Otter chooses ‘Health Freedom Act’ for first public signing ceremony

Gov. Butch Otter has been quietly signing bills into law, but to date - as of the 65th day of the legislative session - he hasn’t held a single public signing ceremony. He’s now scheduled his first for tomorrow, for HB 391a, the “Idaho Health Freedom Act.” The bill, which bans enforcement of any federal mandate for Idaho residents or businesses to purchase health insurance and requires the Idaho Attorney General to go to court to fight any such requirement, drew heavy objections from minority Democrats, and passed the House on a straight party-line vote, while three Republicans joined Senate Democrats in opposing it. Otter will hold his signing ceremony at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, along with GOP legislative sponsors Reps. Jim Clark, Raul Labrador and Lynn Luker, and Sen. Monty Pearce.