 at 10:33 p.m.
Its a small increase to the average consumer but a nice chunk of change for the state. Its all part of that pesky “doing our part” that we’re told about.

@ Stebbijo - If you don’t travel that much then you won’t pay that much. Do the math for me - please. Figure out how many gallons you put in your car at the average fill up and then how many times you do that a month. Then figure your total gallons and see how much $0.03 is really going to add to your fuel bill.
OlBlue on April 22 at 8:50 a.m.
Aren’t we also looking at increases in Title, registration, and licensing fees along with the gas tax hike in this transportation bill? That changes the math!
Digger on April 22 at 10:05 a.m.
It changes the math, yes - but its been a necessary increase for a long time now. As much as Idaho hates change we’re operating in 2009 on 1996 funding mechanisms. Its time to fix that.
stebbijo on April 22 at 10:19 a.m.
Digger, My point is I am tired of paying even ONE MORE PENNY. I pay enough, now.This is not an emergency, it is way over rated. It can wait until the economy perks up. Olblue is right, we are getting hit in other places as well. This administration has no problems putting the finishing touches on the Statehouse, which just happens to cost a boatload of chump change. Aesthetics is a big priority before so many other things. I am tired of it.

And, if this Governor wants to risk his popularity by shoving it down our throats, he might be regretting that later. He is becoming way too nasty with the cows.
Digger on April 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Stebbijo - The Statehouse renovation has nothing to do with this issue and was a requirement due to health and life safety issues - its been due for a long time.

You’re a lost cause and I’m done arguing with you.
moscow_minidoka on April 22 at 11:00 a.m.
I’m with James Bond on this one. This is about lobbyists, not the needs of Idaho citizens.
JamesBond on April 22 at 12:52 p.m.
Digger, if you believe the Statehouse expansion and renovation was due to “health and life safety” issues, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Are you sure you’re not confusing it with the Kibbie Dome?
Sisyphus on April 22 at 1:14 p.m.
I dunno Bond, those elevators were kinda spooky. ;-)
stebbijo on April 22 at 2:37 p.m.
Just a small excerpt from the Idaho Capital Commission 2009 minutes,

“Workings are installing marble and finishes in the House and Senate chambers. The carpet has been received but cannot be installed until the marble work is completed. Protection has been removed so workers can repair and polish the floors.” (This is on the third floor)

Digger, we can agree to disagree but you really lost my respect when you started to call me names.