Idaho’s Freshman Class: A Series Of Profiles Freshman Lawmaker Learning The Ropes But Post Falls Republican Still Sees Himself As An Outsider

Unlike many lawmakers, Rep. Tom Dorr, R-Post Falls, moved his family with him to Boise for the legislative session.

He says he thinks that decision has given him an advantage.

“These guys cry the blues every Friday,” Dorr said of homesick legislators. “When I’m here, my mind is clear.”

He and his wife are schooling their children at home, so the toughest part of the move was finding a good church to attend, he said. They finally settled on Treasure Valley Baptist.

Dorr sees himself as an outsider in the state capital and makes no bones about his lack of political experience.

“I really represent the average citizen: property owner, husband and parent,” Dorr said.

His outsider background helped him to a slim 56-vote victory in November as incumbents viewed as insiders fared poorly around the country.

“I’m a citizen advocate for the special-interest group called citizens,” he said.

As Dorr has learned more about how the Legislature works, he has been surprised about the pace around the Capitol. “It’s frustratingly slow and unthankful,” he said.

Dorr said he’ll learn all he can now and propose more legislation next session. “I’m doing a lot of research so I can make educated and conscious decisions about forming ideas for next session.”

Dorr claims a near-religious commitment to stemming government spending.

Yet, his top legislative priority is winning state funding for the Bunker Hill cleanup project. Dorr says that’s because if the Legislature doesn’t approve $2.26 million in cleanup funds for next year, it will take much more taxpayer money to fix the problem later.

Dorr says his goal as a legislator is to allow citizens to keep as much money in their wallets as possible and get government off everybody’s back.

Fellow conservative Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Coeur d’Alene, said, “Now there’s several of us young people who aren’t afraid to say no, and Tom Dorr is a leader on just saying no to spending.” He added, “Tom and I are learning the ropes together.”

Learning the ropes, however, hasn’t always been easy for Dorr. He said veteran lawmakers “took him to the woodshed” once for overstepping the role of a freshman legislator, although he wouldn’t elaborate.

He counts among his successes his stand on the House floor for a change in a bill to computerize the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.

Dorr had sifted through the 14-page bill, spotted a “may” that he thought should have been a “shall” and stood up to ask the House to change it.

His change requires a new licensing fee designed to fund the computerization actually to be spent to that end.

The freshman lawmaker talked 38 other legislators into the change, and the motion was passed.

“He’s asking a lot more questions than most freshmen do,” said Rep. Dan Mader, R-Lewiston. “He’s not scared, (and) that’s a good trait.”