JEERS ... to the Idaho Transportation Board. First it fired the state's first female transportation director, Pam Lowe, on flimsy grounds. Then it outsourced defense of the case to Holland & Hart of Boise. Before it cut Lowe an undisclosed settlement check, the law firm charged taxpayers about $540,000. And included within those charges was this bill: $4,419 to ask Gallatin Public Affairs about how the Idaho media would treat the Lowe case. Let's see: Lowe was the first woman to hold her job.The board fired her after giving Lowe glowing evaluations. Lowe contended she was shown the door because of her gender and after she challenged political and corporate cronies of Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter. Do you really need to ask?Adds the Stateman's Dan Popkey: Much of Gallatin's work was done by Isaac Squyers, whose father, Newell, was Holland & Hart's lead attorney in the Lowe case/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here.

Question: Do you think the wrongful firing of former ITD Director Pam Lowe has legs -- in other words, will cost someone politically down the road?