Much To Be Said For Moderation

Some are calling for a kinder, gentler Larry Craig, now that the conservative Idaho Republican has hung onto his leadership post by two votes in the split U.S. Senate.

Bipartisanship is needed, opined The Idaho Statesman, adding: “Craig and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott can’t sit with arms folded and automatically say `no’ to efforts by Democrats to gain a higher level of power.”

Indeed, Craig should temper his hard-edged conservatism - somewhat - and use his post as Republican Party Committee chairman, the fourth most powerful in the Senate, to reach across the aisle. He, however, shouldn’t jettison his advocacy for the natural resource industry and his common-sense approach to regional issues.

Craig has become the voice in the Northwest for mining, timber and agricultural industries now that Sen. Slade Gorton has lost his re-election bid. Without his ally, Craig’s abilities will be tested in keeping public lands open to multiple use, in protecting the Snake and Columbia River dams, and in keeping Western issues before the Senate leadership.

In a press release after he’d edged Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico to keep his policy post, Craig recognized his challenge: “The American people expect Congress to govern and gridlock is unacceptable. While conservative positions must be clearly stated and represented, there will be an undertone of bipartisanship in the new Senate that must be respected. I am committed to reaching across party lines and working together with the other side on the many critical issues facing our great nation.”

Craig flashed his ability to fashion bipartisan agreement when he joined Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., to pass a bill that guarantees a fixed level of payments to struggling timber communities. The legislation sets federal payments to timber counties at 80 to 85 percent of historic levels, tripling the money sent to Idaho counties for schools and roads next year, from $7.5 million to $22.5 million.

On the other hand, Craig has a tendency to dig in against the world when a personal core belief is involved. Earlier this year, he and Gorton were part of a group of Western Republican senators who tried to sabotage a landmark land conservation plan that had broad, national bipartisan support. In the end, Craig’s forces succeeded in reducing dramatically the funds available for, among other things, building city parks and purchasing more federal land.

Craig has an important role to play for the Northwest in the 107th Congress, if he doesn’t squander it by being a bullheaded ideologue.