05/09/06 Kempthorne ready for confirmation vote

CRAIG "Governor Kempthorne is the best person for the position of Secretary of Interior." It's pretty obvious how Senator Larry Craig will vote on Governor Dirk Kempthorne's nomination to become the next Secretary of the Interior. CRAIG "He is a problem solver, a leader and has demonstrated that he is a good steward of the land." The Senate confirmation vote is set for Thursday and it's believed that Kempthorne will become Gale Norton's replacement. The Department of Interior manages one of every five acres of land in the US and provides the resources for nearly one third of the nation's energy. Interior has eight major agencies including BLM, the Forest Service, Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Reclamation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the office of Surface Mining. KEMPTHORNE "All that I can pledge is that if confirmed I will do my best. This nation its people and natural beauty are well worth all of our collective efforts to preserve and protect." If Kempthorne is confirmed he'll resign as Idaho governor and that will put Lt Governor Jim Risch into the office for the rest of this year with a new governor to come in 2007. Risch is seeking re-election as Lt Governor. Kempthorne was definitely wearing his governor's hat on Monday when he named 96 different people to positions on 48 state boards and commissions. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott