The MountainGoat Report

Sali Says "No" Again

One more no vote last week from Idaho's First District Congressman Bill Sali, this time on a bill that would authorize funds to provide assistance to the victims of torture.  The bill had 30 co-sponsors and passed with Congressman Sali and only six others voting no.

HR 1678 Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2007 — To amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes.

Votes Database
Congressman Sali — No
Congressman Simpson — Yes
Republican Position — Yes
Democratic Position — Yes
Result — Passed 418-7

The bill would authorize appropriations for FY2008-FY2009 to:

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to programs in the United States to cover the costs of services provided by domestic treatment centers in the rehabilitation of victims of torture (including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of torture), social and legal services, and research and training of health care providers outside of treatment centers or programs to enable them to provide such services.
• The President for grants to treatment centers and programs in foreign countries that carry out projects and activities specifically designed to treat victims of torture for the physical and psychological effects of torture.
• The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

No word from Congressman Sali or his website on the reason for the vote.

Update 04.30.07 13:11:  In an apparent attempt to defend Congressman Sali's vote on this bill, a Congressman Sali supporter has made some interesting statements.  Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press has the story and links.

Update 05.04.07 08:51:  Idaho Statesman's Kevin Richert has a Sali spokesman response on his blog.

Sali Votes Against SBA Loan Access

Another minority vote from Idaho's First District Congressman Bill Sali.  This time the vote was against a bill that would improve access to small business loans.  Two of the bill's seven co-sponsors were Republicans Rob Bishop of Utah and Steve Chabot of Ohio.

HR 1332 Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007 — To improve the access to capital programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Votes Database
Congressman Sali — No
Congressman Simpson — Yes
Republican Position — Yes
Democratic Position — Yes
Result — Passed 380-45

Among other things the bill would:

• Direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to carry out a rural lending outreach program and a community express program for loans of $250,000 or less.
• Direct the Administrator to carry out a Medical Professionals in Designated Shortage Areas program and an Increased Veteran Participation program.
• Revise eligibility requirements for development company designation as a certified development company (CDC).
• Require certain CDCs to contract for the foreclosure and liquidation of defaulted small business loans.
• Authorize SBA loans for projects which reduce energy consumption by at least ten percent.

The reason for the no vote is currently a mystery; Congressman Sali made no floor speech regarding the bill and his website also contains no information. 

Media and John Foster

What does the traditional media have to say about the Idaho Democratic Party's new Executive Director, John Foster?

Print  [These are the only papers I found that carried the story online.]

• Idaho Press-Tribune has the Canyon County angle
• Idaho Statesman doesn't really have much of an angle
• Twin Falls Times-News the Magic Valley perspective

TV  [Most who covered it carried versions of the AP story.  Here are the Treasure Valley stations.]

• ABC KIVI has nothing
• CBS KBCI emphasis on the minority Democrats
• NBC KTVB bleh
• FOX KTRV nice little bit

What do we make of all this?  Best coverage goes to the Idaho Press-Tribune.  They took the time to assess how the change may affect Canyon County and gave the readers some good insights.  Also, not really surprising but a little disappointing that Southeast Idaho didn't have more and North Idaho didn't have any print news coverage. 

Democratic Debate

Just a reminder that the first 2008 Democratic presidential primary debate will be held tonight on MSNBC at 7 p.m. Eastern, that's 5 p.m. Mountain or 4 p.m. Pacific.  MSNBC.com is also carrying a live video feed that can be accessed here.  NBC's Brian Williams will be the moderator.

If you happen to catch the debate, feel free to use the comments to post your thoughts. 

Idaho Democrats Hire Foster

This is exciting news from the Idaho Democratic Party, click to read the whole release.

John Foster, former managing editor of the Idaho Business Review, has been hired as the Executive Director of the Idaho Democratic Party, state Chairman Richard Stallings announced on Thursday.

“This extremely talented young man has proven management skills and exactly the kind of enthusiasm our party needs to capitalize on last year’s gains,” Stallings said. “John comes to this job with a keen ability to coach and nurture to our expanding staff; and to oversee day-to-day operations. He’s the right person at the right time in the right party.”

Foster replaces former IDP executive director Maria Weeg, who moved to Arizona earlier this month to assume that state’s directorship.

Foster, 33, has worked as managing editor of the Idaho Business Review newspaper for the past year. An Idaho native, he previously served as news editor for the Rio Grande SUN in New Mexico . He has worked as a newspaper trainer and contest judge, and has served as an officer and member of several professional journalism organizations.

Plus...he's a blogger.  Until recently, Foster wrote the Biz Blog at Idaho Business Review.  Idaho Democrats will enjoy huge benefits from that internet experience along with his many other skills.

Nice choice Chairman Stallings. 

In the Tiny Minority

Idaho's First District Congressman Bill Sali continues his quest to embed himself with the tiniest of minorities.  This time he's voted with 19 others against a bill that would authorize support of science and engineering researchers.

