Bush names Idaho governor to be Interior secretary

President Bush Thursday nominated Idaho Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to be Interior secretary.

Kempthorne, who served one term in the Senate, would succeed Gale Norton, who resigned last week after five years in Bush's Cabinet.

Bush said Kempthorne "will work closely with state and local leaders to ensure wise stewardship of our resources. Dirk has had a long and abiding love for nature."

Kempthorne has served two terms as governor and had said he would not run for a third term this year.

Tony Massaro, senior vice president of the League of Conservation Voters, criticized Bush's choice. "During his career in Congress, Gov. Kempthorne earned a paltry 1 percent lifetime LCV score. Enough said," Massaro said in a statement.

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., who has frequently been at odds with conservation and environmental groups, praised the selection, saying "Kempthorne's knowledge and experience will serve him and the nation well. I look forward to working with him again and welcome him back to the nation's capital."