Inaugural Address

Inaugural Address - June 2, 2006

My fellow Idahoans: I come before you today filled with a profound sense of humility and honor. Vicki and I will be forever grateful to you for providing us the privilege of serving as your governor and first lady. At the same time we are filled with the excitement that this opportunity provides and we promise that we won't let you down.

The oath I took a few moments ago, I take most seriously. It not only requires that I uphold the Constitution of our country and state, but just as importantly to discharge the duties of governor to the best of my ability. I intend to do just that. I ask all Idahoans to be patient as we work through these next days completing the organization of this administration. I can report substantial progress to date and commit that very shortly we will have all sails on this ship of state fully hoisted - filled with the winds of opportunity - and moving forward at battle speed.

In addition to the personnel realignment I have already begun, I will deal personally with the matters handed to me by the Legislature and other circumstances - all of which demand my attention. Some of these issues include: recommending rules regarding Idaho's 281 proposed roadless areas to the Secretary of Agriculture early this summer; implementing the $200 million GARVEE highway funding initiative adopted by the Legislature; implementing the $26 million parks initiative to rehabilitate and improve Idaho's state parks; implementing a new system of delivery for Medicaid benefits; and completing the implementation of full state management of the new population of wolves, which has mushroomed since being imported from Canada to Idaho by the federal government.

On top of those issues, I must see the completion of the 2006 fiscal year budget, start the ‘07 budget and by law prepare the ‘08 budget. All of these matters demand and will receive my direct, hands on involvement, and they will get it.

In addition to those and several other matters that have been handed to me, I do have a number of issues I want to address. Time does not permit a full discussion of all matters I will address as governor, but let me talk about just three of them.

First, if we take an overall view of the challenges facing Idaho it is patently obvious that the scourge of illegal drug use, particularly methamphetamines, is exacting a heavy toll on our families, our culture and our financial resources. Drug users and sellers are clogging courts, filling prisons and rendering their own children wards of the state. 80% of the child placements by health and welfare are directly related to methamphetamine use by their parents.

Law enforcement is doing the best it can to control the availability of the drug, and I applaud and support that aggressive work. But due to its easy production it continues to plague us. Countless studies and reports on the subject have been completed and the federal, state and local governments have adopted programs, initiatives and efforts to address the problem. Some help - some not so much. Still the plague continues.

Recognizing that there is no magic solution, I believe strongly that every reasonable effort to coordinate and, most importantly, evaluate for effectiveness all of the various agency actions dealing with this issue, must take place.

Having said that, we don't need another committee, but I believe as the Chief Executive attempting to manage all of the drug initiatives, we would be well served by an individual who could quickly and efficiently participate, observe, advise and assist the governor in managing these efforts. Therefore, within the next 60 days I will create by executive order the office of drug czar and name a person to that post for the purposes I outlined. This is not an action to supercede the legislature's two laudable efforts this last session with a bill and a concurrent resolution to address the drug problem, but rather an effort to supplement that work and assist the chief executive in management, evaluation and direction of available resources.

Another obvious and practical problem that cries out for attention is the critical nursing shortage we have now and are facing in the future. Idaho's shortage of nurses is predicted to be more than double the national shortage. In reviewing this problem with our colleges and universities it becomes quickly clear that the shortage is not the result of students unwilling to enter nursing.

The problem is the inability of our institutions to accept and educate all of the students who want to enter Idaho's schools due to faculty shortages and lack of classroom space. I met a student who made every effort to enter an Idaho nursing program only to be turned down. That student now commutes daily from this valley to an out-of-state institution to obtain a nursing degree.

Our Idaho institutions currently have 1200 nursing students enrolled this year. Yet more than 800 people wanting to be accepted into these programs were turned away. And 70% of nurses in Idaho are age 40 and older.

Until we get a community college system in place - and we will in the near future get a community college system in place - our existing colleges and universities need to adapt to meet this demand. They have shown their ability in the past to act quickly and appropriately to fill a need and I have no doubt that they are up to the task.

I will, very shortly, appoint a task force of stakeholders to advise and assist in this effort. I will also work with our educational institutions as we prepare the new budget and execute existing budgets to meet this need.

Economic development continues to be a subject near and dear to my heart. I pursued that passion as Lt. Governor and will continue those efforts in the governor's office. My passion arises from the fact that it is economic development that creates the quality of life we all long for.

The jobs created by economic development are not created by government, but by private enterprise, entrepreneurs, capitalists and risk takers. The government does play a role in that it must strive every day to provide a business friendly climate, encourage commerce and industry, and provide a quality education system. I commit to you that my administration will do just that.

Before I close I should comment on all the discussion that has taken place regarding a special session dealing with property tax relief. You have just heard a portion of what I have to deal with and I can tell you that this administration does not need a special session of the legislature.

There have been 26 special sessions in Idaho's history and I have served in about 20% of them. They are either very short and productive or very long and unproductive, with nothing in between. As a result, I have no intention of calling a special session -- unless there is a high degree of likelihood that a measure will pass that will achieve significant property tax relief.

Property tax relief has been a high priority of mine since I started in the legislature in 1975. The property tax system was adopted long ago when property values were reasonable and stable. Today they are neither. No one knows better than I do that overall tax structure and tax policy is difficult and complex. It is certainly not child's play.

However, when circumstances change as they have with property values tax policy should be reevaluated. Like all Idahoans I watched and even modestly engaged as the legislature struggled with this issue in the last session. The legislature must be commended for the progress it made with the homeowners exemption and the deferral of tax payments for the poor and elderly.

They also must be commended for their thoughtful and spirited debate and serious consideration of the issue. Still, most Idahoans want and need more. To get there - to grant substantial property tax relief - one truism must be accepted: It won't happen unless the education maintenance and operations levy on real property is replaced by sales tax revenue and/or general funds. Doing so will reduce Idahoans property tax burden approximately 20%. To meet my criteria for such relief my requirements are simple - I want to see replacement of the maintenance and operations levy - I am willing to negotiate on all other components of such a plan.

I know that there have been continuous discussion and negotiations amongst legislators. I would encourage continuing discussion with minds as open as mine is on the details in order to reach the overall goal of property tax relief. I will be happy to engage as is appropriate and necessary. My friends, we owe this to the people of Idaho - let's get it done.

Finally, let me say it is not lost on this governor that I stand on the shoulders of giants. Only 30 Idahoans have had the privilege I have today. I am sure each one stood here filled with a vision for the future of Idaho. It is a vision filled with optimism - not because of the great things a governor can do, but because of the spirit, the metal, the creativity, and the rugged self-reliance of Idaho people.

Together, we as Idahoans will continue to construct a vibrant economy that supplies the best quality of life in America with good jobs, wise use of our natural resources, and clean air and water in the wide-open spaces that we all love so much.

God bless you and God bless Idaho.

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