HR 363 Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act — To authorize appropriations for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate fellowships, and for other purposes.

Votes Database
Congressman Sali — No
Congressman Simpson — Yes
Republican Position — Yes
Democratic Position — Yes
Result — Passed 397-20

This is one of the more absurd votes from Congressman Sali in what's becoming a large collection of absurd votes as recorded here, here, here and here.  Apparently it's evident to all but the very extreme that without support for science and engineering research, the U.S. would quickly fall behind the rest of the world in the development of technology, a robust economy and creation of high-wage jobs.   

Are we surprised at the vote?  No, we already suspected that Sali had something against science, plus last month he did sort of roll out his own plan to combat the loss of high-wage jobs in the West which included something about ranching.  How in the world does Congressman Sali expect the U.S. to remain a world leader; it won't be with the development of more ranching jobs.   

Under the Weather

I've been a little under the weather for the past couple of days.  Hope to be back up to full speed soon.  Until then, reread some of  my favorite columnist, Molly Ivins.  We lost her to breast cancer earlier this year and it's at times like these when her frankness and biting wit are greatly missed.

Appointees Swing Treasure Valley to the Right

Within a span of four months, Idaho Governor Butch Otter has had the unusual, perhaps unprecedented, opportunity to fill four legislative seats with appointees — the first just two months after the November election.  The latest is the April 19th appointment of Curtis Bowers to the District 10 seat formerly held by retired Rep. Bob Ring (R-Caldwell), with all four of the appointed legislators coming from districts in the Treasure Valley.

The first was the January 4th appointment of District 20 Rep. Shirley McKague (R-Meridian), who had just been elected to her sixth term, to fill the district's recently vacant Senate seat.  On December 14th Senator Gerry Sweet resigned to become the district director for newly elected U.S. Congressman Bill Sali just over one month after voters had elected him to a third term.  This appointment certainly didn't swing the legislative pendulum to the conservative side — it's difficult to imagine any legislator being more conservative than Gerry Sweet — but Senator McKague is certainly no moderate, nudging the pendulum just slightly towards the center.

The appointment of Senator McKague left District 20's House Seat B vacant giving Otter his second legislative appointment.  For this slot on January 11th, of the three nominees submitted by District Republicans, Otter selected Marv Hagedorn of Meridian.  Hagedorn, a retired naval officer and fellow would-be wolf hunter, had lost a duel with Rep. Mark Snodgrass (R-Meridian) for the district's other House seat in the 2006 primary.  Rep. Hagedorn is solidly conservative, just a bit more so than McKague, nudging the legislative pendulum back slightly more conservative.

In December, newly elected Governor Otter selected District 13 Rep. Bill Deal (R-Nampa) to head the Department of Insurance leaving another legislative vacancy.  This appointment was given, after a nominating miscue, to the thirty-something Steve Kren of Nampa, although we're still not convinced that the Gov. didn't think he was appointing his father, Stephen Kren, Sr., a Nampa City Council Member.  Bill Deal was a business friendly moderate and although Rep. Kren is somewhat inexperienced, he has proven reliably conservative.  With this appointment the legislative pendulum took a big conservative swing.

The fourth appointment came on April 19th following the resignation of District 10 Rep. Bob Ring (R-Caldwell) for health reasons among others.  The District 10 Republican committee submitted the names of Pat Takasugi, former Director of Agriculture; Jim Rice, an attorney who was a primary contender for Canyon County Commissioner and Curtis Bowers, founder of Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant who attempted to run against Ring last May but withdrew due to residency ineligibility.

Gov. Otter appointed Curtis Bowers, the committee's third choice, to the position.  The selection came somewhat as a surprise to some including District 10 precinct chair and State Rep. Darrell Bolz (R-Caldwell) who told the Idaho Statesman, "I'm a little surprised the governor made that appointment, quite frankly.  He's pretty conservative; he basically believes in the Republican philosophy and that kind of thing."  But he said he thought Bowers would be "all right."

What prompted the Gov. to skip over the first two nominees?  Takasugi, after serving as Ag. Director under Governors Batt, Kempthorne and Risch, was replaced by former legislator Celia Gould when Otter took office.  Was there political friction between the two? Since Rice and Bowers are similarly conservative, did the fact that Rice is an attorney and Bowers a businessman/entrepreneur affect the Gov's decision?  All are interesting questions to which there aren't any clear answers.

What is clear is that with this appointment, the legislative pendulum takes another huge conservative swing.  Ring was clearly a moderate and Rep. Bowers is apparently an evangelical conservative, graduating from Colorado Christian University which was founded in 1914 as Denver Bible Institute.

