“It’s no surprise that we all want tax relief,” Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers. “For some, it’s the top priority of this legislative session. But I would remind you that together we have reduced the burden on our citizens, on taxes, during my tenure by about $1 billion. And soon you will have legislation before you to cut the base tax rate for unemployment insurance paid by Idaho employers by 6.3 percent this year. Now that’s $46 million in tax relief in the coming year alone, and $115 million over the next three years.”

Otter said he’s “as committed as ever” to limiting the size and growth of Idaho’s state government. But, he said, “I will not entertain anything that undermines our commitment to meeting the essential state government functions, and at the top of that list is our investments in improving education and career readiness in Idaho.” Lawmakers responded with applause.