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Gov. Butch Otter sent a letter to every member of the Senate and House of Representatives this morning, thanking them for their work this session and their friendship. “We all have gotten more than our fair share of news media coverage the past few weeks - most of it negative, focused on our challenges and a few issues on which we have not yet reached agreement,” Otter wrote. “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for those many issues on which we have worked together so well and effectively, and on which we have made real progress and agreed on real solutions for the people we serve. There is far too little coverage of the success stories of this legislative session, and of the honorable and noteworthy job you are doing under extraordinarily difficult economic conditions.” He cited the crafting of a state budget, continued grocery tax relief, funding for the Idaho Education Network, passage of water legislation and more. “It is an honor to work with you,” the governor wrote, “and I look forward to continuing our development of a productive and fulfilling relationship this year, and for years to come.”
House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, said, “I can’t disagree with it; it’s a good letter.” He said after meeting with Otter this morning, “I felt confident that he’s ready for us to leave town as well.”
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stebbijo on April 27 at 11:59 a.m.
The governor states, “There is far too little coverage of the success stories of this legislative session, and of the honorable and noteworthy job you are doing under extraordinarily difficult economic conditions” … and “most of it negative.”
Well, looks like the gov is not happy with the media at this point and appears to want to pit the legislature against the media as well. He has to have someone to blame for his shortcomings.
Personally, the coverage I have read has been excellent and without it, we would not have any idea what these yahoos are trying to stick to us.
Sisyphus on April 27 at 12:35 p.m.
Let’s translate.
“We all have gotten more than our fair share of news media coverage the past few weeks - most of it negative, focused on our challenges and a few issues on which we have not yet reached agreement,”—I’m getting shafted in the press and I gotta figure a graceful way out.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for those many issues on which we have worked together so well and effectively, and on which we have made real progress and agreed on real solutions for the people we serve.”—I’m gonna play nice for now because of it and see if I can’t borrow some of the favorable coverage of your popular position by sounding like we’re all one big happy family
“There is far too little coverage of the success stories of this legislative session, and of the honorable and noteworthy job you are doing under extraordinarily difficult economic conditions.”—always remember the common enemy is the press. They’re the bad guys for highlighting the three press conferences I staged with my veto stamp and showing how petulant I can be.
“It is an honor to work with you,” the governor wrote, “and I look forward to continuing our development of a productive and fulfilling relationship this year, and for years to come.”—you win. No more vetoes. And if I grovel any lower will you please not torpedo my re-election chances.