Otter Signs 2 Bills Sought By GOP

Also: Butch Otter told the Idaho Reporter that he’d give lawmakers an ‘A’ grade for their work this session.

Gov. Butch Otter has signed major legislation into law to impose party registration in Idaho and close the state’s primary elections if parties choose to exclude anyone other than those registered as party members; he quietly signed HB 351 into law yesterday. Also, the same day, Otter quietly signed SB 1202 into law, making a $100,000 payment to the Idaho Republican Party for its legal fees in its successful lawsuit against the state that overturned the state’s current primary election law as unconstitutional, because it kept the GOP from closing its primary/ Betsy Russell , Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Please explain how Gov. Otter can sign bills cutting funding for schools for a 3rd straight year and Medicaid and then turn around and sign a bill that gives the Idaho GOP $100,000 for legal expenses?