The Very Idea Of A State Reptile Gave Alltus The Creeps

The Western rattlesnake has helped me appreciate state Rep. Jeff Alltus. On Tuesday, the Coeur d’Alene Republican opposed a bill to designate the rattler as Idaho’s reptile - while others on his House State Affairs Committee played cootchy-coo with fourth-graders who had proposed the goofy idea. An official snake, said Alltus, would give outsiders the wrong idea about Idaho. As Indiana Jones can attest, snakes are not universally loved. You might as well put up a sign that says: “Don’t tread in Idaho.” Besides, the Western rattlesnake, like the Idaho potato, rarely is seen north of the Salmon River. Unfortunately, the House State Affairs Committee sent the snake bill to the House floor on a 20-4 vote. As usual, Alltus played an important role by questioning the bill. Often, lawmakers are too concerned about not making waves and pleasing leadership to object much. That’s how bad ideas become bad law. But Alltus rarely shies away. His in-your-face approach hasn’t made him popular in Boise. Then, he’s not representing Boise.

Potatoheads don’t take tinkering kindly

The curse continues. The Potato Growers of Idaho has blocked another try to rid Idaho license plates of the “Famous Potatoes” slogan. On Tuesday, Idaho’s underfunded universities asked lawmakers for permission to raise money by selling vanity plates featuring a university logo and a slogan such as “Go Vandals.” But Idaho’s Potatoheads objected. First, they pointed out that the Potato Commission gives the University of Idaho $800,000 annually just for research. (Translation: Back off.) Then, they noted that some special (read, lucky) plates already lack the potato slogan. Said a potato lobbyist: “You’ve just got to stop somewhere.” And we should, too - at the Salmon River. North Idahoans shouldn’t be forced to drive around in cars with plates that scream: RUBE.

Campaign finance reform should start here

One of the best ideas I’ve seen for campaign finance reform comes from Jason Monteleone, legislative director in Boise for the American Civil Liberties Union (but I won’t hold that against him). In an op-ed piece for the Idaho Statesman, Monteleone proposed that all significant campaign contributions be posted on the Internet. Regularly. That would give the average Idahoan easy access to information about a candidate’s contributors. In other words, we’d all know who owns a piece of state Sen. Joe Blow. County clerks should post that information even if the Legislature refuses to act on Monteleone’s suggestion.

, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.