Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter won’t describe it the same way but he’s left his fellow Republicans some rotten eggs in this year’s Easter baskets.  Long, long ago and in a previous decade, the Governor proposed a package for repairing old and worn out bridges, which Idaho has aplenty.  He got rejected by a strong anti-tax sentiment and some of his fellow Republicans made national reputations by shouting, “No!”  So the need for road repairs festered and now the state is faced with a massive price tag in excess of a quarter of a billion dollars.

Having already once taken a beating from his own majority party this year he suggested his fellow Republicans come up with a solution he could put into practice.  Legislative session was scheduled to end one week ago.  It will certainly drag into next week and possibly beyond.

Dithering heights.
Dithering heights.
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Republicans have done a great many things right in Idaho.  With no mineral extraction the state is fifth in U.S. economic growth and only behind four states with large reserves of natural gas and/or oil and/or coal.  Taxes are low.  Among the top ten states for taxpayers in the country and Idaho is considered one of the best places for stretching retirement dollars.  New business starts are as common as changes in the weather.  In Boise there are construction cranes on the horizon.  Cranes mean growth.  Big growth.  Getting to all of those new office parks and factories can be an adventure.  I worry during my 5 minute drive to work I’m going to pop some struts and tear out an undercarriage.  I’m a newcomer.  People will tell me I’ve no right to complain even as I’ve been an Idaho taxpayer since my Late December arrival.  As a newbie I can also attest the streets and roads here are in terrible condition.  I’ve driven a lot of other places in recent years and through and around some of America’s largest cities.  I drove through several of them during my move west.  In general I assure you most roads are in better condition elsewhere than here.

The state House of Representatives came up with a plan to raise a portion of the 262 million dollars.  A portion that on the best of days would’ve covered half the needs.  Speaking of baskets, the House plan used multiple sources for funding.  A seven cent increase in the gasoline tax per gallon.  Higher vehicle registration fees.  Some money from funds usually allocated in a budget for State Police.  A few dollars from the general fund.

Republicans also control the State Senate, where they balked at the House plan.  A majority in the Senate proposes a 20 million dollar road bill, covering less than a tenth of projected cost.

What’s plainly evident is no one wants to be accused of raising taxes.  Tell that to business when it can no longer move goods and services.  You could tell Governor Otter, “Touché!”  On the other hand I don’t believe he’s at all happy with the status quo.  Government has few defined roles but one of its oldest is to foster commerce.  Legislators can’t score when all they do is punt.

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