‘Like a perfect storm - everything seemed to go wrong’

For a politician whose party holds three-quarters of the seats in the Legislature, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter didn’t get far with state lawmakers this year. He wasn’t helped by state revenues that plummeted after he unveiled an ambitious budget; missing a crucial month of the session for hip surgery; and poor communication with lawmakers, including those in his own party. Said political scientist Jasper LiCalzi of the College of Idaho, “It was like a perfect storm – everything seemed to go wrong.” You can read my full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review, and click here for highlights of items passed and not passed in this year’s session.