Why Not Make It Unanimous? Kempthorne Makes Big Pitch For His School Bond Proposal

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne didn’t just pitch his plan to make school construction bonds easier to pass Monday - he asked legislators to give it a unanimous vote.

“All I’m asking you to do is to allow the people the opportunity to decide, once and for all,” Kempthorne told a joint session of the House and Senate.

North Idaho legislators from both parties were pleased that Kempthorne addressed children’s and education issues in such a strong way in his State of the State address.

“I think it had all the issues I’ve been interested in for a hundred years,” said Sen. Marguerite McLaughlin, D-Orofino, a nine-term legislator. “I compliment him for his emphasis on children’s issues.”

McLaughlin said Kempthorne gave his school bond idea a “great pitch.”

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, said her constituents are divided on the bond question, so she supports letting people vote.

Kempthorne is proposing a constitutional amendment to allow a 60 percent vote, rather than 67 percent, to pass a school bond if the vote takes place during a primary or general election. Changing the state Constitution requires both a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and a majority vote of the people.

He’s also calling for updating a study of Idaho’s school building needs, and spending state money to help with interest costs for bonds in “economically depressed” school districts.

“We certainly will qualify for that,” Keough said.

Kempthorne said he believes that state help can be provided under current laws. He told lawmakers, “I look forward to working with you to bring that about and fund it.” He acknowledged that his bond proposal is controversial. “Some of you have told me flat out you don’t support this. What I ask of you is to simply hear me out, and keep an open mind.”

Kempthorne said he wouldn’t do away with the two-thirds requirement. It would still be in effect if bond elections took place on dates other than the primary or general election.

“This is simply an effort to provide school districts with the right tools in the tool box,” he said.

He added, “I would respectfully and humbly suggest that a unanimous vote would be appropriate - so that no one is needlessly hung out politically on this.”

That drew a few grins.

More popular was Kempthorne’s proposal for a $5.5 million program to ensure Idaho schoolchildren learn to read by the third grade.

Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, said Kempthorne is “getting to the root of problems and offering solutions.” Of the four governors she’s heard give State of the State addresses, Kempthorne’s was “the most positive.”