Little: Idaho's economy is going strong

SANDPOINT — In town Friday for a meeting at Tamarack Aerospace Group, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little said that things are looking better throughout the state than they have since the 2009 recession. 

He and assistant Greg Wilson were just winding up a post-legislative session road trip. They had crisscrossed the state, visiting several communities along the route.

"It's a lot more fun now to go around the state and see what's going on. It really excites me to see communities and local entrepreneurs achieving a level of success," he said.

Economic Development

One of Little's primary focuses as lieutenant governor is economic development. He considers Sandpoint to be a model city in terms of the diversity and growth of its economy.

"I love coming up here because Sandpoint has such an eclectic group of industries, the lake, traditional timber and agriculture, cutting-edge technology and manufacturing," he said. "I'd like to see it duplicated all over Idaho."

Little believes that the key to economic growth throughout Idaho is more jobs and higher wages.

"We've got to get wages and incomes up," he said.

The state can add value to its mainstay timber and agricultural industries through continued innovation and diversification. Technology is also critical to the overall economic mix, he said.

Education

Little said that education plays a leading role in creating a stronger economy with higher wages.

"One of the things I'm glad they did was career counseling," he said, referring to the recently concluded legislative session. "Kids in seventh and eighth grades can get on career paths ... and have more direction in the classes they take. They can also get dual (college) credit while still in high school. They have options."

He cited North Idaho College's aerospace program as a good example of the educational resources the state needs to meet the area's growing tech industries. In 2012, NIC received a $2.97 million federal grant to establish its Aerospace Center of Excellence, which offers advanced manufacturing and aviation maintenance degrees.

Additionally, through its STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — action center, the state is devoting significant resources to tech education and training for students in public education, Little said.

"To me, that's the proper role of government, to give our kids a chance to succeed." he said.

Cybersecurity

Little also chairs the state's Cybersecurity Cabinet Task Force. Created by an executive order by Gov. Butch Otter last summer, the task force works to develop policies and strategies for detecting electronic data vulnerabilities and preventing cyber attacks, according to a July 2015 press release. 

Although Idaho has not yet been stricken by a significant cyber attack, Little stressed the importance of being proactive. The task force will, ideally, protect citizens from future security breaches.

2016 Legislative Session

From January through March each year, the lieutenant governor presides over the Idaho State Senate. If a tie vote occurs, Little casts the deciding vote. During his Friday visit, he commented on some of the decisions lawmakers made this year.

"One of the things we talked about for a long time and finally did was put together recommendations and a little money for counties (without the resources) to fund their public defenders," he said.

"We passed a Second Amendment bill that puts Idaho in the same position as eight other states," he said, referring to the newly passed concealed carry law that allows all gun owners over 21 to wear concealed weapons without a special permit.

The law takes effect July 1. In the past, only city residents needed to obtain concealed carry permits, according to the Idaho Statesman.

"Personal responsibility is an important component. What I'm concerned about is that if we have a lot of people carrying, there will be more accidents, but that isn't happening," said Little, who did not see a connection between random shootings and gun control laws.

Resource and Wildlife Management

In regard to environmental management, Little asserted that the state agencies are better equipped to handle Idaho's natural resources than the federal government. He cited the state's wolf policy as a case in point.

"Who can better manage these resources — the federal government or the state government? Fish and Game is doing a better job than the federal government," he said.

This year, the Idaho finance committee appropriated $400,000 from the state's general fund to the Wolf Depredation Control fund for fiscal year 2017, according to the state legislature website. This funding pays for some wolf management practices that have caused concern nationwide.

In February 2016, the Center for Biological Diversity stated that in spite of recent research indicating that Idaho may be overestimating its wolf population, the state plans to allow aerial wolf slaughter for the third consecutive year in the Clearwater National Forest, as authorized by the Idaho Fish and Game Department. The practice involves hunters shooting the lupines from helicopters.

"By implementing ever-escalating wolf killing programs and ramping up the anti-wolf rhetoric to new heights, (Idaho officials) are ... creating a destructive culture of wolf hatred and fear in the state based on myth and hype," according to Defenders of Wildlife CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark.

However, Little, a career rancher, has a different take on Idaho's wolves.

"We have enough," he said.

Focus on Idaho's Future

Despite the criticism, though, Little was upbeat on Friday about the legislature's recent decisions as well as Idaho's prospects overall.

"When I look at the federal issues, I'm very proud that we went through the recession, didn't raise taxes, stayed out of debt, and we're complying with our constitutional obligation for education," he said. 

As far as his plans for the future, the lieutenant governor is committed to fostering continued economic growth in his home state.

"I want to replicate some of the things Sandpoint has — a great place to live and a versatile economy," he said.