Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Dave Case to the Ada County Commission, to fill the vacancy left by the May 4 resignation of Vern Bisterfeldt. Case, a current Ada County Highway District commissioner who will leave that post, defeated Commissioner Sharon Ullman in the May 15 primary; click below for Otter's full announcement.

For the past three months, one of Republican Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's departments has been headed by a Democrat and overseen by a majority-Democrat commission. It's the state Tax Commission, which is constitutionally required to have four commissioners, with not more than two of them from the same party. But since GOP commission Chairman Bob Geddes resigned in February, Democratic Commissioner David Langhorst has been the interim chairman, and the fourth commission seat remains vacant. That leaves the commission with two Democrats and one Republican.

“David Langhorst is doing a great job right now,” said Otter's spokesman, Jon Hanian. “We have not named anybody else at the moment; he's continuing to serve in that capacity.” Langhorst, a former Democratic state senator from Boise whom Otter first appointed to the commission in 2009, said, “These positions are public trust positions - they're not political.” You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

In the past few days, three Idaho governors - former Govs. Cecil Andrus and Phil Batt and current Gov. Butch Otter - have published guest opinions in the Idaho Statesman newspaper with strongly worded messages about potential changes in the nuclear waste agreement Batt famously negotiated with the feds, guaranteeing that Idaho won't become the nation's future nuke waste repository. Today, Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker sorts through the charges; you can read his full report here. The upshot: Both Andrus and Batt are urging Otter to stick with the 1995 agreement, and despite possible changes outlined by current INL Director John Grossenbacher, Otter is pledging that he will.
  

Idaho Gov. Otter endorsed seven candidates in yesterday's GOP primary for legislative seats; all but one won. The exception: Former Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, who lost a rematch with Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, who unseated him two years ago.

The others: Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, who defeated Sen. Tim Corder, R-Mountain Home, in a redistricting-forced face-off; Todd Lakey, who defeated Rep. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, in the GOP primary for an open Senate seat; Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, who won a three-way GOP primary for an open Senate seat in District 14; Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, who defeated challenger Maurice Clements; appointed Sen. Jim Rice, who beat Kent Marmon in the GOP primary for John McGee's former Senate seat in District 10; and Rick Youngblood, who won a three-way GOP primary for an open House seat in District 12.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter today joined the governors of Utah, Wyoming and Nevada for a “Rocky Mountain Roundtable” discussion of common concernss that focused heavily on federal land management issues. “The Western states need to bind together and unite their voices,” said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who hosted the talks in Salt Lake City. “We have a uniqueness that other people don't understand.”

The participating governors, all Republicans, also included Wyoming's Matt Mead and Nevada's Brian Sandoval, who joined the conference by phone. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, had planned to attend but canceled because of issues at home. Herbert said today's all-day talks were just the beginning; Otter said he hoped that by banding together, the Rocky Mountain states could have more influence in Washington, D.C. on issues including “the use of natural resources, the management and control of public lands and the assets that are on those public lands.” He noted that the states share the distinction of having vast amounts of their territory consisting of federal public lands. “As a major stakeholder and as one who's going to either suffer from or benefit from some of those solutions that come up in Washington, D.C., I just think we need to have more input in them,” Otter said. Click below for a full report from AP reporter Josh Loftin in Salt Lake City.

In the end, there were no vetoes - not a one - as Gov. Butch Otter today allowed the last three bills passed by lawmakers this year to become law without his signature. That makes 342 bills passed and zero vetoes. The three:

SB 1321a, which altered a law about the Fish & Game winter feeding account to specify that it only can be spent for actual food, not for improvements to winter range for the same animals being fed, or for anything else. That controversial measure passed the Senate 25-8 and the House 40-30; it was sponsored by Sens. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, and Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton. Otter pointed out some serious problems with the bill in his transmittal letter - including that by specifying the fund could only go for food, it couldn't pay for the transportation costs to get the food out to the animals and other related costs, and therefore would put pressure on fishing and hunting license funds to fill in those costs. Nevertheless, he  didn't veto the bill.

HB 603, the new “97 percent protection” bill for Idaho school districts, which partially restores a program eliminated under the “Students Come First” school reforms that protected districts from big, sudden drops in state funding if they lose students from one year to the next. Under the bill, districts that lose more than 3 percent of their students from one year to the next will be funded as if they've lost just 3 percent, but the money for the protection will come from school districts themselves, spreading the cost among all the state's school districts. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mack Shirley, R-Rexburg, and the Idaho Association of School Administrators, received only one “no” vote in either house - from House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star. Otter said in his transmittal letter that he opposed such funding protection as double funding of students.