Not only does a CCU education prepare students for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, education, government, and many other strategic disciplines, it also gives students significant opportunities to serve our Lord while they are at CCU, helping them develop a lifetime habit of service to God’s Kingdom.  ...  Outside the classroom students are learning to trust the Bible, live holy lives, and be evangelists—sharing the love of Christ on campus, in the local community, and around the world.

Bowers also told the District 10 committee, according to the Idaho Press-Tribune 

... that he is pro-life, a strong supporter of the right to bear arms and pro school choice. He quoted Ronald Reagan, who said the nine most terrifying words a person can hear are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

“Without the protection of life first, there can be no liberty or pursuit of happiness,” Bowers said about his stand on abortion.

The appointments of McKague and Hagedorn kept the legislative pendulum of the Treasure Valley at the status quo.  However with the appointments of Kren and Bowers, both replacing moderates, that pendulum has swung decidedly more conservative.

Bowers to Replace Ring

Idaho Press-Tribune is reporting that Curtis Bowers has been appointed by Gov. Butch Otter to replace the retired Dist. 10 Representative, Bob Ring (R-Caldwell).  Bowers was the third of the nominees submitted by Dist. 10 Republican Party leaders for the appointment behind Pat Takasugi and Jim Rice. 

The Idaho Statesman had this to say about the three nominees last week.

The committee's first choice is Takasugi, an alfalfa seed farmer in Wilder who served as agriculture director for a decade. The committee also nominated lawyer Jim Rice and Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant founder Curtis Bowers, both of Caldwell. Bowers signed up to run in the Republican primary against Ring last May but then withdrew. Rice lost a close primary race for the Canyon County Commission.

Gov. Otter's website has the official announcement.

Bowers, 41, has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado Christian University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado. He worked as a private school teacher and public school tutor while operating several businesses until opening the first of three Mona Lisa Fondue restaurants in Manitou Springs, Colorado, in 1995. He opened the second in Nampa in 1998, and the third in Boise in 2004.

We'll have more on the Curtis Bowers appointment in a subsequent post.

Bedke Rebuttal

43rd State Blues' faustus37 has a nice rebuttal to the opinion written by Idaho House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke (R-Oakley) which ran in the Twin Falls Times-News on Sunday.

Read all of faustus37's "A Lesson in Chutzpah."  Here's a snip:

A few days ago, Scott Bedke, the assistant majority leader of the Idaho House of Representatives, one of the reddest of legislative bodies in the nation, wrote in the Twin Falls Times-News that the recently-completed 2007 session of the Idaho Legislature "has to rank among the best in Idaho's history."

Why? Well, according to Bedke, "We completed our business in a timely fashion and gave Idahoans what they wanted - a government that is lean and effective. Along the way, we avoided the usual temptations to create massive new programs, expand government regulations and raise taxes."

What immediately jumps out is the apparent disconnect between Rep. Bedke and the sentiment of many Idahoans.  Heavily Republican Canyon County's local daily, the Idaho Press-Tribune, ran an online poll for a couple of days this month which was followed here. 

With 217 votes cast, it showed 86 percent gave the session a grade of C or worse with 36 percent grading it an F.  Ridenbaugh Press chronicled the Idaho Statesman's poll that showed similar results.  Neither poll is scientific of course and it's difficult to draw any concrete conclusions from them but both are interesting.

faustus37 concludes:

If Idaho Republicans, who control all of the state's constitutional offices and both houses of the Legislature with so called "veto-proof" majorities, were truly serious about cutting taxes, regulation and government, wouldn't it be a foregone conclusion? Apparently not.

As one of those Republican leaders, Rep. Bedke has apparently been stuck in the Legislature too long.  He has fooled himself into thinking that when looking at the results, Idahoans will really believe him that the 2007 session is "among the best in Idaho's history." 

Eiguren Out at Givens Pursley?

Word is that University Place attorney Roy Eiguren and the law firm Givens Pursley have parted ways.  Eiguren and his colleague Edward Miller were both facing a special Idaho Bar Association trial on April 9th for their involvement in the University Place fiasco but a March 30th agreement between the attorneys and the State Bar made that unnecessary. 

The agreement allowed both attorneys to keep their licenses, pay fees of $17,500 each and be publicly censured.  Read more about the agreement at Idaho Business Review.

So what does a fine of $17,500 mean to a guy like Roy Eiguren?  Well, let's see.  In the 2006 election cycle, according to campaign finance records, this is what he bought in Idaho for just under $20,000.

Campaign	Contribution
Governor Butch Otter	$10,000
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa	$1,000
Lt. Gov. Jim Risch	$1,000
State Controller Donna Jones	$1,083
Supt. of Public Instr. Tom Luna	$100
Legislative Races	$3,060
PACs and Committees	$2,054
Other Primary	$600
Total	$19,897

[All contributions went to Republican candidates or committees except for a $100 contribution to Rep. John Rusche of Lewiston, $500 to a public transportation PAC and $100 to House Democrats shortly after the Employers Resource Management bill passed.  Also an additional $1,000 excess contribution to Otter was refunded.]

