October 21, 2014 – The Spokesman-Review – Editorial –
Idaho needs new leadership at the top. The educational system suffers from neglect. Job growth beyond the minimum-wage variety has been poor. A scandal has marred the corrections system. And the state has made national headlines for its refusal to even hear proponents of expanding human rights for gay, lesbian and transgendered citizens.
During this period of stagnation, Butch Otter has served two undistinguished terms as governor. At times, his head has been in the right place, but he hasn’t demonstrated the fortitude to press forward. His go-to solution has been to form task forces, or to call for studies. When the facts have come in, he’s been too tentative.
In 2010 and 2014 (both election years for him), he praised the Legislature’s “successful” sessions, though lawmakers made little to no progress on the road maintenance backlog and school funding. He signed an “ag-gag” bill that is an affront to free speech. He allowed guns on university campuses over the objections of college presidents. Two reports Otter commissioned have shown the state would benefit from taking the Medicaid expansion, but he has yet to press the matter.
The 2104 Legislature barely increased school funding, and the overall education budget remains below the 2009 level. The anemic increase came after the poorly conceived “Luna laws” were recalled by voters, and after the Legislature wisely jettisoned the tax cuts the governor originally called for.