"Reasonable" Republicans?

Many years ago, in a meeting with Gov. Phil Batt, we talked about problems resulting from a lack of two-party government. He then laughed and said, "We have the Republican party and the right wing."

Since then, the Idaho Republican party has handed the wheel to the right wing, at least to my admittedly-outsider eyes.

The quest by elected government representatives to dismantle government has had real costs. I see the environmental impacts clearly, but lately there have been more and more Idaho leaders—from business—who suggest the uber-conservative thrust of the party isn't all good for Idaho.

I've seen this first hand while we've been working with business leaders—Republican business leaders—who support Boulder-White Cloud, Clearwater, Panhandle and Owyhee wilderness areas. Or working with a major industrial player to craft mercury rules. Or working with business leaders who see local option tax as key to Idaho economic development. The Boise Foothills is another issue where Republican business leaders are simpatico with conservation and protecting Idaho's greatest asset: our quality of life.

We've been hearing more and more frustration from business leaders with the direction of the party that has been traditionally in sync with Idaho business. As one high-level former CEO recently told me, "They are driving the state off a cliff."

For these and other reasons, I was intrigued by Idaho Statesman coverage coming out of North Idaho related to a new political action committee. Its purpose is to support "responsible" Republicans, I assume, in primaries against ultra-conservatives.

Idaho is one of the most conservative states in the nation. I've long moved past expecting some sort of major Democratic resurgence, yet remain monumentally surprised at how very powerful and often very sensible business leaders let their once-tight grip on the GOP falter in favor of letting anyone in the tent who will vote R.

It's fairly obvious to me this has backfired. About all I see for party vision these days is ripping government apart at the very time we need our government to help rebuild our economy and prospects for future generations.

While I, personally, have ambitious ideas of what government can do for people, by working closely with Republicans like Rep. Mike Simpson, Sen. Mike Crapo, former Speaker Bruce Newcomb and even Jim Risch as governor, I have gained a much better sense of what creative private enterprise can do and how incentives for good may work better than just punishing bad.

As an environmentalist, I also believe environmental protection needs to be tied to a robust economy. Lately, I see both the environment and economy going into the ditch. Perhaps this new PAC from "reasonable" business interests is a first sign of, well, actually being reasonable. Commonsense conservation would certainly benefit.