Lt. governor wraps up session

With the close of the 2016 legislative session, Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little has been making the rounds across the state addressing the big topics of the session.

Lt. Little said 60 percent of Idaho’s spending this year was on education. He says literacy is an issue in Idaho and children need to be reading at grade level by the third grade.
When Local News 8 asked the Republican lieutenant governor what he thought about his party’s presidential hopefuls, a lot of the conversation revolved around the Department of Energy.

“Big level energy research, just like big level health research- the federal government has always had a role,” said Little.
The lieutenant governor disagrees with Sen. Ted Cruz’s view of the department of energy’s role.

“I think that energy research, given the fact a lot of our problems from military and foreign affairs, have been our historical dependence upon foreign countries for our energy supply,” Little said. “That’s why I think the incredible work that is done out here in the lab is absolutely imperative.”

Idaho National Laboratory works in each of the strategic goal areas of DOE: energy, national security, science and environment.
He says those jobs also provide a cyber grid to protect homes right here in the Gem State and across the nation.

“Now, if the Department of Energy doesn’t do that, who is going to do that? Who’s going to coordinate the protection the grid if it isn’t the Department of Energy?” said Little.

Cruz proposed to eliminate five major agencies of federal government, including the Department of Energy.

“It’s so important that the department of energy and the incredibly talented personnel out here at the lab are protecting the grid here,” he said.

We asked Little if he was surprised by the Texas senator’s big win over New York business man Donald Trump and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Idaho primary.
“It reflects the frustration,” said Little. “Both candidates reflect what I hear all over Idaho is the incredible frustration with where we are nationally.”

No matter what, Little says he will support whoever wins the Republican nomination.
“The enthusiasm level may temper quite a bit, but I will support the nominee,” he said. “The enthusiasm level will vary dependent on who it is.”

He says he relates with voters in Idaho.
“I understand the frustration and I think those two candidates both carry the flag for blow the whole thing up and start over,” said Little. “Hope springs eternal. I think either one of them will probably serve Idaho better than the two candidates on the other side. Will- I know they will.”

Gov. Butch Otter made it clear this is his last term serving as governor. So we asked Little if he plans on running for governor. Little said you don’t take the job as lieutenant governor unless you feel you have the abilities to take on the responsibility of governor as well.

The lieutenant governor says the state has a lot of work to do, but he likes the Idaho session report much more than the one on Capitol Hill.