Little: 'We still have work to do'

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Fresh off the campaign trail, Brad Little, who was elected Idaho's 33rd governor last week, says it's time to get down to business to making this an even better state.

The longtime Republican lawmaker spoke during the Governor's Leadership Banquet of the 2018 North Idaho Legislative Tour at Red Lion Templin's Hotel on Monday night.

"When I look at where Idaho is, we've got a very balanced budget," the lieutenant governor told legislators and business and education leaders. "We have the lowest income tax rate in Idaho since 1932. We have a solid foundation going forward, but we still have work to do."

Little said education became a hotly-debated topic during his run to succeed Butch Otter as governor. While current leadership was criticized during the campaign for not doing enough for education, strides have been made with teacher pay and school budgets, he said.

"Incredible advancement has been made, but we've still got a ways to go," he said. "(The criticism) denies the record of success we've had."

Little said Idaho voters spoke loudly last week when they approved the proposition that expands Medicaid and now it will be up to the Legislature to see that through.

"There's no question that we'll be talking a lot about health care in the next session," he said. "The Idaho Legislature will have to work to get this done. I look forward to working with legislators to make sure we get this right. We need to have a pathway so that those who have been priced out have affordable health care going forward."

Little said, regardless of what decisions are made — whether it's tax policy, health care, education or economic development — he hopes it’s through the lens of the state's future generation.

"We need to keep our kids and grandkids here," he said. "We need to quit exporting our most precious commodity and that's our children."

He said a quality education system will be the magnet to have the younger generation return to Idaho.

"The first question they're going to ask is what kind of schools we've got," he said. "That's why I'm committed to it."

Little thanked Otter for showing him the ropes as governor.

"Every time I've filled in for him as governor, he's come back, but pretty soon he won't be coming back," Little said with a smile. "I tip my hat to him."

With Veterans Day this past Sunday, Little also honored those who have served.

"We need to remember what's big, and what's big is how we honor those people who have served," he said.

Little called on collaboration to build on what he believes is a solid foundation in the state.

"I look forward to working with you to make Idaho a better place," he said.

The tour's theme is "North Idaho: Where Nature Meets Innovation." It is a biennial educational event to raise awareness of issues impacting economic development and public policy in North Idaho. All 105 newly-elected legislators were invited.

The three-day tour is organized by a North Idaho committee composed of chamber of commerce executives, Avista Utilities employees, former legislators and higher education officials.

Lawmakers heard presentations from college officials and Litehouse Foods on Sunday, toured the Avista Dam and Tedder Industries and attended the first caucuses held by their parties since last week's election.

Monday's agenda also included stops at BNSF Railway's refueling station near Hauser, the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Wellness Center and the Innovation Den in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Today's schedule includes a presentations on Life Care Center and a medical education program sponsored by the University of Washington for the states of Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska. Tours will be at North Idaho College's Parker Technical Education Center in Rathdrum and the Idaho Forest Group mill in Athol.

The tour was held in Moscow in 2016 and will return to North Idaho in Lewiston in 2020.