Second former top state official becomes Idaho Power lobbyist
Idaho Power Co. gained more lobbying might from inside government, as another of the governor's former chiefs of staff registered to become a paid lobbyist for the state's biggest utility, reports AP reporter John Miller. Jason Kreizenbeck, who quit as Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's top aide in October, will lobby the Legislature and his former boss. His predecessor, former chief of staff Jeff Malmen, is also an Idaho Power lobbyist. Unlike more than half of states, Idaho has no revolving door restrictions that force legislators or government employees to undergo a waiting period before lobbying former colleagues; click below for Miller's full report.
APNewsBreak: Ex-Otter aide lobbies for Idaho Power
JOHN MILLER,Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Power Co. gained more lobbying might from inside government, as another of the governor's former chiefs of staff registered to become a paid lobbyist for the state's biggest utility.
Jason Kreizenbeck, who quit as Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's top aide in October, will lobby the Legislature and his former boss. His predecessor, former chief of staff Jeff Malmen, is also an Idaho Power lobbyist.
Unlike more than half of states, Idaho has no revolving door restrictions that force legislators or government employees to undergo a waiting period before lobbying former colleagues.
Minority Democrats said Kreizenbeck's move underscores their interest in passing such restrictions, though Idaho Republicans have been reluctant to get on board.
"It's to keep people from going from the governor's office to Idaho Power, and immediately calling the governor' office and talking to people who used to work for him," said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston.
Malmen said Friday that Kreizenbeck would abide by Idaho laws requiring him to register with the secretary of state and make relevant financial disclosures.
"Energy issues are important to us and our customers. We want to make sure they are well represented," said Malmen, Idaho Power's vice president for public affairs.
Kreizenbeck quit Otter's office in October to join former legislator Skip Smyser's lobbying firm. Along with Idaho Power, other clients include Correction Corp. of America and drugmaker Merck Sharp and Dohme.
Kreizenbeck referred questions to Malmen.
Kreizenbeck headed Otter's staff since 2007, a period in which the Republican governor was deeply involved in energy policy, including a fierce 2011 debate over whether Idaho should extend a tax break for alternative energy developers. Idaho Power had a seat at the negotiating table.
The tax break failed in the Senate.
In 2012, Idaho Power figures again to be deeply involved with energy policy. Over the summer, state officials updated Idaho's long-term energy plan, which among other things dumped support for tax incentives for wind energy. Idaho Power has complained about too many wind projects and will be monitoring the plan's progress through the Legislature to attempt to block any provisions to which it objects.
Kreizenbeck and Malmen aren't the only state officials moving quickly from government to lobbying.
In late 2011, seven-term state Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, quit the Legislature to lobby for the University of Idaho, where he'll try to convince his former colleagues to support the Moscow school's budget request. Shad Priest, deputy director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, became the top lobbyist for insurer Regence BlueShield of Idaho on Aug. 15.
Over the last half-decade, numerous former legislators or staffers of Otter and former Govs. Dirk Kempthorne and Jim Risch became lobbyists or switched to companies with government business.
In Montana, public officers must wait a year before working for an employer that will take direct advantage of their government experience.
California officials face similar restrictions, as do those from Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky and at least 12 other states.
Peggy Kerns, director of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Center for Ethics in Government since 1999, said states that have adopted such rules did so largely to curb the appearance that officials could inappropriately cash in on their public posts.
But Kerns said other states have opted not to follow suit, concluding the public-policy knowledge of legislators or officials makes them ideal candidates to become lobbyists and bring valuable experience to bear on complex matters without abusing their positions.
"Public officials know the issues, they know the process, so they're well suited to become lobbyists, which is an honorable profession," Kerns said from her Denver office. "If the public in Idaho feels this is an issue, then the public should speak out. Evidently, that has not been a problem in Idaho, or they would have already had a law."
Idaho Republicans who control the state House and Senate have been reluctant to support cooling-off periods for officials, for fear restrictions will limit employment opportunities for people with demonstrated integrity.
Neither Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, nor House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, could be reached Friday for comment on whether they've warmed to possible changes.
Minority Democrats have failed to pass similar laws in Idaho, most recently in 2008, but pledged to renew the push.
"Over the years, we've seen an increase in what I'd call the permanent governing class: People who cycle in and out of government in Idaho, and in and out of lobbying, to one degree or another," said Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise. "That's not to say any of these individuals have done something wrong. I'm more concerned about the corrosive side that sneaks up on people in ways they don't even realize."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
