Otter vows to fix state's aging roads, bridges

COEUR d’ALENE — A day after his gas tax proposal took a beating in the Idaho House of Representatives, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter delivered a vow to find a way to fix Idaho’s roads and bridges.

And a few jokes at the naysayers’ expense.

Detoured north of the capital for the day — one day removed from a 43-27 drubbing in the House, and two days removed from discovering an $11 million error in his registration fee proposal — Otter pounded home his stance on fixing Idaho’s $16 billion asset in highways.

“We have Dover bridges and potential disasters all over this state,” he said from the podium Friday at the Rotary luncheon at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. “When we put off proper repair and maintenance, we are deferring to our grandchildren … that repair.”

The day-long tour kicked off with the luncheon before continuing at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library to visit the Louise Shadduck Legacy Wall.

The governor this week was seeking around $90 million a year for Idaho’s roads between a pair of fee hike proposals. The gas tax, which would have raised $62 million a year after implementing a 7-cent fuel tax increase over three years, was defeated Thursday.

Still, the governor had his familiar smile and arsenal of jokes.

“My test is can I live with this in my conscience (and) the second test is what the Constitution says,” Otter said about how every legislator in Idaho votes.

“With the exception of those who voted against me,” he quipped.

Jokes aside, the issue isn’t done, he said, adding a redraft of the gas tax proposal will likely hit the House again. He preached the importance of fiscal responsibility for the entire state in the face of dire economic times.

“He’s trying to make Idaho a role model,” said Dustin Ainsworth, who attended the sppech, “to make it the state the other states look up to.”

Otter originally balked at accepting around $1 billion in federal stimulus money and later kicked around ideas of lending it to more cash-strapped states, like California.

Gov. Arnold “Schwarzenegger wants everyone’s money,” Otter said, knocking out the room with his best Austrian accent. “That’s why California’s $42 billion in debt.”

Idaho did land the federal handout, but the windfall isn’t the solution, he said.

“Government should help you over an economic speed bump when you hit one in life, not become one in life,” he said, adding personal responsibility, family and community should be helpers before the federal government.

“We’ve turned it on its head. Personal responsibility is now about fifth or sixth place, unfortunately,” he said. “I think we can reverse that and I think that can start right here in Idaho.”

Which means not asking for handouts, but keeping your own savings and raising your own financial aid — even at a dark economic hour, Ainsworth agreed following the speech.

Which also means another proposed gas tax could be back on the table in Boise soon. A reworked registration fee increase should be up for discussion next week, too.

“I’m going to try again,” Otter said after the luncheon, on his way to the library. “Sure, I’ve lost some battles, but it’s too important to give up.”