Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Pain in the governor

There’s some déjà vu in the Idaho state capitol, as Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s recent back surgery has cleared up intense pain the governor had been suffering and left him far more comfortable. It’s a reminder of the previous administration, when then-Gov. Phil Batt had surgery for a lingering, painful back problem, and came out noticeably more relaxed and cheerier.

Kempthorne’s not known for crankiness, but reportedly was in so much pain the week before the surgery that at one point, he couldn’t even get out of bed. He told doctors his pain, on a scale of 1 to 10, was at 10. After the surgery, which fixed an injury from a mountain biking accident, it was down to zero.

“He was a trooper about it, he didn’t complain about it, you just could tell that the guy was in pain,” said a staffer.

Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.