Kempthorne gets bipartisan backing

BOISE – Forty governors have signed a letter to a U.S. Senate committee supporting the nomination of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as secretary of interior.

Governors from both parties signed, including Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. Kempthorne’s confirmation hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is Thursday.

Kempthorne, former chairman of the National Governors Association and a two-term Republican Idaho governor, was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday preparing for the hearing. It’s familiar ground; before becoming governor, he served as a U.S. senator from Idaho.

“He’s studying about the issues that are likely to be coming up and talking with senators about their concerns, and doing a number of things,” said Mike Journee, Kempthorne’s press secretary.

Kempthorne had no comment on his gubernatorial colleagues’ letter of support, Journee said.

The governors wrote that they “strongly support” Kempthorne’s confirmation. “As a colleague, we have all worked with him in a bipartisan manner and found him to be an individual of great intelligence, honesty and integrity,” they wrote. “Furthermore, being a governor of a Western state he has a vast understanding of federal lands and the federal-state relationship in managing those lands and vital natural resources.”

Those signing the letter of support included the governors of Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, New Mexico, American Samoa and more. The governors of Oregon, Washington, Utah and Wyoming also signed.

Gregoire’s communications director, Holly Armstrong, said Gregoire didn’t hesitate to support Kempthorne’s nomination, though she is a Democrat and Kempthorne a Republican.

“She recognizes that there are issues on which the two of them disagree, but has felt in working with him for the last year and a half that he’s accessible and they have a good relationship, and that he’s somebody that is open and thoughtful, and she’ll be able to work with,” Armstrong said. “It wasn’t a tough decision for her.”

Angela Harper, press secretary for the Senate committee, said the governors’ letter, which was dated Monday, was one of six letters or statements supporting the nomination submitted to the committee as of Tuesday. No letters in opposition had been received, she said.

The other endorsements came from the Trust for Public Land, National American Indian Housing Council, Foundation for Environmental and Economic Progress, National Water Resources Association and American Public Human Services Association. Each letter praised Kempthorne’s record as governor or U.S. senator.

The American Indian Housing Council wrote: “As governor, Kempthorne has collaborated with tribes on gaming compacts, signed agreements to recognize tribal sovereignty, water rights and other disputes. NAIHC hopes that this collaboration and understanding of tribal sovereignty will continue into the Interior position.”

While Kempthorne is in Washington, his lieutenant governor, Jim Risch, is serving as acting governor. If Kempthorne is confirmed, Risch would become governor and complete Kempthorne’s term.