Batt Speech Wins Applause, But No Page Turner
Gov. Phil Batt is not known as a fiery orator.
Although his annual State of the State speech this week drew positive reviews, it didn’t cause lots of spontaneous ovations.
But the large audience did fill in with some dutiful applause when Batt paused after saying this line, “While I believe that the monetary influence of interest groups should be diminished, their advice and counsel is still important.”
After the clapping died down, the governor commented, “Thank you for helping me out - I couldn’t turn my page.”
Still not saying
Batt seems to like to tantalize folks with hints about running for a second term. He made a reference to a second term in last year’s State of the State message, and this year said early in his speech, “I come to you with only one sense of disappointment. Evidently term limits will only let me serve six more years.”
Asked afterward if he was announcing a bid for a second term, Batt would say only, “No announcement today.”
That means no certain answer for the raft of Republican rising stars who’ve said they’ll run for governor in 1998 only if Batt doesn’t.
That doesn’t bother Batt, who dropped another hint during his budget speech on Wednesday.
“It always gets a good laugh,” he said in an interview Friday. “I like a good laugh line or two.”
And about that second term?
“I haven’t made up my mind. I’ll let you know later on.”
Pinching unbleached pennies
A story that Batt chose to highlight in his State of the State speech shows perfectly why he has such a reputation for frugality.
The governor told the tale of a Boise woman who wrote to the state Department of Administration suggesting that the state could save money by switching from bleached to unbleached paper towels in its public restrooms.
“That idea is now saving $4,000 annually in the Capitol Mall area alone,” Batt said.
He added, “This is a clean government. We wash our hands a lot.”
From way, way up there
New Sen. Shawn Keough, at the first meeting of the Senate Education Committee this week, explained that she represents Bonner and Boundary counties, the northern tip of the state. She added that she wants to work for equity and fairness in school funding formulas.
The committee’s chairman, Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, welcomed the Sandpoint Republican, then noted for the benefit of the southern Idahoans on the panel, “You don’t even sound like a Canadian.”
, DataTimes MEMO: North-South Notes runs every other Saturday. To reach Betsy Z. Russell, call 336-2854, fax to 336-0021 or e-mail to bzrussell@rmci.net.