All news
ALLRED: TIME TO FIX OTTER'S MISTAKES
October 21, 2010
Contact: Shea Andersen
208.720.9904m
shea@allredforidaho.com
Tackle the wolf situation, manage dental contracts
This week the problems with Butch Otter’s decision making have been on full display. In the space of a few short days, he’s had to reverse himself, first on his misguided termination of contracts with Idaho dentists and then on his advice to shoot wolves.
Both decisions are part of a four-year pattern. Butch Otter’s reckless decisions have the same two problems:
- He doesn’t consult with critical groups
- He gets his facts wrong
Too many high-profile Otter decisions fit this pattern:
- Because he listened only to the heavy trucking industry, Otter wanted to double car and pickup registration fees on Idaho families, while asking heavy trucks to pay only 5% more
- Listening only to Qwest, he gave them the Idaho Education Network contract even though Syringa Networks’s bid was a better system for less money
- Ignoring the solid revenue projections of four different groups, he cut education for the first time in Idaho history
- Listening only to big oil companies, he supported mega-loads on Highway 12 that put our citizens’ welfare and safety at risk
“My record is 180 degrees different” said Allred. “I consult with the critical groups and work hard to get the facts right. That’s how I’ve had a strong track record of working for Idahoans.”
• Allred helped defeat Butch Otter’s registration fee hikes, including by finding a $10 million error in his bill
• He supported keeping education whole, by recommending, in part, that we accept the evidence based projections that are proving to be accurate
• He opposes permits for mega-loads on Highway 12 because he took the time to speak with people upriver about their concerns
Today, Allred said, he would follow that same approach as governor. Two immediate steps need to be taken:
- Idaho needs to resume management of Idaho’s wolf population. We should be expanding state control, not giving it away to the federal government. If we want the wolves de-listed, we need to stay in the game, not walk away. With state control, Idaho monitors the wolf population and their predation rates on wildlife and livestock. That’s the only way to show Congress, the courts, and federal agencies that we can do the job they can’t.
- It’s time to end Idaho’s contract with Molina and review our contract with DentaQuest. Allred pledged to bring the small businesses with whom the state contracts to serve its most vulnerable populations to the table to determine how to maintain critical services under extremely difficult economic circumstances. I will never claim to have balanced the budget by refusing to reimburse the small businesses that provide services on behalf of the state.
“Idaho can’t afford to see what Otter’s next mistake will be,” said Allred. “All across Idaho, people tell me that Butch Otter doesn’t seem to be working for them. Here’s my message to them: As governor, I’ll work for you.
Keith Allred is a fifth-generation Idahoan who grew up working on his family’s ranches. He has been the leader of The Common Interest, a citizens’ advocate group that helped lower property taxes and fight proposals to raise car and pickup registration fees.
###
Keith Allred
Otter
governor
wolves
Butch Otter
