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Politics: Governor's Race

When Keith Allred officially announced he is running for Governor this morning in his hometown of Twin Falls, he also announced that his campaign co-chairs are Cecil Andrus and Laird Noh.

Former four-term Governor and Secretary of the Interior, Democrat Andrus is a revered and respected figure known for his efforts to bring lawmakers with opposing viewpoints together. Former state senator Laird Noh is an esteemed Republican on whom honors have also been bestowed for the same talent of crafting bipartisan solutions. Both men are avid outdoorsmen and conservationists, as is Allred.

Noh didn’t attend the announcement today at the Twin Falls high school auditorium, but his letter of support was read aloud. “It is not often that we find someone of such uncommon ability, objectivity, and energy,” Noh wrote, urging Idahoans of all parties to support Allred’s candidacy.

Allred said support from Idaho voters from both, or neither, political parties was important, “I ask all Idahoans – Democrats, Republicans and independents – to join me in this campaign to realize the full promise of a state government that is of, by, and for all Idahoans,” he said.


It finally hauled off and snowed

Thursday at 10 a.m. the first skiers and snowboarders will be screaming down the runs at beloved local ski resort Bogus Basin, and Boise snowboarders, skiers, snow retailers, resort employees and pretty much everybody else is smiling. The annual transformation to ski-town is here.

Tuesday’s storm dropped enough snow on the mountain to add up to nearly 30 inches at the base and 32 at the summit, and the resort announced a Thursday opening.

Bogus Basin has several groups and programs going on, and it’s the time to join up and get organized. Details for all the listings can be found on the Bogus website.

Governor's Race 2010

Wednesday, NewWest.Net broke the story that Keith Allred was expected to file the paperwork to raise money as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Idaho governor. Today Allred announced that he has filed them, and it’s official. The full text of his email to members of The Common Interest is below.

Election 2010

Keith Allred of Eagle is expected to appoint a political treasurer and file the required C-1 form with the Secretary of State which will mark him as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2010, NewWest.Net has learned.

Allred, a public policy negotiator and leadership expert who has won respect and praise from both parties, can’t officially file for office until March 8, but a preliminary fundraising committee is the usual signal that a candidate will run.

Until now, Allred hasn’t claimed membership in any political party and has based his work with Idaho lawmakers on his declared nonpartisan status.

Fifth-generation native Idahoan Allred, executive director of The Common Interest in Boise - a nonprofit, nonpartisan good-government organization - is a respected Statehouse figure who has worked at brokering compromises between political parties and competing interests in the state legislature. His private business, Allred Solutions, is “a training, consulting, and mediation practice which helps public and private sector clients achieve solutions to difficult problems and controversies.”

Climate Change

Three critters in the Northern Rockies are featured on a new list of species most at risk of extinction because of a changing climate that affects habitat, breeding cycles and food supplies. Salmon, Canada lynx and grizzly bears are singled out in the report “America’s Hottest Species,” released by the Endangered Species Coalition.

Leda Huta, the group’s executive director, says although grizzlies have been touted as a success story in endangered species recovery, warmer winters are creating ideal conditions for diseases that are decimating white bark pines, a grizzly food staple. And, shifting seasons mean more run-ins with humans - which can be dangerous to people and bears.

“Having them den later, overlapping more with hunters who shoot them for self-defense or mistaken identity reasons, can be another problem for grizzly bears.”

The Canada lynx also have specific climate requirements to stay healthy - they need a solid season of deep snows. When snowpack is low, Huta explains, bigger and more aggressive species, like coyotes, edge the lynx out of hunting territories.

Idaho Life

Dear owners of Pengilly’s Saloon in Boise,

My friends and I often spend an evening of music at Pengilly’s. It’s a wonderful place and we thank you for keeping it as it has been for more than a century. In fact, we remember when you could choke in there from the smoke of a thousand Democrats. Thanks for clearing that up.

[more]

National Journal Online for NewWest.Net

Lawmakers are back in their districts for the week, but the healthcare debate rages on during the recess.

In a memorandum to members, Senate Democratic leaders suggested this is a prime time to frame the debate because momentum is growing after Saturday night’s vote to start debate on the measure. “Americans are serious about reforming health insurance and for the first time in 60 years, Congress is primed to act,” the memo says.

The memo plays down a dispute between moderate Democrats who threaten to scuttle the language due to opposition to the public option with a state opt-out and liberals who say they might balk if that measure is dropped.

“The differences between Democrats are small, and we all believe now is the time to make quality, stable, affordable health insurance accessible for every single American,” it says. The talking points say the bill “saves lives and saves money,” cuts the deficit and protects Medicare.”

Talking points prepared by the Senate Republican Conference repeat GOP claims that the measure will cost $2.5 trillion when fully implemented and highlight the measure’s 2,074 pages. The talking points say the bill will generate higher premiums, higher taxes and Medicare cuts.

Congress

Saturday, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo delivered a national address on the health care legislation expected to be considered by the U.S. Senate Saturday evening.  Crapo was chosen by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to offer the Republican response to the President’s weekly radio address. 

A vote in the Senate on whether or not to allow debate on the bill is expected Saturday night.

Congress

It can be scary for adults to change careers, but the recession has handed many American workers no choice. Enrollment at trade schools, community colleges and specialized private colleges has increased all over the U.S.  But whether or not graduates of these programs find work in their new area of competence varies based on the quality of the training, the choice of skills to learn, and whether or not the training suits an industry with hiring needs.

Rep. Walt Minnick, D-ID, has announced his new bill, H.R. 4072 or the American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration (AMERICA) Works Act. Minnick has spent eight months developing and writing the bill, which is co-sponsored by three Democratic House Members: Frank Kratovil of Maryland, Debbie Halvorson of Illinois, and Bobby Bright of Alabama.

“Thanks to the diverse coalition behind the bill, there will be more co-sponsors of both parties signing on,” said John Foster, Minnick’s spokesperson. That coalition includes the National Association of Manufacturers, Northwest Carpenters, and community colleges and trade organizations.

“American workers are the best in the world,” said Minnick. “They are resilient, innovative and hardworking, as is made so clear by the success of many great companies in my home state of Idaho. We need to make sure that those American workers, many of whom are retraining, are given every opportunity to achieve certifications, degrees and qualifications for the jobs American industry needs to fill.”

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