Eye On Boise

It’s a GOP vs. GOP showdown…

Posted by Betsy

April 27, 2009 5:55 p.m. • 13 comments

It’s Republican vs. Republican in an Idaho political showdown: House GOP leaders say they’ll adjourn for the session on Wednesday without passing GOP Gov. Butch Otter’s transportation plan, likely forcing the GOP-dominated Senate to force the House back into session against its will. “We can adjourn for three days, and then they would have to call us back,” said House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly.

The governor’s office had no immediate comment; press secretary Jon Hanian referred back to the veto letter Otter sent lawmakers last week in which he wrote, “I am not going to let this session end until this legitimate and proper role of government is addressed in the manner it deserves.” Rep. Bill Killen, D-Boise, the House minority caucus chairman, said, “We certainly want to get the job done. I’m not sure leaving on Wednesday is a good idea, since my sense is the Senate will call us back. I think there’s some work we could do. … I do think it’s a little bit of a power struggle, that’s my sense - some pretty big egos involved. I just hope the Senate hangs in there.”

Otter met with both House and Senate GOP leaders at day’s end today, and sent a clear message that he wants transportation funding increased - to the tune of $75 to $80 million a year - before this year’s legislative session ends. “The governor restated his commitment to a solution to the transportation funding issue this session,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

palousian on April 27 at 7:28 p.m.
We can hope that none of them are left standing.
thomg57 on April 27 at 8:11 p.m.
At $30,000 per day the legislature is costing the citizens of Idaho a teacher a day. Clowns.
stebbijo on April 27 at 8:34 p.m.
I hope the House holds out considering that the governor is DEMANDING that the citizens of Idaho cough up, “to the tune of $75 million to $80 million a year - before this year’s legislative session ends.” He doesn’t even bother to recognize that his TAX bill was voted down 6 times. Did he not get the message?

At thirty thousand dollars a day to hold out - this is merely chump change. Heck, they already cut the Women’s Commission, that saved them one day.

Some of those big egos need a spud in their mouths. What’s their big hurry? Why can’t they wait for a healthier economy?
thomg57 on April 28 at 7:43 a.m.
At thirty thousand dollars a day to hold out - this is merely chump change

stebbijo, that “chump change” is the annual starting salary of an Idaho school teacher; for every day these toads are in and steel cage ego fight with the governor, they cost the citizens of Idaho an amount of money that could have saved a teacher’s job. And this from the party of ‘fiscal conservatism’ that controls the governor’s office and the legislature! Idaho would be better served if it wasn’t a one party state.
stebbijo on April 28 at 8:31 a.m.
TG -

Don’t get me wrong. I understand the ‘waste’, I just wish a few other folks would get it, too. My theory is that in the long run the Governor’s ego is costing me more. They could cut back on that fancy marble, too, but thankfully - that is “on time, on budget” for the next session. Hypocrisy is rampant in our statehouse.

This whole theatrical game is to test the unity of Idaho state leaders and their loyalty to the Governor and to ensure that everyone is on the same page to stiff the people. Otter made that clear when he said this, ““I am not going to let this session end until this legitimate and proper role of government is addressed in the manner it deserves.” That way they can all leave feeling all cozy, warm, and united after the big fit is resolved. After all, 35 vetos is a “TOOL” so that the Governor can get what he wants. Just hoiw much money is that big fit costing us?

I also totally agree about the one party state in Idaho, however it appears that the ones who do get in as Democrats really do work for/as Rebublicans. It doesn’t matter here. They do what they want. They always have.
Digger on April 28 at 9:34 a.m.
The House is in a tough spot here. They can’t adjourn sine die without the consent of the Senate - and the Senate won’t let them until transportation funding is addressed.

I’ve always had more respect for the Idaho Senate than I have for the Idaho House - now I see that I’ve been correct in where I place my respect.
Digger on April 28 at 10:28 p.m.
Great picture BTW Betsy. All you need now is one very similar of the House leadership in the hallway and we can have our own legislative version of “West Side Story”. I wonder who would be snappers and who would be clappers.