Key Kempthorne proposals in jeopardy

BOISE – Midway through the 2006 Legislature, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and lawmakers remain at odds on several signature issues he hoped would cement his legacy as an economic-development champion and leave his two-term administration’s mark on Idaho.

His $63 million plan to give every man, woman and child a $50 energy-relief check is dead, Republican leaders say.

Meanwhile, the future of his $34 million proposal to improve and expand Idaho’s state parks system remains unresolved, even after Kempthorne abandoned a $6.6 million, state-funded lodge to appease foes.

Now, “Connecting Idaho,” the governor’s $1.2 billion proposal that won lawmaker support in 2005 to improve 258 miles of highways, is the subject of intense scrutiny from some House and Senate lawmakers. They favor scaling back bond sales meant to finance construction, for fear they’ll load Idaho with too much debt.

Aides to the Republican governor say this rancor is par for the course, especially in a year when conservative lawmakers are wrestling with the luxury of a $214 million surplus – and what to do with the money. It’s not unusual for a lame-duck governor in his final year of office to experience backlash from lawmakers – even within his own party – who are eager for fresh leadership, other political observers agree.

“It’s common for fissures to occur in the last days of any administration,” said David Adler, a political science professor at Idaho State University in Pocatello. “Many leaders no longer feel beholden to the governor. They’re also concerned about their next election – and carrying the albatross of the previous administration.”

The legislative panel that holds the purse strings on Idaho’s $2.2 billion of taxpayer money begins divvying it up on Monday. Over the next month, they’ll make key decisions on whether Kempthorne’s initiatives survive.

Brian Whitlock, Kempthorne’s chief of staff, recalled the veto battle of a year ago, when Kempthorne killed eight bills to pressure House lawmakers into passing “Connecting Idaho.”

“There’s animosity – there always is,” Whitlock said, adding his boss aims every year to generate “healthy debate” on his proposals. “The governor proposes, the legislature disposes. That’s how the process works.”

So far, Kempthorne has achieved some milestones from his Jan. 9 State of the State address, the eighth and last such speech of a career in the Boise Statehouse that started in 1999.

The House and Senate gave Idaho public employees a 3 percent raise starting Feb. 1 and stocked a rainy-day fund to $108 million after it was raided three years ago to balance the budget. And last week, legislative budget writers set aside $3.75 million to benefit low-income residents struggling with their heating bills.

Lawmakers have reacted positively to Kempthorne-backed bills to toughen penalties against sex offenders and members of criminal gangs, as well. His $5 million plan to expand Idaho’s community colleges remains alive.

Elsewhere, however, the divide separating the governor from House and Senate members is broad.

For instance, the House passed eight bills – they’re in the Senate now – meant to reform property taxes for homeowners. Property tax reform was an issue Kempthorne had declared a “local” problem in his Jan. 9 address.

The night of the speech, lawmakers were also shocked by his $50 energy-relief check proposal, just as they were by his plan to set aside $2 million to purchase a 35-acre stable next to the mansion donated in December 2004 by billionaire potato magnate J.R. Simplot.

Not even Simplot’s company, which currently owns the stable property, was told of the proposal. Managers learned about it from a Jan. 10 Associated Press story.

Republican leaders say one reason for the current strife may be that Kempthorne kept many of his proposals veiled from them before the session’s start, hampering opportunities to build consensus before potentially controversial issues went public.

“There was absolutely no discussion about what he was going to say,” said House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, R-Burley. “Governor Kempthorne has, in the past, discussed proposals. This year, that wasn’t the case.”

Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes, R-Soda Springs, added, “We had very little advanced input on what the governor proposed.”

Kempthorne aides disagree, saying he engaged legislative leaders and others in discussions about his parks proposal, pointing out that he introduced his proposal to reform Idaho’s Medicaid system and stem rising costs two months before the session started.

“Whether or not he’s going to sit there and outline his entire (State of the State) proposal, he’s not going to do that,” said Mike Journee, his press secretary. “Achieving consensus is the point of the Legislature. They’re here to conduct the business of the people.”