Pam Lowe vs. ITD: The bizarre story that keeps on giving (UPDATED, 3 p.m.)
UPDATED, 3 p.m., to more accurately reflect timing of Leon Smith's comments
Yes, the Idaho Transportation Department's Pam Lowe problem will get worse before it gets better.
For evidence, check out this morning's blockbuster read
from Jared S. Hopkins at The Times-News in Twin Falls.
Hopkins tries to corral Idaho Transportation Board member Gary Blick for a reaction. Blick is the board member that, according to Lowe, said something on the order of, "No little girl would be able to run this department."
Blick isn't talking. From Hopkins' piece: "On Saturday, his wife, Barbara, told the Times-News that Gary Blick wouldn't comment and that she was 'protecting' Gary from speaking to the newspaper."
Hopkins' story has a quotable comment from what we newsies call the "secondary source:" state Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, a former Transportation Board member who keeps a close eye on these issues.
"I liked Pam personally, and frankly I thought she had a lot of talent and she was a smart lady. She just got on the wrong side of the Legislature, and traditionally when you're on the wrong side of the Legislature your tenure is short," Smith said after Lowe's ouster in July. "From the outset, she's about 5 feet tall and she's a woman in a man's world. She had a tough hill to climb."
Sounds like Smith could have used a little media "protection" himself.
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Please forgive me father...
"In a man's world"
That's a classic to open your mouth to a journalist like that.
****
I don't know either Blick or Smith.
But being they are both
1, from the Twin Falls area,
2, they are in politics, and
3, they are on record for such chauvinistic comments,
The people of Twin Falls should be proud!
wow
Dem ol' boys don't realize the world has changed.
Old quote, plus the unheard Democratic response
Kevin, the quote you cite was actually an older one, as Hopkins himself pointed out. (I think you were on vacation when this broke):
"I liked Pam personally, and frankly I thought she had a lot of talent and she was a smart lady. She just got on the wrong side of the Legislature, and traditionally when you're on the wrong side of the Legislature your tenure is short," said Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, to the Times-News upon her dismissal. "From the outset, she's about 5 feet tall and she's a woman in a man's world. She had a tough hill to climb."
Still, good on him for continuing to pursue the story. I don't think any major media outlet in the state has published our Idaho Democratic Party August 21 reaction to Lowe's charges, so I'll add it here:
The Idaho Democratic Party said today that former Idaho Transportation Department Director Pamela Lowe’s dismissal and her subsequent legal action raise new concerns over ongoing mismanagement of the public’s trust by Gov. Butch Otter and other top Republicans.
“This is just the latest example of rampant Republican cronyism, mismanagement and favoritism toward special interests,” said Jim Hansen, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party. “From secret settlements arranged by the Idaho Tax Commission to corporate tax giveaways made at the expense of middle-class Idaho families, there’s a pattern here and Idahoans are growing tired of it.”
“The 2009 legislative session was prolonged by Otter and Republican leaders, and they wasted millions in Idahoans’ tax dollars,” Hansen added. “Not only is Idaho’s government badly managed, but we continue to hear more and more about how big special interests and campaign contributors call the shots.”
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Lowe has filed legal action against the state, saying she was fired in July “after refusing to relent to pressure not to cut a big highway contract that benefited large political contributors to Otter and state Sen. John McGee, the Senate Transportation Committee chairman.” The AP reported that Otter and McGee have received nearly $20,000 in contributions from Washington Group International (now part of San Francisco-based URS Corp.) and CH2M Hill since 2004.
“If these allegations are true, Ms. Lowe’s allegation should not only be the basis of a civil lawsuit but of a criminal investigation,” Hansen said. “Is this ‘pay to play?’ or ‘you don’t get the contracts if you don’t make the contributions?’ Idaho taxpayers deserve to know the truth.”
Good point, Julie ...
... I updated this post to reflect the timing of Smith's comments.
Kevin Richert
editorial page editor
Slow down
For one, the Tax Commission is bi-partisan and those sweet deals come from all the commissioners.
Secondly, for major contracts like CIP, there are few Idaho contractors able to handle such projects so invariably those contractors are in the running. At the same time, those businesses are such major players in the Idaho economy and political landscape they are bound to be making significatn contributions to their preferred candidates. considering it was only $20,000 for BOTH candidates over the last 5 years, that's not much. Let's post the biggest contributions to the democrat candidates and see if theres' any contracts hiding in those contributions.
And for Jim Hansen to be using the 'criminal' word is an awfully big step for 'a director' to make. Did he seek seek legal counsel before using such words in a press release?
Really Good point, Julie ...
"you don't get the contracts if you don't make the contributions." Makes one think of ACORN, SEIU, UAW, Apollo Alliance, the Obama Administration's Czars -- and other news and events you'll never read in the Statesman!
Let him have his eventual heart attack and whatever.
Chances are you guys will screw up any legitimate lawsuit anybody has anyhow.
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There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
It's still amazing how you guys never get these scoops?
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There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
The good ol' boy remarks are predictable.
The real story here is the contract and contributions issue. Time for a new governor. Kustra in 2010.
(sic), (sic), (sic)...
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There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
Idaho Corruption
Idaho is a corrupt little state, has been, will continue to be! Pam lowe should have known that, whe she accepted the job. I admire her ambition for trying, but girl; pick your fights this wasn't one worth the effort in such a backward state....."Thank God for Mississippi" so Idaho won't look so bad, at least 49th is better than 50th.........
You try foreign corruption and see how it works for you!
They dispose of millions of people like bread wrappers.
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There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
Kustra for Gov.
I don't know the guy, but Good Luck
Anything would be an improvement over the dim-wit you have now...sorry situation!
Know-nothing political choices are peachy!
Anybody but the O-dog! Didn't that get us Bush twice?
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There is no life in Idaho...it is a mirror site on god's server. You were dreaming but it is over. Go to your residence and await our commands and THEN we will restore control...
ITD is "Debacle-Ridden"
Blick's wife is protecting him from the media ? Are you sure the loudmouth sexist bigot even has a wife? O tempore, O mores. The debacle that consists of chronic top level ITD antics just goes on and on and on. And now we see "Nessie," an archetypical Ekern clone brought aboard by "General Dotage" & Company. Pathetic. Yes, Pam, we taxpayers will pay you lots of bucks. It is worth it if you expose these malfeasant cretins and bring them all down! Including Clement the Crony Master.
Dear Butch Otter: You Otter just hold your tongue/avoid the fire
If she gets some traction you stand to crash and burn. I realize you are quite the stubborn one and like to put your two cents in for the cheap bubblegum but the gumball machine is EMPTY.
Stand down from this battle. You made it in the first place and stand to lose it. Stand down and take less flak and move on. If you even believe that you can serve another term as Idaho's governor you are going to have to do less talking and a lot more listening than you ever dreamed would be possible.
The people you are defending are not as bright as you. You are flirting on the edge. Come home, Clement.
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Like a midair collision with a tugboat