This campaign spending isn't unusual for Eiguren who has also been a sought-after lobbyist, lobbying for companies such as Employers Resource Management, Amalgamated Sugar Company and CWI, LLP (Ch2MHill - Washington Group International)  among others.  He also was the lobbyist for Valley Regional Transit.

What is a bit unusual is the amount Eiguren spent on the 2006 cycle — nearly double that spent in any previous election cycle.  The next table shows Eiguren's Idaho campaign and PAC/Committee contributions going back ten years. 

Election Cycle	Total Contribution
2004	$4,243
2002	$10,034
2000	$2,668
1998	$8,500
1996	$5,905

[From Secretary of State campaign finance database.  Note statewide office election cycles in 2002 and 1998]

What prompted Roy Eiguren to double his campaign contributions in 2006?  We don't know.  What we do know is that a fine of $17,500 and public censure is merely a slap on the wrist for the unethical behavior which certainly led to millions of dollars in profit from the University Place fiasco.

BYU Revises Honor Code

The day after the arrest of eight members of Soulforce for trespassing on the BYU-Idaho campus in Rexburg comes this news:

(Provo, Utah) -- Three weeks after the Soulforce Equality Ride visited the campus to deliver a list of community concerns for the wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, officials at Brigham Young University have amended the section of the student honor code that deals with sexual orientation.

The revised code states that "Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or orientation and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. . . . One's stated sexual orientation is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity."

The previous code identified "any behaviors that indicate homosexual conduct, including those not sexual in nature" as violations of the honor code.

Read the rest at the Soulforce website.

No word yet whether the new honor code policy will extend to the BYU-Idaho campus.

Update 04.17.07 16:51:  Revised for readability.

Update 04.18.07 10:22:  KIDK is reporting that most likely BYU-I will not be making changes to the honor code.

Soulforce at BYU-I

Eight members of Soulforce were arrested for trespassing on the campus of BYU-Idaho in Rexburg yesterday but the group plans to return for a vigil and family picnic today.  The Soulforce Equality Ride features two buses that will visit thirty-two schools with policies banning the enrollment of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. 

Unlike the group's first Idaho stop at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, BYU-I refused to allow members on campus to discuss issues.  Instead the group gathered on public property near the campus. 

From CBS affiliate KIDK:    

For most of the day, almost 30 members of Soulforce Equality stood silent holding photos of their families.

Haven Herrin, Soulforce Equality: "We are here at BYU-Idaho to have a conversation about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender humanity."

The group claims BYU-Idaho discriminates against gays so they've come to Rexburg to try to discuss the schools policies.

Police quickly arrested members of the group as they attempted to walk onto University property.  Apparently the Rexburg police have plenty of time on their hands since they no longer have any pesky drunks to worry about.

BYU-I officials attempted to explain why they wouldn't allow the Equality Riders on campus.

Marc Stevens, BYU-Idaho: "BYU-Idaho is a private institution and the university has a long standing policy that the campus cannot be used by outside groups as a public forum to address their agendas."  [...]

BYU-Idaho denies it discriminates against homosexuals...saying the standards of behavior are made clear to students before they enroll and students agree to live those standards while at the university.

Apparently to BYU-I, having knowledge of a discriminatory policy somehow makes it less discriminatory.  Think about that for a minute.  It's like telling Rosa Parks that she knew the policy when she got on the bus, therefore requiring her to sit in the back wasn't discriminatory or that Augusta National Golf Club's former all-white and current all-male admittance policy isn't discriminatory because members are aware and agree to it.

BYU-I is a private institution; they have every right to set standards and policy however they see fit.  They then can't claim though, that their policies are not discriminatory just because the students have agreed to them. 

There's something happening here...

"What it is ain't exactly clear."  The line from Buffalo Springfield hits the nail on the head.  What is going on in Idaho lately?  This latest story of Idaho craziness comes from Meridian where a woman wakes to find one of her horses shot and disemboweled. 

From NBC affiliate KTVB:

MERIDIAN - Police are trying to find out who may behind a gruesome animal cruelty case.

"The first thing i thought was dogs but then i looked closer and she was shot…she was shot in the head and it wasn't dogs,” stable owner Debbie Ringline said.  [...]

“I found her lying there with a big hole in her head her insides were pulled out through her behind and they were spread around,” Ringline said.

Eight other horses on the property were covered in motor oil. Ringline suspects at least one of them may have also been traumatized, and the gruesome scene has her understandably shaken.

“This is huge,” Ringline said. “We've got people running around in Meridian with guns, and to shoot a horse and do what they did, I wouldn't want people like that in my neighborhood.”

