Otter's Scapegoating IPTV's Morrill

Otter's plans for gutting Idaho's state government found relatively easy solutions. For example the Idaho Human Rights Commission was folded into the Department of Labor at no cost. The Parks Department was saved simply because of public outcry in an election year. But one agency, Idaho Public Television, has a sticker price of $1.5 million annually. Ironically, if Idaho doesn't come up with it, the state may have to pay back $4 million received from the feds for upgrades.

Trouble is, since IPTV is the only statewide broadcaster, and it religiously covers Idaho politics, it has some friends in the statehouse. So Otter's pulling out an old political tactic, character assassination. Otter's budget czar, Wayne Hammon, said they didn't really wanna cut their budget after all:

Wayne Hammon, the Division of Financial Management director, now says Idaho Public Television general manager Peter Morrill’s agency was among those targeted with deep budget cuts because it failed to sufficiently respond to Otter’s request in September for how it would accomplish impending statewide holdbacks.

“I would not say they were being punished,” Hammon said. “The budget was meant as a wake-up call for them to get on board.”

Until now, Otter’s aides have said cutting Idaho Public Television’s funding was largely based on his view that taxpayer-funded public TV was outside the scope of government. That position has prompted an outcry from public TV supporters, who say the statewide network provides quality educational programming over its 42 translators to virtually all of Idaho.

Unlike Otter's unsuccessful veto tantrum last session, he's not going to confront legislators on an unpopular proposal. Instead he's going to create a scapegoat so legislators can have an excuse to do his dirty work for him. The evidence for that are the accolades Merrill received just one month ago from the same budget czar who: "heaped praise on Morrill as a creative, frugal manager." On Jan. 12, Hammon told JFAC he has “the greatest deal of respect for public television and for its director, Peter Morrill,” who he said has “been able to turn pennies into dollars.”

It makes one wonder whether lying to legislators is what Otter had in mind when desiring to run government like a business. At one time, Otter provided the same level of praise to Keith Allred who is currently running to be the Democratic candidate for governor. Expect a nasty disingenuous campaign.