Gov. Butch Otter learned to sell during 30 years in agribusiness, five statewide campaigns and three congressional races. Last week, he set out on one of the toughest sales pitches of his life - convincing Idahoans to pay another $240 million a year for roads and bridges amidst growing economic anxiety.

Mindful of his daunting task, Otter began on friendly turf. He opened his six-city tour Monday at his alma matter, the College of Idaho, in his hometown, Caldwell.

There was a hint of Ronald Reagan in Otter as he admitted his "tremendous miscalculation" in assuming the 2008 Legislature would simply accept his recommendation and agree to hike registration fees by $150 per vehicle.

Like Reagan selling the 1986 tax increase, Otter is now employing his considerable charm and credibility as a fiscal conservative as the heart of his pitch.

"It's not easy for me to come before the citizens of Idaho and ask for additional monies for anything unless I'm absolutely convinced there's no other alternative," he said. "And I am absolutely convinced there is no other alternative."

Fuel prices and a shaky economy have made lawmakers wary. As the meeting began, Rep. Darrel Bolz, R-Caldwell, joked with Pat Takasugi, the GOP nominee for the other Caldwell House seat, that he didn't have to avoid the front row like a kid in church.

"It's close to church," replied Takasugi. "We're going to need some prayers to get through this."

Lawmakers credit Otter for engaging, something he failed to do early this year. He waited until late February to propose a $150 registration fee increase. "That was akin to sittin' in a bear trap," Otter admitted.

Returning from Caldwell, I set out to speak to members of the House and Senate Transportation committees, who will have the most say over whether Otter succeeds. I found consensus that Otter will likely get new money, but no agreement about where it will come from or how much he'll secure.

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, said Otter was well received at the second meeting in Coeur d'Alene Wednesday. "I appreciate the fact he's stepping out there because it's a risky time to do it."

"He's going to keep working and he's going to get it done," said Senate Transportation Committee Chairman John McGee, R-Caldwell, Otter's biggest cheerleader on the issue. McGee predicted a consensus bill before the Legislature convenes.

House Majority Leader Mike Moyle of Star is also on Transportation and more skeptical. He's waiting to see how Otter's sales pitch plays before making a counter offer. But he agrees that broad agreement is critical.

"This is the wrong economy to be forcing a tax increase down anybody's throat," Moyle said. "If we're going there, I'm OK as long as everybody's on board."

As a measure of public sentiment, Moyle said he'll be watching Ada County voters. The Ada County Highway District board will decide Wednesday whether to put an extension - or a possible increase - of a $20-per-vehicle local-option registration fee before voters in November. If that fails, forget about any big revenue increase from the Legislature because rural lawmakers are much less agitated about roads than urbanites.

One of the better measures of rural sentiment is Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, also a Transportation Committee member. Geddes is reviving an idea first proposed by state Controller Donna Jones - to use the state surplus to reduce a backlog of road work. Otter and the co-chairs of the Legislature's budget committee rejected Jones' suggestion last year.

Geddes said part of the $224 million surplus should be spent on roads - not for a state prison Otter also seeks. "Why would we want to tax people more and say, 'Let's build roads with your credit cards,' when we're sitting on a fairly sizeable savings account?"

House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke of Oakley said his constituents aren't all that worried about roads. But as a Transportation Committee member, he acknowledges the need to address statewide needs. He said Otter is now doing his job to "raise the alarm, but for anything to happen, voters must demand action."

"If the public doesn't want to go there, you can't hang that on him," Bedke said.

Sen. Tim Corder said Otter made the right call last session when he rejected a $68 million compromise and postponed the debate. That forces legislators and voters to acknowledge the full scope of the need. "We do fairly well with a full-blown crisis," he said. "We don't do well with semi-crisis."

Corder, R-Mountain Home, who owns a trucking business, puts the annual need at closer to $280 million. He predicts lawmakers will pay at the polls in 2010 if they fail to act.

"There will be legislators who lose their seats over this if we don't do something because when these roads start going back to gravel folks are going to be screaming their heads off."

Otter would love to have voters hollering for action. But he'll settle for them politely moving to the front pew, joining him in prayer for solutions to gridlock and a deteriorating transportation system.

Dan Popkey: 377-6438

Hear Dan Popkey's debut on 670 KBOI at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Popkey will appear on Nate Shelman's radio show every Monday.