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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Prop. 2 draws wide opposition

Betsy Z. Russell Staff writer

BOISE – Gov. Jim Risch declared Friday that the broadest coalition he’s seen in his Idaho political career has come together to oppose Proposition 2, the regulatory takings initiative on Tuesday’s ballot.

“I’ve seen strong coalitions put together before,” Risch said, “but I’ve never seen one, I don’t think, that is quite as diverse as this group is. I think that probably tells you something about this.”

Risch stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise; Nampa Mayor Tom Dale; and Sen. Brad Little, R-Emmett, at a press conference in the crowded governor’s office to speak out against the initiative. The room was packed with sticker-wearing Proposition 2 opponents, including representatives of chambers of commerce, conservation groups, cities, counties, developers, Realtors, big business, the League of Women Voters, the Ada County Highway District and GOP legislators.

The initiative has been billed as a way to limit the government power of eminent domain, but it actually doesn’t change Idaho’s eminent domain laws, other than adding some definitions. That’s because its language on eminent domain mirrors legislation that already passed this year.

Instead, the operative part of the initiative is a sweeping new regulatory takings law, which would require local governments to pay landowners if new land-use restrictions prevent them from developing their property to its “highest and best use.” Similar initiatives, funded by New York real estate investor Howard Rich, were proposed in seven states this year and are on the ballot in four, including Idaho and Washington.

Risch said, “We’re all Idahoans here – we really know what’s good for Idaho and what isn’t.”

Risch, a lawyer, said the initiative as drafted would add a “gray area” to Idaho’s land-use laws that would result in a multitude of lawsuits and uncertainty over handling growth.

Becky McKnight, spokeswoman for This House is My Home, the group sponsoring the initiative, attended Risch’s press conference and handed out fliers calling Proposition 2 opponents “nothing but a front group for environmental extremist groups like Greenpeace and left-wing billionaire George Soros.”

When a reporter asked Risch about that charge, he responded amid laughter, “Well, y’know, I’ve been accused of a lot of stuff, and now the list is complete.” He added, “In this particular instance, I think what you have to do is look around this room, and you see some people here that are very conservative, you see people here who own a considerable amount of property, you see people who are strong environmental groups, and they’ve all come together to say that this is a bad idea for Idaho.”

McKnight said afterward that politicians oppose the initiative because it would reduce their power.

Former Congressman Larry LaRocco, whom Risch faces in Tuesday’s election in the race to be Idaho’s lieutenant governor for the next four years, accused Risch of grandstanding and noted that he and Risch agree on Proposition 2 – both oppose it.