Governor Butch Otter's staff's incompetence, too often bordering on corruption, may be the worst-kept secret in Idaho politics. Now it's no longer a secret at all, but a legal fact. The Idaho Supreme Court ruled last week that Governor Otter failed to properly veto a bill and ordered the Secretary of State to certify it as law. The legislation in question repealed allowing wagering on "historical" horse races. In the spirit of the subject at hand, the governor's office — particularly, it seems, Chief of Staff David Hensley — decided to take a gamble and bet against the state constitution. It's worth mentioning that vetoing bills is a basic and fairly easy part of the governor's job. Governors have been doing it since the Idaho Constitution was first enacted in 1889/John T. Reuter, Inlander. More here.

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