Gov. Butch Otter, in his annual address to the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce today that’s billed as the “Governor’s Address to the Business Community,” had this message: “Our continued focus has got to be on education, because that’s our future, because that’s our economy.” Otter said the reason that this year’s Legislature approved a 7.4 percent funding increase for public schools and a five-year career ladder teacher pay plan was because “we knew that there was a direct correlation between an educated workforce and the health of the economy.” He told the crowd of several hundred, “We know as business people that the next generation of your products, of your services, of your ability to manage your business, is sitting around in a classroom someplace today”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Do you think Gov. Otter can be accused of focusing on education during his two-plus terms in office?