Otter won’t take stand on amendments

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press:  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has refused to take a public stand on three proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 2 ballot, playing it safe on an issue he knows could alienate voters regardless of which side he came down on. His Democratic rival Keith Allred supports the amendments, to help local governments take on debt for projects or enter into longterm contracts without first asking voters, provided no taxpayer money is at stake. Otter says it’s up to voters, insisting he doesn’t want to “unduly influence” anybody’s view on measures he neither initiated nor championed. But the issue is dicey, especially this year, on an issue that’s divided the Idaho Republican Party: The GOP-led Legislature backed the amendments, while tea-party-leaning conservatives are fighting them fiercely.

Here’s a link to our recent full story on the three amendments by reporter Alison Boggs.