Candidates spar over energy issues

Independent Rex Rammell and Democrat Larry LaRocco drew sharp differences between their stands on energy policy in the first debate of the 2008 Idaho U.S. Senate race this week, in a matchup held in Coeur d’Alene and broadcast on the Internet.

Responding to a question from a viewer in Nampa, Idaho, Rammell said he wouldn’t support tax credits for Idahoans who choose alternate energy, like solar, to power their homes. “I would say if the market can’t bear it by itself, then the government shouldn’t force it,” Rammell said. “I think if alternate energies can survive on their own, if the market demands ’em, then I’m all for it.” But subsidizing, he said, is “basically a waste of our tax dollars.”

LaRocco said he supports “investment tax credits and producer tax credits for the investors and producers of alternate energy,” with timelines long enough to allow the credits to be realized. As far as credits for individuals, LaRocco said, “of course,” and cited his support for a bipartisan proposal for tax credits for buyers of hybrid cars and other approaches to making use of alternate forms of energy.

“It is a national security issue and we must get on with it,” LaRocco said.

The two candidates debated with an empty chair also at the table, which they said was for Republican Jim Risch, the state’s current lieutenant governor, who also is seeking the Senate seat being vacated by current GOP Sen. Larry Craig.

Said Rammell, “We’ve invited the lieutenant governor, and I will extend that personal challenge to him tonight. We will always have an open chair should he want to join us.”

LaRocco said, “We may disagree, but what we do agree on is that public discourse is very, very important. … We should have an exchange of ideas.”

North Idaho political scientist Tony Stewart moderated the debate.

The two candidates plan a series of 10 such face-offs around the state, but Risch has shown little interest. However, he has agreed to four debates in October, though he’ll pass on the traditional League of Women Voters-Idaho Press Club debate on Idaho Public TV.

The two candidates also sparred over the war in Iraq, healthcare policy and immigration. Also in the race are Libertarian Kent Marmon and independent Pro-Life, formerly known as Marvin Richardson.

‘I’d seen enough’

Former Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deputy Dale Moyer, the first officer on the bloody scene after the three murders at the Groene family home in 2005, went around the yard after finding the bodies in the house near Wolf Lodge Bay, looking for the two missing children and calling their names to no avail.

Moyer knew by name the family and all three children who lived in the house; it was his regular patrol area, and the two youngest children often waved him down when they were out playing in the yard. He’d give police stickers to 8-year-old Shasta, and the curious 9-year-old Dylan would ask him about guns.

The case got to him, Moyer said. He’d been with the department for more than 10 years, but after dealing with this crime, he quit.

“This case had brought me to a point in my career where I just hung it up, I’d seen enough,” Moyer told the court. “I went into the civilian world for four months, kind of got my head together.”

He eventually returned to law enforcement, and now is a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy. “I realized my true job is law enforcement … to protect the innocent and the weak, that’s my job,” he said.

UI law school comes to Boise

The University of Idaho Foundation’s board has unanimously endorsed the proposal of the UI Law School to follow a “two location, one school” strategy that would provide law school classes in Boise, while also enhancing the main law school program in Moscow.

The board, in a resolution, said the demand for law school slots has outgrown the current enrollment capacity in Moscow, and there’s “a strong consensus that the University of Idaho should meet this growing demand and fulfill Idaho’s statewide needs by expanding the legal education program with a branch location in Boise.”

Meanwhile, UI announced that a lack of diversity, including both women and racial and ethnic minorities, identified at the law school in a 1999 study has been turned around. In 2007, the percentage of women in the incoming law school class had grown to more than 49 percent, exceeding the national average. Minority representation was up to 19 percent, from just 4 percent in 1999.

Otter declares fraud prevention week

Here’s why Gov. Butch Otter declared this week “Idaho Fraud Awareness Week”: Insurance fraud is driving up Idahoans’ insurance premiums, according to state Insurance Director Bill Deal, and increasing taxes and consumer goods prices. “We want to help the residents of Idaho be proactive in protecting themselves against fraud,” Deal said.

The state Department of Insurance has a toll-free hot line for information on insurance fraud: (866) 939-SCAM.

It’s a fishing frenzy

Down in Elmore County, southeast of Boise, the state Fish and Game Department has announced that Little Camas Reservoir is going dry, so it’s removing all daily bag, possession and size limits for fishing there from Aug. 20 through Nov. 30. “We would rather have people harvest these fish than let them go to waste when the reservoir is dewatered,” said Doug Megargle, Magic Valley regional fisheries manager.

During the special “salvage” fishing season, Fish and Game says, “Licensed anglers may take the fish by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals or electric current.”