Legislative notebook
Jared S. Hopkins

BOISE - Those who work in the Capitol Annex during the Legislature - lawmakers, lobbyists, reporters - often opine that decisions made in the morning often transform into things inherently different by nightfall.

Transportation can do the trick.

Thursday began one day after the unveiling of a $68.5 million package to raise transportation revenue that legislators described as a "going-home" bill.

But by early afternoon, the support system crashed when Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter cut his support of it and chastised the Legislature. By evening, lawmakers heading home assured the whole issue was dead.

Transportation - what many called the main issue of the session - often stirs the emotional pot at the Legislature. A few weeks ago, one lawmaker sang a song on the House floor to make his point.

Otter's hearty solo came Thursday.

After he canceled appearing at a public event on the second floor of his office building, spokesman Jon Hanian released a five-sentence tersely-written statement to reporters in his office.

"Simply put, there is a shortage of vision and political will within the Legislature to do what needs to be done this year," part of it read.

Otter wanted a package worth $200 million and felt the Legislature had rejected his leadership. Earlier in the session, Otter proposed raising registration fees to $150, which legislators dismissed over outcry from voters.

When reporters asked how to interpret the statement - for example, was Otter giving up until next year? - Hanian said, "You're going to have to ask him that yourself. I think the statement speaks for itself."

But both Hanian and Mark Warbis, his communications director, said they didn't know whom Otter was meeting with. Staff said he was tending to "pressing legislative business." Actually, he was nearby in his office, and he refused to speak to reporters.

Surprise at the governor's behavior continued Friday.

"I don't understand what the governor's doing," said Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, and a former Idaho Transportation Board chairman. "It baffles me because we need highway funding."

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, and co-chairwoman of the state budgeting committee, said the latest bill seemed more palatable to Idahoans than lifting registration to $150.

"Now all of a sudden it's his baby, and he's grieving its death," she said. "I thought he kicked something out to give us cover so we could come up with something for people to understand. I didn't ever know there was seriousness about that."

Minutes after the bill was introduced, which increased car and truck fees and the fuel tax, House leadership conceded they were unsure of its passage. The fee increases would accompany a sluggish economy in an election year.

But Rep. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, one of the supporters of the plan, said the roads need fixing.

"We'll have to raise taxes but it's a matter of where we can do it," he said. "There's no easy way to raise taxes."

Patrick voted in favor of the $134 million for GARVEE - most of which will benefit the Treasure Valley - because, he said, he thought there'd be agreement on road money, some of which would be filtered for the Magic Valley projects.

"Mostly I'm disappointed in transportation (funding)," he said. "I give that an F."

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 420-8371 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com