Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne (R), President Bush's nominee for Secretary of the Interior, met with senators on Monday in advance of his confirmation hearing.

Kempthorne said he wouldn't talk about the substance of his meetings or comment about issues he may face as head of the Interior Department. As a former senator and Westerner, he is expected to win confirmation easily.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold Kempthorne's confirmation hearings. Pending his installment, deputy secretary Lynn Scarlett is acting as secretary.

Get the Story:
Nominee for Interior secretary meets informally with senators (The Billings Gazette 4/4)

Relevant Links:
Coeur d'Alene Tribe - http://www.cdatribe.com
Nez Perce Tribe - http://www.nezperce.org
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes - http://www.shoshonebannocktribes.com
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne - http://gov.idaho.gov

Related Stories:
Tribal issues put Kempthorne in hot seat at Interior (03/21)
Kempthorne offered DOI post on day of nomination (03/21)
Kempthorne's Senate record scant on Indian issues (3/20)
Tribes wary of Kempthorne, Interior nominee (3/20)
Norton hopes Westerner will take helm at Interior (3/16)
Montana-Wyoming tribes seek Indian for BIA job (3/16)
Connecticut tribes worried about BIA leadership (3/16)
Campbell touted for Interior Secretary Cabinet post (3/15)
Campbell recommended to run Interior Department (03/14)
Indian leadership still lacking at Indian Affairs agency (3/13)
A rocky five years for Norton at Interior Department (3/13)
Oklahoma tribal leaders sad to see Norton leave (3/13)
Editorial: Norton missed chance to settle Cobell lawsuit (3/13)
Norton denies Abramoff played a role in resignation (3/13)
Bush to look West to fill Interior Department position (3/13)
Editorial: Norton leaves behind an unhappy legacy (3/13)
Secretary Norton to step down at end of March (3/10)
Griles arranged for Norton photo with Abramoff (01/30)
Norton refutes alleged influence of Abramoff (12/15)
Watchdog group sues DOI over Abramoff documents (12/07)
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation seeks recognition probe (12/01)
Inside the BIA, according to Jack Abramoff (11/23)
Bernhardt nominated for Interior solicitor post (11/21)
Salon: Italia Federici a 'minor' Republican player (11/18)
Audio: Italia Federici testifies before Senate panel (11/17)
Appeals court leaves trust accounting to Interior (11/16)
Norton lobbied on Shinnecock Nation recognition (11/15)
Report: Griles had repeated contacts with Abramoff (11/07)
Editorial: No rewrite for national park policies (11/03)
Interior drawn into Senate committee's lobbying probe (10/26)
Interior claims shutdown will cause 'grave injury' (10/25)
Interior ordered to protect Indian trust fund systems (10/21)
Editorial: National parks under siege by Bush (10/21)
National Park Service proposes management policies (10/19)
Norton pushes for more drilling in wake of hurricanes (09/28)
DOI spends $30K to produce glossy report on trust (09/20)
Senate delays action on ANWR drilling in budget (09/14)
Gale Norton: New approach to conservation needed (08/30)
Cobell fights effort to oust judge from trust fund case (08/29)
Appeals court stays Lamberth order on notices (07/29)
Federal Register: Probate Reform Act certified (06/28)
DOI denies mismanagement of Indian trust funds (06/21)
White House told DOI to pay attention to Abramoff (06/20)
Norton defends Myers' record as Interior solicitor (06/02)
Lamberth orders Interior to turn over e-mails (05/27)
Gaming leads to new concerns about lobbyists (05/26)
Miccosukee Tribe still fighting state on Everglades (05/26)
DOI to go ahead with wireless despite IG report (05/24)
Miccosukee Tribe still fighting state on Everglades (05/26)
Norton won't reconsider Paugussett recognition (03/31)
Gale Norton: Drilling in ANWR won't hurt environment (03/14)
Anderson's resignation blamed on lack of support (02/01)