HB 611, the bill that was promoted as a move to ease sale of abandoned horses by horse boarders by adjusting a law that currently requires, after 60 days, that the animals be sold at a licensed livestock auction, to simply allow them to be sold at a public auction. Sponsored by Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, the bill passed both houses unanimously. However, Otter noted in his transmittal letter that “the scope of this legislation goes beyond the intent 'to provide for an alternative method of selling boarded horses when the owners do not pay.'” Otter, an avid horseman and rancher himself, wrote, “The legislation is not limited to horses but provides for public auction of 'livestock of any kind.' This broad language has raised concerns from owners of livestock auction yards.” Still, he didn't veto the bill, saying instead  that he looks forward to “working with all parties in resolving these concerns” during next year's legislative session.

Gov. Butch Otter has acted on all but three of the bills passed in this year's legislative session; he has until 1:50 p.m. tomorrow to either sign or veto the final three, or let them become law without his signature. Asked if these are measures the governor just hadn't gotten to yet, or whether he was still debating on them, Otter's press secretary, Jon Hanian, said, “I think there may be a little of both.”

The remaining bills: HB 1321a, on the Fish & Game winter feeding account; HB 603, on education support units and attendance; and HB 611, on livestock liens. So far, Otter hasn't vetoed a single one of the 342 bills passed by this year's Legislature.

Gov. Butch Otter on Friday offered begrudging praise for President Barack Obama's 2009 economic stimulus fund, saying it has helped complete highway projects in Idaho, create jobs and reduce the need for state gas tax hikes, reports AP reporter John Miller. Those comments appeared to put him at odds with Mitt Romney, who has the Idaho governor's backing for president and who says Obama's $814 million stimulus “didn't create private-sector jobs,” Miller reports. The apparent difference is notable because Otter is the Romney's Idaho campaign chairman; he introduced the former Massachusetts governor at Idaho's March 6 “Super Tuesday” caucus, where Romney beat Rick Santorum. Click below for Miller's full report.

Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Julie DeLorenzo, a Boise Realtor and Democrat, to the Idaho Transportation Board to replace Darrell Manning. Click below for Gov. Butch Otter's full announcement. DeLorenzo is the second woman Otter has appointed to the previously all-male board; she joins Jan Vassar of Lewiston.

Gov. Butch Otter has named a new head for his Office of Drug Policy: Elisha Figueroa, who now is project director for the Mayor's Anti-Drug Coalition for the City of Meridian. Click below for Otter's full announcement.

Former state Rep. Jim Kempton, R-Albion, has been named to the Idaho Transportation Board by Gov. Butch Otter, to replace Gary Blick as the Region 4 member on the board. Click below for Otter's full announcement.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter issued the following statement on the death today of Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton:

“Idaho has lost a true champion, a great friend, and a visionary businessman. Steve was someone who understood the value as well as the cost of excellence. He lived life to the fullest, and while he enjoyed great success in business and in life, he never lost his intensity or his drive. Our hearts go out to his wife Dalynn and the rest of his family – including his extended family at Micron Technology and the many lives he touched throughout the world.”

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter raised $124,941 for his re-election campaign from July to December, Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports today, and used $50,000 of it to pay himself back for loans he made to his 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Popkey reports that most of Otter's fundraising came from corporate contributors who do business with the state or lobby state officials; you can read his full post here.

Here's a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has enlisted a former Democratic political operative to help develop his strategy for fighting to preserve new education laws that weaken teacher negotiating power and emphasize online learning. The governor has vowed publicly to do everything in his power to guarantee the measures aren't rejected by voters in November. The battle over the reforms deeply divided Republicans and Democrats during the 2011 session. Now, Otter's staff has brought on John Foster to serve as an informal adviser leading up to the referendum. The decision, which Foster confirmed Tuesday, may surprise some. Foster is a past executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party and was campaign manager for former Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick. Foster says the education reforms aren't about partisan politics, but about improving schools. Click below for a full report from AP reporter Jessie Bonner; you can read Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey's column about the the move here.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is recruiting candidates to replace Norm Semanko as Idaho's GOP party chairman, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey; Semanko defeated Otter's favored candidate, then-Chairman Kirk Sullivan, in 2008. “I was roundly criticized by all you guys that I couldn't control my own party and I was probably the only governor in the United States that didn't have his choice as party chairman,” Otter told Popkey. “I've been able to work with Norm, but you know, I just don't want that to happen again.” You can read Popkey's full post here.

Here's a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter backs taxing Internet sales to level the playing field between virtual businesses and brick-and-mortar establishments on Idaho's Main Street. Otter made the remarks to Idaho chamber of commerce leaders meeting in Boise on Monday. Past efforts to deepen Idaho's involvement with a national movement to tax Internet sales have foundered in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, whose anti-tax conservatives have killed previous proposals. Idaho has a use tax, meaning everybody who buys over the Internet is required to report them to the State Tax Commission when they pay their annual income taxes. However, few people actually report them. Some estimate Idaho loses tens of millions annually in revenue, hurting schools and Main Street businesses whose products cost more because they're required to submit sales taxes.

In response to questions from members of chambers of commerce around the state, Gov. Butch Otter this morning said the state recently had news from the feds that Idaho insurance companies actually would be able to participate in a federally operated insurance exchange, if the state doesn't set up its own. “The resistance in the Legislature I fully understand, because they're saying no matter what we design in Idaho, if it doesn't comport to what the federal government wants, well then, why don't we just let the feds come in and put it over,” Otter said.

“Up until  three weeks ago we were under the impression …  that if we don't design our own, then our state-based insurance, those that are indigenous to Idaho, companies, primarily the big three, the Blues and Pacific Source, would not be able to participate in the insrance exchange. About three weeks ago we got a letter that said that is not exactly right. Even with a federal exchange, you could have your companies in Idaho participating in that federal insurance exchange.”

Otter said, “We were concerned about whether or not they would be able to participate. We've been told, or at least indicated in a letter, that it's not automatically exclusive of our state-based insurance companies. But once again my whole effort there was to preserve every option for the Legislature to consider.”

Otter hinted that a different approach now is being considered on the insurance exchange issue.  “I believe we have some other options - I'm not at liberty to tell you those right now,” he said. “I do have Bill Deal and Dick Armstrong working on some options, that's probably outside the Affordable Health Care (bill) box. … Maybe it's something that they hadn't thought of when they created that monster.”

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is addressing the Idaho Chamber Alliance this morning, and he told the group of business people from around the state, “I believe we're looking at a good year. I tried to get that across in my State of the State. … There's a lot of positive things going on.”

Otter said December state revenues were strong, and there could be news about January revenues next week. “So if we establish a trend … we'll know more about our future, exactly where we're going to be able to go, not only with funding the proper and necessary roles of government, but also with tax relief, where it's going to go.” Otter said, “Over the summer … I had a multitude of legislators come in and talk to me about where they would like to see some tax relief.” He reiterated that his “druthers” would be first to drop the state's individual income tax rate to match the corporate tax rate, then, in the future, as revenues allow, move both rates down together. That would cost the state treasury a little over $13 million a year.

“I am positive. I'm bullish on this year and where we're going, because I see a lot of optimistic signs, I see a lot of faith,” Otter said. “I see a confidence coming back.”

Among other subjects Gov. Butch Otter addressed in his Q-and-A with the Idaho Press Club this morning:

Otter said he's in discussions with lawmakers about making a switch in priorities in his budget proposal, switching state employee raises or bonuses from being a “surplus-eliminator” that happens only if revenues meet forecasts, to fully including them in the budget - while swapping tax cuts to the “surplus-eliminator” category. That's something many lawmaker are talking about. “We're discussing that - I'm open to the discussion on it,” Otter said.

On President Obama's State of the Union speech last night: “It doesn't comport with his actions, so I think it was a great election speech.”

On state Tax Commission Chairman Bob Geddes: “There are other things he would like to be considered for, there are other things he is being considered (for). … I think Bob has met all of my expectations … (from) when I pleaded with him to take that job.” He added, “I would tell you this, Bob Geddes is going to bloom wherever he's planted. He's a good guy, he's a quick study, and he embeds himself in the job. That's what I saw him do in the Senate, that's what I've seen him do out at the Tax Commission.

Otter declined to wade into the current fracas in his own party over redistricting. “This is a short answer - separate but equal,” he said. “That is the legislative domain, and I'm not going there.”
  

While the Legislature debates pushing back Idaho's primary election from May to August, Gov. Butch Otter said today he doesn't like the idea. “It would cause a lot of problems in Idaho, including Bone,” he said, referring to the hometown of the measure's sponsor, Rep. Tom Loertscher. Otter said, “The August time is a couple of weeks before school starts, families are trying to get their summer vacation in. The May primary is before school lets out. … I think if we try to put that on in a time when people are otherwise attended of something else, that their primary vote won't be as urgent to them as it is if they're at home working on their job and have their kids in school.” He noted Idaho's already-low primary election turnout.

Otter said he plans to inform legislative leaders tomorrow of his opposition. “I'm going to let 'em know what my wishes are tomorrow morning in the leadership meeting. That's one of the things I'm going to relay to them,” he said. “There's going to have to be overwhelming reasons and merits to an August primary, which I don't see right now.”