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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Otter: Gingrich Lobbied Me In 2003

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is among three GOP members of Congress in 2003 who say Newt Gingrich lobbied them to vote for a $400 billion Medicare prescription drug benefit. Otter told the Des Moines Register that Gingrich was "full of crap" in making a case for the bill. Still, Otter ultimately voted for the measure. Gingrich has repeatedly denied any lobbying and told reporters in Mason City, Iowa, on Wednesday that Otter and other accusers were wrong: "I'm allowed as a citizen to say I'd like to see this passed and that's not lobbying. I wasn't paid by anybody to say that. It was a public position I had taken for a practical reason...That was a public position taken publicly and is literally by definition not lobbying"/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (AP photo)

Question: Who do you believe?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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