Extra! Otter Vetoes First Bill

Gov. Butch Otter used his veto power for the first time today, refusing a bill that he feared could harm some property owners. Otter vetoed House Bill 8, which had been proposed by the Idaho Tax Commission and passed easily and quickly through both the House and the Senate. The commission now sends notices via certified mail to people whose property is seized because they own back taxes. The bill would have let them simply use first-class mail, which could have saved the agency $25,000 a year. Otter said he didn’t think the change would afford the same protections and notification to property owners. Story here .

DFO: Too bad Butch couldn’t teach Dubya how to veto bills. Dubya’s veto stamp has been as missing as the WMDs.