Growing up we used to hear stories of ranchers around the county discovering mutilated cows on their land.  Local law enforcement officials were baffled by the remains which were discovered fairly regularly over a couple of years.  The tales were soon accompanied by speculation of alien autopsy or ritual.

Hmmm...so which category is this latest incident, alien invasion or crazy, stupid human?  I'll stick with crazy, stupid human...for now.

Update 04.17.07 08:44:  The Idaho Statesman has a full report today including info on a reward. 

Craig Speculation

At least one source has confirmed what many have been speculating — Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey has been on special assignment digging into allegations regarding Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig's sexual orientation.

PrideDEPOT.com can confirm that Statesman reporter Dan Popkey has been asking questions and following leads related to Craig’s sexual orientation.

During a lengthy March 6, telephone conversation Popkey indicated to PrideDEPOT.com that some of the leads he has been following had “too many holes in them” to make a legitimate news story. Many of those leads were from an internet source that claims to have outed Craig, although no conclusive evidence has been produced.

Although Popkey did not say when his story might appear, he did indicate that his editor was anxious for him to wrap up his assignment.

The allegations and speculation haven't dampened Craig's enthusiasm for making another run despite Lt. Gov. Jim Risch's apparent interest in taking the job.  Although Craig is holding fundraisers, he has yet to announce formally whether he intends to seek another term.

Come out, come out, wherever you are, Larry.

Soulforce at NNU Today

The Soulforce Equality Ride will make a stop at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa today.  The 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride features two buses that will visit thirty-two schools with policies banning the enrollment of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.  The Idaho Press Tribune reports that the organization will be on the NNU campus from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today

... including sharing meals with students, giving presentations, holding forums and chatting with NNU students to encourage open dialog.

Officials at NNU don't feel the University's current lifestyle policy needs to be changed although they plan to treat Soulforce with hospitality.

Even though NNU does not endorse gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships, [Hollie Linder, director of marketing and public relations for NNU,] said bringing the discussion to campus would be good for NNU students.

“We definitely see this as a preparation opportunity for our students to learn how to respond with respect and hospitality, in the Spirit of Christ, to folks who disagree with you,” Linder said.

As a Christian university, NNU is taking the right step by allowing open dialog regarding a controversial topic on campus; open dialog fosters understanding.  Soulforce's stop at NNU can only be a positive for the University and the community.

Next stop, Rexburg and BYU-I.

Vasquez' Winning Ways

Former Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez will not replace Dist. 10 Rep. Bob Ring (R-Caldwell) who announced his retirement last month.  Canyon County Republicans rejected Vasquez and three others in favor of  Pat Takasugi, Jim Rice and Curtis Bowers as nominees for the appointment by Gov. Otter.

Vasquez is still a candidate for the 2008 Senate race for the seat held by Republican Larry Craig who has not yet announced whether he will seek another term.  Larry LaRocco formally announced yesterday that he will contend for the Democratic nomination.  The controversial Vasquez continues to polarize, telling local ABC affiliate KIVI [video link] in a statement regarding LaRocco's announcement:

I'm not sure what makes him think after being thoroughly beaten in the First Congressional District that he can win a U.S. Senate seat... but he's welcome to waste his money if he wants to.

There goes Vasquez, winning friends and influencing people.  Seems he could use a little help with that since he couldn't even secure a spot among the top three for State Rep.

Luna Debt

IdaBlue delves into the campaign finance records of Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and raises some interesting questions about his campaign debt.  If you'll recall, the Luna campaign came under some scrutiny earlier for an excess contribution from JR Simplot.  Apparently record keeping wasn't the Luna campaign's strong suit. 

Craziness in Idaho

A few stories of the absurd happenings in Idaho have been recorded recently; this photo by the Boise Guardian, this post of cafeteria workers gone wild, this post at IdahoRocks which covers tips on how to cook a wolf for those itching to hunt them just as soon as it's legal, there's the shaven or unshaven controversy at idaho-hum and then there's the free speech battle at 43rd State Blues where clearly worded reports of rumors drew takedown orders from some involved.

This, reported by the Idaho Press-Tribune, is perhaps crazier than all of that.

STAR — Ada County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Star man Monday saying he held a 60-year-old woman for six days, reading her Bible passages and scripture lessons.

The woman was able to crawl out of a bathroom window at 9:50 a.m. at a home in the 9000 block of West Blackpool Court and called a neighbor who called police. The suspect in the case, 34-year-old Brent Ashley Braden, faces second-degree kidnapping charges.

Police said Braden had been renting a room in the woman’s home for the past few months. Taking part in some sort of rite, Braden had held the woman against her will since Wednesday night, officials said.

The report also notes that more bizarre details will emerge at his arraignment.  Ooooh, can't wait.

