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Idaho State-of-the-State budget address
Governor C.L. 'Butch' Otter
January 8, 2007

Part III

As if legal issues weren’t enough of a threat to our water, we continue to face the plague of noxious weeds infesting our waterways and over 8 million acres of our land mass. The annual cost of that infestation is about $300 million, and right now we’re only able to treat about 130,000 acres a year. That is simply unacceptable.

So my recommendation is for $6 million to fight noxious weeds, plus $4 million to continue battling the choking effects of Eurasian water milfoil.

Preserving our natural resources is imperative. But nothing is more important than providing for the safety of our citizens. The need to get violent offenders off our streets is particularly important. That’s why I’m calling for a shift in existing resources to fund the 242 new beds recently added at the state prison complex south of Boise.

I recognize that still more space is needed, but I also am concerned about the high cost of building new prisons. As we explore more cost-effective means of housing inmates, I am recommending funding for a new so-called “sprung” structure to expand our prison capacity.

Structures made of stressed membrane over an aluminum framework are relatively inexpensive and have a long life. I’m hopeful they may help meet our need for additional prison space at a substantially lower cost than traditional facilities.

In addition, I will ask Chairmen Darrington and Clark to join me in exploring other innovative ways to address prison crowding – including the Pro Tem’s idea for hot-bunking.

The biggest contributing factor to our growing prison population is drug and alcohol abuse. Therefore, I am recommending $865,000 in one-time funding to help create a sobering and detoxification center to serve the state’s largest population center, the Treasure Valley. This funding is a matching contribution for a coordinated effort by cities, counties, hospitals and the United Way of Treasure Valley.

While I’m on the topic, let me take this opportunity to recognize the great work that Jim Tibbs has done over the past seven months to catalog and coordinate our state’s drug abuse programs. Thank you, Jim.

Jim’s leadership has been invaluable. The City of Boise is fortunate that he’s decided to focus his considerable energies to an even greater extent on his role as a member of the City Council.

But our commitment to protecting Idahoans from the scourge of methamphetamines and other drugs will not end with Jim’s departure. Debbie Field has agreed to bring her experience and talents to bear on the problem. She dealt directly with all the folks responsible for our drug-control policies as chairman of House Judiciary Committee. Along with her obvious skill in shaping public opinion and turning it into action as a campaign manager, Debbie is the ideal person to spearhead the “Not Even Once” effort that I have discussed throughout the state.

Our one-time budget surplus also gives us the chance to finally deal with the need for better communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho. The problem is aggravated by geographical challenges and lack of equipment compatibility. The solution is costly, with an initial price tag of $40 million. But the potential public benefits make it a wise investment for taxpayers. We all have learned the lessons of 9/11. We will never forget those lessons, but the time is long overdue for us to apply them.

One of those lessons was the pressing need to secure our national borders. While members of our congressional delegation are working hard to get that done, we must take the initiative here at home to ensure Idaho does not become a haven for those who enter our country illegally. That’s why I support Senator John McGee’s proposal to require every adult to prove they are valid U.S. residents before collecting taxpayer-funded benefits. His legislation provides reasonable humanitarian exceptions, and it will send a clear message that Idaho will not harbor those who shoplift citizenship.

I want to take just a moment now to recognize the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty recently exhibited by a member of our Idaho State Police. Trooper Chris Glenn was shot in the neck last month after pulling over an armed-robbery suspect south of Twin Falls. His injury left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Trooper Glenn has the deep gratitude of all Idahoans for his heroism and commitment to protecting us. He also has our best wishes for his recovery. And his family members have our pledge to stand by them and all those who go into harm’s way on our behalf. With us today are Trooper Glenn’s wife Alisha (uh-LEE’-shuh), his father Wade, and his brother David. Thank you for being here. (Look to the gallery to acknowledge them).

While valiant public servants like Trooper Glenn protect us here at home, other Idahoans continue to serve across the world in defense of freedom. Three of our fellow Idahoans were lost to combat in Iraq during the past year. Please join me in honoring the sacrifice of Army Corporal James Lee Douglas Bridges of Buhl, Sergeant Jeremy Edward King of Meridian, and Private First Class Jacob Hamilton Allcott of Caldwell.

And let us extend our deep gratitude to the families of those Idahoans who gave their last full measure fighting terrorism and tyranny half a world away.

Transportation

Here at home, an issue critical to public safety is improving our state highway system. I recommend continuing the GARVEE program by issuing bonds totaling $264 million. These bonds will be paid off with the continuing appropriation of federal highway funds that are allocated to the state.

However, I am making no recommendation on which routes should be included in the GARVEE program. And I strongly urge you not to identify the transportation priorities, either. That is a job for professionals – not politicians. Given the enormous needs and our scarce resources, we can hardly afford our own “bridges to nowhere.”

You also will see legislation to address the Transportation Department’s revenue needs. However, I do NOT recommend acting on those needs until the department has shown that it is operating efficiently, using the best practices available today, and actively engaging industry in its efforts.

While protecting lives is a primary role of state government, we also have a responsibility to protect the quality of life we live here in Idaho. Thanks to the Risch administration, a milestone in that regard was reached with the Nature Conservancy’s recent gift to Idaho of the Ritter Island park property at Thousand Springs.

The property and accompanying $1 million operating endowment is one of the finest gifts that the state has ever received. To complete the acquisition of the Ritter property, I am recommending the appropriation of $225,000 to purchase the remaining 70 acres and preserve this natural legacy for generations to come.

As I said before, my administration will be customer-driven. Making government more efficient and user friendly is a theme you will hear again and again during my time as governor.

We are more than a collection of agencies with separate missions. We are one state government with a single goal – providing the best service for our citizens at the lowest cost to taxpayers.

To that end, I am proposing significantly reprioritizing and restructuring of state government.
That means reining in our spending on travel. Nothing will ever replace doing business face to face, and I like seeing the folks I’m dealing with as much as the next person. But in an age of high-tech communications we can’t justify spending taxpayer dollars on costly out-of-state trips that do little for the people we serve.

Changes also must include thoroughly reforming our state purchasing practices. Our processes today are too costly, too bureaucratic, and exclusionary to the point of stifling valuable competition.

The Department of Commerce and Labor is another great example of where reorganizing can help improve our ability to meet customer needs. On the surface, combining Commerce and Labor seemed to make sense. They both work in areas relating to business and jobs. But there also are significant differences in what they do.

Director Roger Madsen has done a great job of leading the Department of Labor and then the combined agencies. Roger is one of many people with whom I’ve discussed this organizational structure, and support is overwhelming for once again separating the departments.

Roger will continue leading the Department of Labor, and I will recruit a director for the Department of Commerce who will be second to none.

There are few things of greater importance to this state than maintaining a strong and vibrant economy. The Department of Commerce and the person who leads it will help ensure individuals, families and communities throughout Idaho benefit from our continuing economic growth and diversity.

During the coming weeks I look forward to working with all of you on making these recommendations a reality. I want each of you to know that my door is always open, and I am eager for your insight and perspectives.

My colleagues, friends and fellow Idahoans, in the short time since the election I have tried to make the best decisions and offer the best recommendations possible. But God knows, I’m a long way from perfect. So I’m asking for your patience, your forbearance and your help in improving on what I’ve presented to you here today.

That being said, I’m proud to proclaim that our great State of Idaho stands on a firm foundation, offering the means and the opportunity for everyone to meet their own best potential, and braced with optimism for the continuing challenges of growth and change.

Please join in me in working to make Idaho even better. Together, we can prepare Idaho to become what America was meant to be.

Thank you.

Published 1-12-07