Governor
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Idaho pulling back on wolves
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter ordered state wildlife managers Monday to stop arresting poachers and investigating illegal killings of wolves, saying the state is getting out of wolf management. Without the ability to stage a public wolf hunt this fall, there’s little benefit for Idaho to act as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “designated agent” for managing wolves in the state, the governor said in a terse letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Mont. lawmaker alleges non-protection of wolves in Idaho
MISSOULA – Idaho officials are disputing a claim by Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana that Idaho won’t enforce federal protection of wolves. The Missoulian reported that Rehberg on Thursday told a Safari Club International audience in Missoula that he likes what he describes as Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s plan to have state game wardens ignore requirements of the Endangered Species Act.
Otter debates two challengers
CALDWELL, Idaho – Cuts to dental programs for the poor became a surprise flashpoint of Wednesday evening’s debate between Republican Gov. Butch Otter and Democrat Keith Allred, as they went tooth to tooth over austerity measures aimed at saving Idaho money. About 150 dentists have been cut from a program that provides dental services to Medicaid recipients.
Governor, Allred spending heavily on ads
BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Tuesday reported raising $752,000 in campaign funds in the past four months, while his Democratic challenger, Keith Allred, raised $372,500. With both candidates spending heavily on advertising as the campaign season hits its peak, Otter reported $211,634 in cash on hand at the close of the period on Sept. 30, while Allred reported $102,072.
Idaho governor’s race
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is seeking a second term in office at a time when the state is facing historic budget cuts and high unemployment, and after he’s failed twice to push through his major legislative initiative, to increase funding for the state’s roads and bridges.
GOP ad targeting Allred on taxes
BOISE – The Idaho Republican Party has launched an attack ad against Democratic candidate for governor Keith Allred, charging that he’d tax everything from child care to church bake sales, a claim Allred dubs a “wild distortion.” Norm Semanko, Idaho Republican Party chairman, said the new TV commercial, which is running statewide including in the Spokane TV market, is based on Allred’s statement at a debate in Twin Falls that everything is on the table when it comes to reviewing existing tax exemptions.
Allred takes Otter to task on school cuts
BOISE – Keith Allred, the Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, is going after incumbent Butch Otter with a new TV commercial targeting Otter for this year’s school funding cuts. It’s the same theme Allred hit in his previous ad; Idaho cut school funding an unprecedented 7.5 percent this year.