Otter: Cuban Money Good For Idaho

Idaho Governor Butch Otter and wife Lori are leading an entourage of 35 government and business leaders on a trade mission to Cuba this week.  According to the Associated Press, the trip "costs about $2,600 for private individuals going along, and $1,950 for state officials."  The AP report contains a full roster of those who have been invited to join the mission to the communist dictatorship which, according to Human Rights Watch:

... remains the one country in Latin America that represses nearly all forms of political dissent. President Fidel Castro, during his 47 years in power, has shown no willingness to consider even minor reforms. Instead, the Cuban government continues to enforce political conformity using criminal prosecutions, long- and short-term detentions, mob harassment, police warnings, surveillance, house arrests, travel restrictions, and politically-motivated dismissals from employment. The end result is that Cubans are systematically denied basic rights to free expression, association, assembly, privacy, movement, and due process of law.

The U.S. authorized sales of food and medicine to Cuba in 2000 after four decades of trade sanctions and in 2004 Cuban officials estimated imports from the U.S. at $1 billion.

It's unclear what the result will be of Castro temporarily ceding power to his brother last year due to illness.  Many are hopeful that a change of power will lead to political reform but there are others who believe that repression is too deeply ingrained and are skeptical that Castro's death would bring about significant changes.

Otter feels that Cuba's dismal human rights record doesn't affect the value of their money and sees the trading partnership as good for Idaho businesses.  An Otter spokesman tells the AP, "He's (Otter) going down there to sell groceries," said Jon Hanian. "It isn't to be adventurous. It's an opportunity to make some sales." 

This won't be Otter's first trip to Cuba.  He made the trip twice as a U.S. Congressman in 2004; once with Senator Larry Craig where photos show Fidel Castro signing a baseball for Otter and according to the Alliance for Responsible Cuba Policy Foundation and the AP, other gifts were exchanged.

Senator Craig and Congressman Otter gave President Castro several bottles of the finest Idahoan wine. President Castro reciprocated the gesture with gifts of flowers and Cuban cigars for delegation members.

The second trip was led by then Congressman Otter and included 10 Idaho business leaders along with others from Florida.  Otter gave both the opening and closing keynote addresses at the April, 2004 US-Cuba Business Conference.

Rich Keep Getting Richer

An acquaintance pointed out an interesting editorial from The New York Times.  According to the April 4th editorial under the headline "It Didn’t End Well Last Time," the U.S. has not seen such a disparity in income since before the Great Depression.

Not since the Roaring Twenties have the rich been so much richer than everyone else. In 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, the top 1 percent of Americans — whose average income was $1.1 million a year — received 21.8 percent of the nation’s income, their largest share since 1929.

Over all, the top 10 percent of Americans — those making more than about $100,000 a year — collected 48.5 percent, also a share last seen before the Great Depression.

This AP report, "Idaho wages up in all sectors" found in the Idaho Press-Tribune is little consolation for Idaho workers, especially for folks in the hotel and food service industry who remained the lowest-paid workers in the state.  According to the report, their wages rose only 6.3 percent to just over $12,000.

It's little consolation when, according to the State of Idaho, the living wage for a single person in this state is $21,658 or $46,239 for a single parent with two young children and $60,382 for a household with both adults working and two young children.  According to the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO):

Only 14 percent of jobs in Idaho are paying living wage for single parents raising two children. Only 17 percent of all jobs in Idaho pay a living wage for a two-parent, two-child household where one parent stays at home.

Perhaps that statistic would be helpful to Reps. Loertscher (R-Iona) and Thayn (R-Emmett) who voted against a bill improving Idaho's daycare standards in the hopes that it would encourage moms to stay home with their kids.  For many, that's just not financially feasible.

Also according to the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor news release:

The highest average annual wage was in business management at almost $86,000. The 28 percent increase over 2005 is primarily the result of huge payouts made to some corporate executives during mid-2006.

While $86,000 doesn't seem like an exorbitant amount, it is an average that includes a wide range of business types and the 28% increase over the 2005 rate is significant.  [Also the noted "huge payouts" is interesting and deserves more research than devoted in this post.]

This wage disparity raises the question:  "Who is in need of more tax relief in Idaho?"  Is it the CEO whose average income is nearly four times the living wage for a single person or is it the hotel employee whose income is almost half of that same living wage?  Something to keep in mind for Idaho's next legislative session. 

During the 1980's the theory, called "supply-side economics," that feeding the rich was beneficial to all, was also labeled "trickle-down economics" or "Reaganomics" due to it being the economic policy of President Ronald Reagan.  The theory was that by giving tax cuts to businesses and investors it would promote investment and economic development which would in turn benefit others or "trickle-down."  For many during that time, the trickle never reached far enough down. 

In fact it wasn't until the late '90s and a change in economic policy that the gap in the income disparity actually began to close. For some of the reasons for that reduction, let's go back to The New York Times editorial.

