08/30/07 The new PGI

It won't be like it was in the past but PGI will still have a role in the potato industry. The Potato Growers of Idaho has merged with the Idaho Potato Commission and in a few days PGI takes on its new role. PGI's Keith Esplin says most of his organization's functions will be carried out by the Potato Commission. ESPLIN "A couple of things they can't do. They can't hire lobbyists and they can't run a political action committee and we feel like we've done a pretty good job with both of those things so the growers wanted to keep the organization intact so they would have a framework that could raise money for the political action committee and to help with lobbying if it ever becomes necessary." A portion of the money raised by PGI will pay for that lobbying effort. Other money will also fund the National Potato Council's political action committee which supports federal candidates who are supportive of the industry, including the Idaho congressional delegation. The new PGI will no longer keep the year round services of a Boise lobbying firm but could use lobbying help on specific issues in the future. At PGI's annual meeting in November district elections will be held for the new governing board and changes will be made to the by-laws. The PGI office in Blackfoot will remain open on a reduced schedule with a limited staff through the end of the year. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott