Idaho businesses support Little’s legislative slapdown

Idaho businesses quickly fell in line behind Gov. Brad Little’s extraordinary callout of the Legislature last week. In fact, some revealed they had written similar letters even before Little’s Jan. 22 statement.

Less than three hours after Little’s noon statement — decrying the Legislature’s moves toward ending the state of emergency he imposed on March 13, 2020 in response to the coronavirus epidemic — CEOs from nine of Idaho’s largest employers, which they said represented 40,000 jobs, issued a statement of support.

“We all want to do something — take some action — to move us closer to the normalcy we long for,” the statement noted. “But this legislation, rather than jumpstarting that transition, runs the risk of causing Idaho companies to fall behind our neighbors and industry peers in our recovery efforts.”

As it turns out, businesses reacted so quickly because they had a head start.

“Idaho Power had already been working on our own letter regarding the Senate legislation,” said Erica Shiflet, external communications leader for Idaho Power, which spearheaded the statement. “We quickly pivoted to echo the governor’s concerns, then reached out to see if other area CEOs wanted to make a joint statement.”

In addition to Idaho Power, signatories included CEOs from J.R. Simplot Co., Micron, Boise Cascade, Blue Cross of Idaho, St. Luke and Saint Alphonsus Health Systems, Cradlepoint and Kount.

The Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, a nonprofit that says it represents 300 Idaho employers, issued a statement Friday morning focusing on the distinction between the “health order” imposing most of the limits, and the “emergency order” providing a mechanism for federal funding.

“I’d be surprised if there were a handful of people who really understood the difference prior to delving into it,” said Alex LaBeau, IACI president. “Prior to this year, I would add myself to that list.”

The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce also sent a letter to the Senate last week after the organization’s policy committee voted unanimously to oppose the legislation, said CEO Bill Connors, in an email message.

Fightin’ words

Little’s statement, on video, was a switch, because he usually cultivates a laid-back, non-confrontational, avuncular mien; his reactions to earlier legislative responses to his declarations was that he needed to do a better job of explaining them.

This time, Little sounded just plain mad, using words like “myths,” “political games” and “irresponsible.”

Little’s legislative slapdown was extraordinary not just for him personally, but for Idaho governors in general, whose relationships with the Legislature are usually so hands-off that legislators in session refer to “the gentleman on the second floor” rather than by name or title.

“I don’t remember anything quite like what we saw last week,” said Dr. Stephanie Witt, professor and director of training for the Boise State University School of Public Service, in an email message. The closest she could recall was 2005, when then-Gov. Dirk Kempthorne vetoed eight bills and vowed to continue vetoing them until the Idaho House passed his transportation bill. “Last week was the first time I’ve noticed the Governor ‘going public’ with his opposition to legislative action.”

A four-sentence response from the Republican caucus called Little’s comments “inflammatory.”

What next?

What the business community will do if the Legislature ends the state of emergency — which, because it is a concurrent resolution, is not subject to gubernatorial veto — remains to be seen.

LaBeau said he didn’t believe the Legislature would follow through with its action, due to the reaction and subsequent education. “They won’t,” he said. “They’ll focus on the health order and do the right thing.”

“So far we have not heard much from our Senate friends, but obviously they are hearing from lots of folks in the business community who are concerned about this legislation,” Connors said. “We will keep following their responses and we’ll be talking about ‘what’s next’ with our Policy Committee and Board members — who are among the State’s largest employers.”