Idaho Democrats Lost In A Sea Of Republicans Minority Lawmakers Say Majority Won’t Allow Them ‘Any Legislative Successes’

When Sen. Tim Tucker, a Porthill Democrat, proposed legislation to back Republican Gov. Phil Batt’s efforts to keep nuclear waste out of Idaho, Republican lawmakers wouldn’t sign on.

Instead, they drafted their own version of Tucker’s bill, which won easy approval.

“Instead of enacting good legislation, they make the other guy look bad,” Tucker complained. “They can’t allow us to have any legislative successes.”

Democratic lawmakers haven’t exactly enjoyed their first year in what is considered the most Republican legislature in the country. Some say they think it’s also the most partisan.

Plus, the switch from a Democratic to a Republican governor has had ripple effects throughout the legislative session. Bills from state agencies now are all GOP bills. And legislative leaders and committee chairmen have increased power without the threat of a veto from the opposite party hanging over their heads.

“They’ve been kind of lost in the process,” Jim Weatherby, a Boise State University professor and political observer, said of legislative Democrats.

“We sure do miss (former Gov. Cecil) Andrus’ veto,” said Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene. “There is no real check and balance.”

Republican leaders like to joke about the tiny numbers of the minority party in Boise this year (“We like to kick their butts whenever we can,” says House Majority Leader Bruce Newcomb), but the GOP says it has been fair.

“We’ve never blindsided the Democrats,” said Newcomb, R-Burley.

Rep. Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint, House minority leader, said he thinks partisanship is sharper in the Senate than in the House. “Republican speakers have always been straight with us and told us when they’re going to stab us through the heart,” he said.

The Democrats’ numbers are pitifully small this year: eight of the 35 seats in the Senate and 13 of the 70 seats in the House.

“What a challenge to serve as a Democrat in the most Republican legislature in the country,” Weatherby said.

Democratic lawmakers say they suffered by association in the last election because voters tied conservative Idaho Democrats to the more liberal national party.

Even Republican Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, cracks, “Idaho’s a state where Republicans really are Republicans, and so are the Democrats.”

Rep. John Alexander, D-Pocatello, said, “Maybe we need to change our speech instead of our views, because our voting record is pretty conservative.”

“We’re still being blamed for whatever’s spent, even though we’ve never had that power,” said Stoicheff. The GOP has held strong majorities in the Idaho Legislature for years.

Escaping that blame may be the silver lining for Democrats in their lack of numbers and clout this year.

“Part of our message next time around is: See what’s been done to Idaho, see who’s running Idaho,” Reed said.

She said Republican moves on education, the environment and property taxes which will “primarily help corporations and out-of-state residents” will be a rallying point for Democrats in the next election.

Stoicheff says you can’t blame the majority for acting like a majority. “That’s what we would do,” he said.

“Their bills are always given an opportunity to get heard,” Newcomb said of the Legislature’s small band of Democrats. “If they get voted down, they get voted down.”