UPDATE, 11:11 a.m. The Republicans have sent out a rewrite correcting one error: the new news release points out that Kempthorne, not Otter, signed the 2006 property tax bill.
Republicans today ripped Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keith Allred for taking credit for pushing an expansion of Idaho's homeowner's exemption on property taxes.
First, the backstory: In 2006, the Legislature passed House Bill 421, to expand what had been, for years, Idaho's "50-50" exemption, covering up to $50,000 or 50 percent of a home's value. The 2006 law expanded the exemption to $75,000 or 50 percent of home value (whichever is less), with annual adjustments tied to changes in the Idaho housing price index.
Allred's nonpartisan citizens' group, The Common Interest, lobbied for the change.
Now, to the factchecking. And this press release is a doozy.
• First, the House speaker's name, and it's the bane of Statehouse reporters and pundits, is Lawerence Denney. The Republicans manage to spell his first and last names wrong. There is something to be said for consistency.
• Second, the release quotes Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes as follows: “I am very sure the 2006 tax reduction Mr. Allred speaks of was a legislative action that Governor Otter signed into law."
You sure about that? Otter was in Congress in 2006. Dirk Kempthorne was governor.
• Third, it is curious, if not downright hypocritical, for Denney, R-Midvale, and Geddes, R-Soda Springs, to gripe about who gets the credit for this tax relief. Both voted against the version that became law.
Here, unedited, is the original GOP news release:
Boise, Idaho — September 2, 2010 — After hearing him tout his role in the expansion of the homeowner’s tax exemption in the first Gubernatorial debate and again last week in a Northern Idaho Political blog, lawmakers are now calling out Governor Butch Otter’s opponent.
Allred claimed that for years, nothing could get done regarding expanding the homeowners exemption. He went on to say, “when I brought everyday citizens in to the mix, we got a different outcome,” said Allred.
On his own website he states, “Working with The Common Interest, Keith cut property taxes on Idaho homeowners and protected private property rights."
“Keith taking credit for passing the Homeowner’s Exemption in 2006 is like Al Gore taking credit for inventing the Internet,” said Representative Dennis Lake (R-Blackfoot), Chair, Idaho House Revenue & Tax Committee. “It’s just nonsense.”
How can any lobbyist take credit for cutting property taxes on Idaho homeowners and protecting property rights,” asks Senator Bob Geddes (R-Soda Springs), President Pro-Tempore of the Idaho Senate? “I am very sure the 2006 tax reduction Mr. Allred speaks of was a legislative action that Governor Otter signed into law. Special interest lobbying may work to promote change, but they (Keith) did not do it and it is disingenuous for him to take total credit for that happening.”
Lawmakers say that House Bill 421 that expands the homeowner’s exemption came about because of the hard work of the interim committee on property taxes and the 12 public meetings held around the state.
In fact, there isn’t even any record of Allred speaking during any public hearings, committee meetings, or open debate.
“He was involved on a very minimal basis,” said House Speaker Lawrence Denny (R-Midvale). “There is absolutely no way he can carry the banner on this one and take credit.”
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Looks like the GOP gets...
Looks like the GOP gets it wrong again. Something interesting. Yesterday I heard Hannity complaining about one-party rule in Washington and how it was causing so many problems. I guess that is why Idaho has so many problems and has experience a worse economy than other places in the nation, one-party rule!
Facts
Can't let facts get in the way of a good smear campaign!
That's $75,000 not $750,000
I'm just saying, I guess typo's happen huh?
You're right
And it's fixed.
Kevin Richert
editorial page editor
geez, I'm a Democrat
and I know how to spell the Speaker's name correctly.
*Both* names.
Actually, the guy I remember taking a big role in the property tax was former legislator Ken Robison. What's he doing these days?
Speaking of the Speaker
The corrected press release has his name wrong, still. The 2-error way in the body, "Lawrence Denny" and only half wrong in the "Contact Info" at the bottom, "Lawrence Denney."
I guess Rep. Lawerence Denney probably gets that a lot, but you'd think as Speaker of the House, and his own party and everything...
Maybe third time will be the charm?
another interesting aspect of this
is how they're trying to tar Allred as being a "lobbyist" -- Geddes in this piece, and Debbie Field in the AP one. I don't believe this is accurate.
Not ERRORS, they lied perfectly, as they intended. NEXT.
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"Say a prayer for the pretender..."-Jackson Browne