Guv jovial on 102nd day of session

Gov. Butch Otter visited and joked easily with legislators this morning at a signing ceremony for Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan (CAMP) legislation. Walking up beforehand to a group of legislators who had taken seats in the audience, Otter put his arm around Rep. Dell Raybould’s shoulder  after Raybould seemed hesitant to come up front to join the governor for the ceremony. “You don’t wanna be seen by me?” Otter cracked. “Don’t anybody look!” Soon he had a large group assembled around him for the signing, including Raybould, House Transportation Chairwoman JoAn Wood, Senate GOP leaders, and more. House Resources Chairman Bert Stevenson praised the CAMP process as showing what happens to “people when they get together and work together.”

Otter flashed his trademark grin after asking the date before signing the bill, joking, “It’s the 101st day?” After the signing, which the lawmakers praised, Otter was asked if there was anything else he wanted to discuss with the lawmakers. “There’s still things in the process,” he said. “Whatever I can do to facilitate these discussions between a bicameral legislature I’m willing to do.” He also asked Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, to stay after to meet with him on a bighorn sheep bill. Asked about the issue, Otter said, “I have some concerns about signing the bill, I have some concerns about not signing the bill. … Both sides are very concerned about the effects.” The governor said he has “some ideas” he wants to talk to them about.