Idaho Uses Bad Economy To Lure Oregon Businesses

By Doug Nadvornick | March 8, 2010 4:47 p.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:56 p.m. | Coeur d'Alene, ID

Idaho Governor Butch Otter has written what he terms “A Love Letter to Our Neighbors.” He's trying to actively recruit businesses fed up with increasing taxes in Oregon and, potentially, Washington.

Doug Nadvornick reports.

Idaho state Commerce Director Don Dietrich says Oregon voters did his state a favor when they approved Measures 66 and 67 in January. The ballot measures raise taxes on businesses and wealthy people. Dietrich says, since their passage, businesses in Oregon have been steadily calling his office.Don Dietrich: “We haven't had to aggressively go after that business. A lot of it is coming to us. We obviously are very attuned to speaking with those folks.”Dietrich says Idaho is also keeping an eye on budget discussions in Olympia, where leading Democrats are ready to approve a variety of new and increased taxes to balance the state budget.A recent public radio poll shows 57-percent of people in the Northwest feel their state's business climate is not favorable enough. The non-profit Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranks Idaho's business tax system as the 11th worst in the nation, seven spots behind Oregon.  The group ranks Washington as the fourth best.I'm Doug Nadvornick reporting.The poll is a collaboration of the Northwest Health Foundation, Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall [MIDGE-Hall], and public radio stations across the Northwest, including OPB.

© 2010 Northwest News Network

Share this article

Discuss

blog comments powered by Disqus

Become a sponsor