Part of the reason for the shared prosperity of the late 1990s was an increase in the minimum wage and a big expansion of the earned income tax credit. During the same period, a strong economy coupled with fiscal discipline — including tax increases, spending cuts and binding budget rules — conquered budget deficits and furthered job growth while providing a foundation for reasonably adequate social spending.

Along with the closure of the income gap came a reduction in budget deficits and in fact budget surpluses.  That shared prosperity led to a healthier economy.  Many of those policies from the late '90s are now being advocated by the new Democratic Congress and some, like a minimum wage increase, have already been passed. 

It will perhaps take generations though, to recover from the huge deficits built up over the past six years which is frustrating in light of this finding from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities that in 2006, referring to the tax cuts of 2001:

... even with the spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the response to Hurricane Katrina, the federal budget would essentially be in balance this year if the tax cuts had not been enacted, or if they had been offset by either increases in other taxes or cuts in programs, as would have been required under the Pay-As-You-Go rules that tax-cut proponents first ignored and then allowed to expire.

Not since before the Great Depression have the richest been so rich.

Richardson on Firings

Betty Richardson, a former U.S. Attorney, has a Reader's View in the Idaho Statesman today that shouldn't go unnoticed.  She succinctly points out the facts in the recent controversy over the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys, the reasons for which apparently have escaped Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The White House argues that these firings are normal and ordinary. They are not. Both President Clinton and President George W. Bush made a wholesale dismissal of U.S. attorneys upon taking office. That was not remarkable; but the termination of eight U.S. attorneys appointed by a sitting president during the term of his administration is unprecedented.

The Congressional Research Service has reported that, of the 478 U.S. attorney confirmations made by the Senate over the 25 years from 1981 to 2006, only 10 left office involuntarily for reasons other than a change in administration.

With the news today of the resignation of top Gonzales aide Monica M. Goodling, the Justice Department's liaison to the White House who had earlier told Congress that she would not testify in the matter and would instead take the fifth amendment, it leaves many questioning how much deeper the Gonzalesgate scandal can get before he's relieved of his post. 

Craig in the News

Idaho's Senator Larry Craig is getting a lot of attention lately.  Check out this report at Red State Rebels of Sen. Craig speaking to the City Club of Boise.  Seems Larry fancies himself quite the "trench fighter" and he also apparently enjoys his roll as sideline cheerleader for the minority. 

Also some interesting reading in a post at 43rd State Blues where rumors are flying of some connection between Senator Craig and the Vandersloot/Melaleuca/Wasden legal matter.  Currently just rumor but interesting discussion.

Remind me, when was Senator Craig going to make a decision on retirement?

Update 04.07.07 16:41:  Apparently Melaleuca is not happy with 43rd State Blues' postings on the Vandersloot/Melaleuca/Wasden legal matter and has served 43rd State Blues with a broadly worded legal order that they take down all postings regarding the matter.  Read more in a new post at 43rd State Blues.

Update 04.07.07 21:06:  43rd State Blues has redacted their postings on the Vandersloot/Melaleuca/Wasden legal matter.

Legislative Session Poll

The Idaho Press-Tribune is running an online poll asking readers to grade the 2007 legislative session that just ended.  Here are the results with 156 votes cast.

Looks like so far most readers are somewhat dissatisfied.

Update 04.06.07 17:28:  Here are the updated numbers with 217 votes cast now.

A significant majority of 86% grade the session a C or less and apparently there are at least 5 people who had no idea what a legislative session was let alone how to grade it.

Vasquez to Replace Ring?

This may change things folks.  The Idaho Press-Tribune is reporting on the list of possible nominees to replace Rep. Bob Ring (R-Caldwell) who retired mid-term effective April 4th.  [See The "Hammer" Falls on Rep. Ring]  District 10 Republicans will meet on April 10th where precinct chairs will choose three nominees to submit to Governor Otter for the appointment. 

Among the list of possibles is former Canyon County Commissioner Robert Vasquez who has previously announced his candidacy for the Senate seat held by Republican Senator Larry Craig.  At this point it's not clear what Vasquez's intentions are but this report does raise some interesting questions.  We'll wait for more information before drawing any conclusions.

Others on the list for consideration are Matt Dorsey, Curtis Bowers, Bill Lane, Jim Rice, Joann Schatz and Pat Takasugi.

Cafeteria Workers Going to the Mattresses

Okay, so it's lunch time and you're a junior high kid in the cafeteria eating your nutritious, "yummy" hot lunch when suddenly the nice cafeteria workers come up, snatch your tray, dump it in the garbage and hand you a sack lunch.  Bewildered you turn to the 149 other kids holding brown bags and ask, "What happened?"

It happened at Vera C. O'Leary Junior High School in Twin Falls, Idaho on Monday and according to the Times-News, school officials say it was because the students were behind on their school lunch payments.

Cafeteria workers threw out the students' hot meals and replaced them with sack lunches while charging them full-price for a hot lunch.

District officials say the purpose of the brown-bag lunch was to encourage students to pay their delinquent lunch accounts, but others say the district was coercing students into paying off their debt by humiliating them.

"It was perfectly legal, and it was not done to set those students apart from the others," said Mary Lu Barry, secondary programs director for the Twin Falls School District. "It was done to send the message to students that if they want regular school lunch they have to pay the fee."

Seems a little extreme — cafeteria workers using mafia tactics on junior high kids "encouraging" them to pay up.

Update 04.06.07 07:21:  The Times-News has a follow-up opinion here.

IPT Endorses Fair Bid Process

Should a local Nampa development company receive special treatment from the Nampa City Council?  Of course not and the editorial board at the Idaho Press-Tribune agrees.  Nampa Development headed by Jeff Needs is seeking to present their plans for downtown redevelopment at a special hearing of the City Council — prior to the August date set for submission of bids from other developers.  [See Cronyism in Nampa Project?]

[N]o one should receive preferential or different treatment. When citizens’ money is at stake, caution and frugality are vital. The best way to ensure selection of the most efficient developer at the best price is to employ competition uniformly.

City attorneys are deciding whether the council can accept the developer’s request to bypass the previously announced bid process. But it shouldn’t come to that. Regardless of whether it’s legal, it’s not the most prudent way to handle the situation. If they tell this developer to follow the rules everyone else must follow, Nampa’s leaders will be fostering fairness and staving off any appearance of impropriety.

Well said.  The Nampa City Council should respect the fair bid process that has been developed throughout the four year planning process of this vital downtown project.

Read more at the Idaho Statesman.

Oakland A's

Okay, the Idaho Statesman's Kevin Richert can't be all bad; he's an Oakland A's fan.  As an A's fan since the early 70's and Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue to Dennis Eckersley, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson  and Walt Weiss to Jason Giambi, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito; I've watched the A's develop and groom all-star players only to trade them and start all over again. 

I've often said that the A's have become the farm team for Major League Baseball.  I still root for them every season.  Go A's!

LaRocco for Senate

Tom Payne at 43rd State Blues has the scoop and Serephin confirms that this month Idaho Democrat Larry LaRocco will formally announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Sen. Larry Craig.  Former Canyon County Commissioner and unsuccessful congressional candidate Robert Vasquez has previously announced that he will challenge Sen. Craig in the Republican primary.

Larry LaRocco served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 1st District of Idaho from 1991 to 1995.  Last year he ran unsuccessfully against interim Gov. Jim Risch for the position of Lt. Gov. where he raised and spent over $200,000.  As of yet, no other Democratic challenger has announced for the seat.

According to Open Secrets, as of Dec. 2006 Sen. Craig had $270,000 cash on hand.  His upcoming primary opponent, Robert Vasquez, was able to raise $324, 000 in last year's 1st Congressional District primary and had $107 on hand as of Dec. 2006. 

End of Session News Rundown

The legislative session is over and there will be many opportunities for analysis.  For now let's take a look at how the local news media (mostly print) viewed the session.

Most Comprehensive

• John Miller - AP — Friction shifts legislative priorities
• Gregory Hahn - Idaho Statesman — Lawmakers adjourn for the year after reaching a deal on highway money
• Shawna Gamache - Idaho Statesman — Otter's legislative wins, losses, compromises

Best Who's Who

• Gregory Hahn - Idaho Statesman — The session's movers and shakers

Best Quote Collection

• Idaho Reports - Idaho Public Television — Quotes from the 2007 session
• Parker Howell - Spokesman Review — Legislative session spiced with memorable quotes [must link through Eye on Boise due to firewall]

Best Key Issues

• Statesman Staff - Idaho Statesman — Key Decisions Lawmakers Made

Best Grading System

• Editorial Board - Idaho Press-Tribune — Divisive session’s grades mixed
• Marty Trillhaase - Idaho Falls Post Register — How bad was it? 

Best Local Impact Analysis

• Dan Boyd - Idaho State Journal —  SE Idaho and the Legislature
• Jared S. Hopkins - Twin Falls Times-News — Magic Valley benefits from prickly Legislature
• Betsy Z. Russell & Parker Howell - Spokesman Review — In Otter's first year, many legislators leave Boise unsatisfied [must link through Eye on Boise due to firewall]
• Staff - Idaho Statesman  — How new laws will affect you

Best Commentary Behind a Firewall [This is a dubious category; a nod combined with a jab for not allowing access to more readers.]

• Betsy Z. Russell - Spokesman Review — Betsy Z. Russell: Less government, more licensing?

Best Last Day Color Commentary

• Jared S. Hopkins - Twin Falls Times-News — Colorful conclusion

This list will update as more news becomes available.  Thanks to Idaho Public Television's Idaho Reports, many articles from the dailies whose websites are behind subscription firewalls will be made accessible.