04/06/06 Kempthorne hearings set for early May

Governor Dirk Kempthorne has been spending a lot of time in Washington DC this week. He's being schooled at the Department of the Interior on issues that are likely to come up during his confirmation hearing. Senator Larry Craig says Kempthorne will be busy for the next 30 days. CRAIG "The hearings on his nomination will occur on May 8th. That is what we have them currently scheduled for that might move around a day or so. He will also be going office to office visiting with Senators who may have questions." Senator Mike Crapo says he has no specific questions to ask Kempthorne other than 'can we get some Endangered Species Reform legislation?' Crapo has proposed a bill that would make changes in the 30 year old law. CRAPO "Then Senator Kempthorne introduced his own endangered species act reform and we are now still pursuing that objective and I think that he will be very strongly committed to that. Crapo says Kempthorne is held in high regard on both sides of the Senate aisle. CRAPO "He will probably do well and we should see a smooth nomination process." Several prominent Democrats have said that Kempthorne will be confirmed as Interior Secretary but how long that process will take is still very much open for debate. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott