Untitled Document

PNWER delegates meet with Idaho Gov. C.L 'Butch' Otter

Delegates from the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region visited Idaho as a followup to a December regional meeting in Coeur d'Alene.

On the first day, members of PNWER's delegation met with Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little and discussed the recent formation of the PNWER Idaho Executive Council and the successful 2012 Winter Meeting in Coeur d'Alene. Visitors then attended sessions in the House and Senate where they were formally introduced. The delegation also met with the entire leadership of the House and Senate, including the leaders of the majority and minority, to hear about Idaho's regional issues.

Members of the group provided a briefing on PNWER's Transportation Working Group before the Senate Transportation Committee and a House Resources and Conservation Committee where delegates discussed energy resources in their respective jurisdictions. The first day concluded with a meeting of the Idaho Executive Council to provide updates on issues impacting agriculture, border issues, transportation, energy and the workforce. It was followed by a private-sector reception at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.

On the second day of meetings, PNWER began with a meeting focused on agriculture that included: Agriculture Department Director, Celia Gould; Idaho State Veterinarian, Dr. Bill Barton; Rick Stott, CEO Agribeet; Patrick Kole, Idaho Potato Commission; Lloyd Knight, Idaho's invasive species lead; Russ Hendricks, Idaho Farm Bureau; Idaho Department of Labor Workforce Development Specialists Susan Simmons and Marsha Wright and Idaho Department of Commerce director, Jeff Sayer.

The group concluded its visit by meeting with commissioners Marsha Smith, Mack Redford and Paul Kjellander of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.