Lobbyist on guv’s stimulus committee was paid to kill guv’s rental car tax bill
By JOHN MILLER
Associated Press Writer
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A lobbyist recently named to a panel
that will help the governor decide how to use Idaho's share of federal stimulus
money just got paid to kill one of the governor's own highway construction
funding bills.
Mike Brassey, a contract lobbyist for the Idaho Rental Car
Association, told the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday that Otter's
plan to add a 6 percent surcharge to rental cars in
The committee voted 11-3 to kill the proposal. Otter had
wanted the money to help build roads and bridges, part of his proposed package
to raise $174 million annually after 2014.
Brassey, a former Republican state budget chief, was named
by Otter on Feb. 19 to an eight-member panel that will make recommendations on
how Idaho should use as much as $1 billion the state expects to get from the
economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama. Otter gave state
agencies and private companies until Wednesday to submit proposals.
Among other things, Brassey could weigh in on $202 million
worth of highway projects recommended for approval this week from the Idaho
Transportation Board.
Brassey, whose job as a lobbyist for the rental car group
includes persuading lawmakers to reject the tax increase, conceded after the
vote that Idaho is "a small state" — but said his dual roles weren't
in conflict with each other.
"The governor knew at the time the position I'd be
taking on that," Brassey told The Associated Press. "It's one thing
to make a recommendations on how money dedicated to highways should be spent.
It's quite another to be talking about whether you should be creating a new
source of revenue. The stimulus is not involved in creating new sources of
revenue."
Jason Kreizenbeck, Otter's chief of staff, said the governor
wasn't concerned about Brassey's work for clients.
"He's making recommendations," Kreizenbeck said of
Brassey's role. "The governor is the decision maker."
Including Brassey, the stimulus vetting panel includes
former Republican Gov. Phil Batt, former Democrat Govs. Cecil Andrus and John
Evans, former Republican budget chiefs Brian Whitlock and Jeff Malmen, and
former Democrat budget chiefs Marty Peterson and Darrell Manning. Andrus now
works for the lobbying firm Gallatin Public Affairs; Malmen lobbies for Idaho
Power Co.; Whitlock is a lobbyist for the company that runs the Idaho National
Laboratory; and Peterson lobbies for the
Brassey's lobbying ties go deeper than rental car companies.
The lawyer and former state Department of Insurance director
also gets paid by the parent company of Idaho Power Co., the state's largest
utility, to represent its interests before the Legislature. Brassey also represents
St. Luke's
Energy companies like Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power,
which serves southeastern
And hospitals like St. Luke's could benefit from a boost in
Medicaid funding, too, helping them reduce charity care.
"It's fair to say we might benefit," said Ken Dey,
a St. Luke's spokesman. "I'm not aware of any specifics, just in
general."
Minority Leader Kate Kelly, a Boise Democrat who favors
tougher ethics laws, said Brassey's experience in state government — especially
his role as a former budget director — makes him a good choice to help Otter
sort through what will likely be myriad proposals for the federal money.
Still, his numerous roles, for numerous clients, deserve
attention, she said.
"I have nothing but respect for him," Kelly said.
"It's just, these multiple hats he's wearing, it gets a little
confusing."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
