The stalemate that is not 

While ballyhooed by the media, the 2009 so-called “stalemate” between Governor Otter and Idaho’s House is our representative form of government at its best. It is the Governor properly leading and pointing the way, and the peoples’ representatives correctly saying we don’t wish to go there. How cool is that!

This is the stalemate that is not. It is not folly, nor wasted time and expense; it is not a lack of leadership or direction; it is not power politics and the ugly side of lawmaking; and it is not a do-nothing legislature slothfully avoiding its responsibilities – all charges that have been made by one writer or another. This session is a clinic on good government and peoples’ choice. I love it.

I like the governor too. And I actually think we need a sales tax increase on gas to fund the roads. But I don’t think so sufficiently to tell my representative to push for it, so absent that, he should “do no harm.” Others have loudly said “no,” and their reps rightly voted “no.” It’s a bad year for tax increases and we have enough already coming down the pike.

Our local (Treasure Valley) ABC television affiliate even has a stalemate poll to take on its website. A quick hit on who we think is to “blame,” the governor or the legislature. It is precisely the wrong question and assumes “blame.”

The proper question in a representative republic is “which side most represents the thinking of the people?” This is the year our legislature actually gets it. Yes, they should have figured it out six weeks ago, set the budget and gone home, but later is better than never. I’ve loved watching it too – breakfast meetings, strategy, power, and Blackberries burning up the pockets and belt holsters of our reps.

Credit the governor for his vision. Our roads are needy and they are critical to our economic viability. Credit him for his courage of conviction. But give the trophy to the rank and file representative who did exactly that – represent. They listened to the people, and said “not this year.” Thank you.

So rather than play the blame game, we should sit back and remember how it is supposed to happen. Checks and balances. Diversity. And this time all within the same party in power. Even better. Hopefully the Senate will figure it out and go home too. That would show uncommon leadership. And like the House, leadership for the common man and common woman.

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