What You Should Know About Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter

Background

State of Idaho

Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-Idaho)

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C.L. “Butch” Otter has been a fixture of Idaho politics since 1973 when he was elected to his first term in the state House of Representatives.

Otter was elected to his second term as Idaho governor on Nov. 2, 2010. He was first elected governor on Nov. 7, 2006.

StateImpact Idaho sat down with the governor before the 2012 legislative session began to ask about a few key economic issues. Click the links below to see video of where he stands:

A Brief Biography

Otter, a Republican, is the longest serving Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, his tenure spanned from 1987-2000. In 2000 he was then elected to the United States Congress and served until 2006.

According to the Washington Post, Otter voted with his party most of the time, 86 percent, but has been known to have an independent streak on some issues.

“He was among three Republicans in the House to vote against the USA Patriot Act in 2001 and he later sponsored a bill to repeal parts of it. But independent streaks are sometimes tolerated in a state that would rather not be told what to do by the federal government.” – William Yardley, New York Times

Otter was born on May 3, 1942 in Caldwell, Idaho. He attended St. Teresa’s Academy in Boise and graduated from Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1967. After college, Otter joined the Idaho National Guard and served in the 116^th Armored Calvary until 1973.

Butch Otter is married to his second wife, Lori. He has four children and several grandchildren.

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December 12, 2012

Gov. Otter Appoints Jani Revier To Head Division Of Financial Management

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter today named Jani Revier to be his new budget director at the Division of Financial Management. Here’s the press release from the governor’s office: (BOISE) – Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced the appointment today of Jani Revier – a senior member of his staff during three terms in Congress – to […]

December 11, 2012

Gov. Otter Says Idaho Should Build Its Own Health Insurance Exchange

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is opting for a state-based health insurance exchange. The Republican governor’s office distributed that news late this afternoon in a release that criticizes Obamacare, but says the state must assert its “commitment to self-determination” and fulfill its “responsibility to the rule of law.” The decision is subject to the Idaho […]

December 5, 2012

Listen: Gov. Otter Makes Predictions For Coming Legislative Session

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said today that he expects a difficult legislative session. He spoke at the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho’s annual conference. The session will be a hard one, Otter said, “because of the decisions we have to make.” The governor discussed what’s ahead for state education policy, given that voters resoundingly rejected the […]

December 4, 2012

Gov.’s Commission Weighs Idaho Jobs Against Existing Nuclear Waste Disposal Agreement

The Idaho National Laboratory creates billions of dollars in economic impact for the state of Idaho, along with tens of thousands of jobs. Sustaining and expanding that economic engine may require relaxing some of the requirements and restrictions on spent nuclear fuel shipments and waste disposal included in a 1995 agreement between the state, the […]

November 16, 2012

Idaho Gov. Otter Delays Health Insurance Exchange Decision

Governor C.L. “Butch” said in a news release this morning he’ll wait to consult with Idaho Legislative leaders before deciding if the state will create its own health insurance exchange. Late yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would give states until Dec. 14 to decide if they’ll create a […]

Health Insurance Exchange Decision Rests With Gov. Otter, But Legislators Will Have Their Say

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter got a reprieve, if he wants it. Friday, Nov. 16 was supposed to be the final day for states to tell the federal government whether they will set up their own health insurance exchanges. It was a deadline established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to ensure the […]

November 9, 2012

It’s Unanimous: Idaho Should Expand Medicaid Eligibility

All fourteen members of Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s Medicaid Expansion Work Group arrived at the same opinion this afternoon: Medicaid eligibility should be expanded in Idaho. It was the conclusion of a months-long discussion and research set in motion when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act earlier this year. […]

October 31, 2012

Fear Of Rising Health Insurance Costs Drives Health Exchange Recommendation

When Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry President Alex LaBeau made his ultimately successful motion that the Health Insurance Exchange Working Group should call for Idaho to implement a state-based exchange by 2014, he spoke in dramatic terms. “What is in the best interest of the employers in the state of Idaho?” he asked. “How […]

October 9, 2012

Another Expert Tells Stakeholders Idaho Has Run Out Of Time To Build Health Insurance Exchange

Idaho doesn’t have time to create its own health insurance exchange. Back in August, a state insurance department official explained that to a group studying Idaho’s options for creating an exchange as required under the federal health care reform law. And today, a consultant with KPMG said the same thing. Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed […]

October 2, 2012

Public Hearing On Vacant Governor’s Mansion Today

The public will have a chance to weigh in on the state’s vacant governor’s mansion this afternoon at the State Capitol. The mansion, which hasn’t been lived in since the Simplot family donated it in 2004, made headlines earlier this year after a Democratic lawmaker said the state shouldn’t continue to pay to maintain the […]