State has three govs in one week
Gov. Butch Otter is off in Mexico this week, leading a state trade mission.
So that means Lt. Gov. Jim Risch is serving as acting governor – but he wasn’t earlier this week. Otter left for Mexico last Saturday, and Risch, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Larry Craig and faces an eight-way GOP primary contest, was off on vacation, and then attending campaign meetings in Washington, D.C.
That meant state Senate President Pro-Tem Robert Geddes, R-Soda Springs, took over as governor from Otter’s departure last Saturday until late on Thursday, when Risch returned to the state.
“As soon as his flight lands, he becomes acting governor, as soon as he is on Idaho soil,” explained Risch’s chief of staff, Matt Ellsworth.
Risch plans to stay in-state until he hands the job back off to Otter, whose office said he’s scheduled to return on Tuesday.
Who are the eight candidates facing off for that GOP Senate nomination? Try to say them all in one breath. There’s Risch, of Boise; Fred Adams of Idaho Falls; Brian Hefner of Sweet; Bill Hunter of Rexburg; Dick Phenneger of Coeur d’Alene; Hal Styles Jr. of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., Scott A. Syme of Wilder; and Neal Thompson of McCall.
Then there are two Democrats, former 1st District Congressman Larry LaRocco and David J. Archuleta of Fort Hall; two independents, Rex Rammell of Rexburg and “Pro-Life” of Letha; and one Libertarian, Kent A. Marmon of Caldwell. The primary election is May 27.
‘Cultivate those relationships’
Otter’s hoping his trade mission to Mexico will expand Idaho exports to Mexico; bring more Mexican investments to Idaho like the Grupo Modelo barley malting facility in Idaho Falls; “showcase” Idaho as an attractive destination for tourists from Mexico; and address agricultural trade policy issues involving fresh potatoes.
“You can see the growth of (Idaho trade with) China and Mexico over the years, as we’ve developed those relationships and worked closely with these trading partners,” said Otter’s press secretary, Jon Hanian. “And it has become lucrative. They’re two of our biggest trading partners, but you know, you’ve got to cultivate those relationships.”
This is Otter’s third trade mission as governor, with the earlier trips to China and Cuba (one that yielded headlines, but no actual trade). Idaho had $138.6 million in trade with Mexico in 2007, according to the state Department of Commerce, and $891.4 million with China. Fifteen companies are sending representatives to Mexico with Otter and paying their own way. The total cost of the trip is $52,634 for the 42 people on board, with the state portion of the cost at $18,759.
Transportation board cuts programs
Faced with a giant shortfall for road maintenance, the Idaho Transportation Board has voted to cut three programs starting in 2011, shifting their funding to pavement preservation. Gone will be the enhancement program, which funds bike paths, visitor centers and historic kiosks; the congestion program, which has paid for transit vehicles, street sweepers and traffic signal coordinating devices; and the planning program, which pays for corridor and regional studies. Suspending future funding of the three programs will allow about $12 million a year to be added to the $80 million scheduled for pavement preservation each year for the next four years.
Board Chairman Darrell Manning called it a “difficult but necessary decision.” Gov. Otter termed it “the responsible thing to do,” and said, “It shows more clearly than ever how important it is that we all work together this year to find solutions to our revenue needs in time for the 2009 session of the Legislature.”
Two law schools in Boise?
Boise doesn’t have any law schools now – Idaho students go up to Moscow to study at the University of Idaho if they want to become lawyers. But now that the state Board of Education has unanimously approved a request from UI to open a law program in Boise, Boise could end up with two law schools. The UI project would be a branch of the UI law school, and could open by the fall of 2009 and accommodate 250 students. Oddly, the state board’s approval of that plan came just one day after a private Lutheran college in Portland, Concordia University, announced that it also plans to open a new law school in Boise.
Blake Hall boots protesters, Simpson objects
GOP Congressman Mike Simpson is moving his district offices in Idaho Falls because his landlord – former state GOP Chairman Blake Hall – blocked peaceful protesters from his offices. According to the Idaho Falls Post Register, Simpson said his constituents are welcome to speak or peacefully protest at any of his four Idaho offices at any time.
“If I am unable to reconcile these two rights with the building’s owners, I will begin considering my options for alternative office space,” Simpson said last week. This week, he made good on the threat, serving 60 days notice that he’ll terminate his lease, the Idaho Falls newspaper reported. “We’ve determined that in order to protect our constituents’ right of access, we need to find alternative office space,” Simpson spokeswoman Nikki Watts told the Post Register.
Hall booted a half-dozen Iraq war protesters off his law firm’s property last week – which is where not only Simpson’s offices, but also Idaho Falls offices for U.S. Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo are located.