Win some, lose some- Otter lost on four out of 10 major initiatives this year.
BYLINE: By PHIL DAVIDSON,
Otter took some blows in his first legislative session as governor
BOISE - In January, Butch Otter laid out more than a dozen goals he wanted to accomplish during the 2007 legislative session, his first as Idaho's governor.
He proposed revising the grocery tax credit so the poorest of residents would get a bigger break, creating a $38 million scholarship fund and earmarking another $40 million to increase communications abilities among law enforcement agencies.
But of the 10 major initiatives the Post Register reviewed, Otter lost on four of them, and two were funded but at drastically reduced levels.
By comparison, most of former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's initiatives - funding an anti-drug program, creating a statewide immunization registry and revamping the agency that hires state employees - sailed through the Legislature during his first year in the office in 1999. The plans lawmakers balked at included increasing security at the Capitol and spending $1.5 million for a child development program.
All in all, Otter, who was asked in mid-March to grade himself on the success of his proposals, said he would give himself a ""D.""
""There's a lot in my State of the State that hasn't gotten through,"" Otter said to reporters at his only news conference. ""Unfortunately, I can't think of one that has.""
No governor gets everything he or she proposes. After all, the state's leader doesn't pass legislation or set budgets for various agencies.
As Idaho historians James Weatherby and Randy Stapilus note in their 2005 book ""Growing Idaho,"" ""Through their annual state of the state and budget addresses, governors are well positioned with significant media attention and public attention to shape legislative agendas and to focus the public on the problems they have identified and solutions they propose.""
A lot of a governor's success hinges on the proposals he pitches.
Unfortunately for Otter, not many lawmakers were keen on taking away grocery tax credits from a majority of Idahoans so poorer resident could get a bigger break, especially a year after they raised the state's sales tax from 5 to 6 cents.
Otter's proposal was given a hearing in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, where all tax bills originate, but did not go to a vote on either the House or Senate floor. But Otter felt so strongly about his idea he vetoed a legislative version that raised the tax credit from $20 to $40 for most Idahoans and $35 to $60 for seniors.
On Wednesday, the House overrode that veto - a significant gesture.
Otter is a Republican, the same party that controls 51 of 70 seats in the House and 28 of 35 in the Senate.
Several Republican lawmakers said they didn't like going against the governor, but they believed it was the right thing to do.
Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, said he didn't think Otter would be offended by the decisions of the 48 House members who attempted to counter the governor's veto. Kempthorne might have perceived such a move as an affront, Lake said, but not Otter.
For House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, disagreement is part of the process.
""The system's set up for conflict between the (governor) and (lawmakers),"" he said, adding that sound public policy is often the byproduct of this give and take.
""Everybody gets a little piece, maybe not the full pie,"" Moyle said.
Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, says the ability to negotiate is vital for both governors and lawmakers if effective policymaking is their goal.
""Those individuals incapable of compromise are marginalized quickly,"" he said.
Is a less bumpy road foreseeable for Otter's initiatives next year? Possibly.
At least he won't have to revisit the brouhaha pitting him against lawmakers that marked his first month in office.
Otter got off on the wrong foot with lawmakers when he decided in January to halt Capitol renovations the Legislature approved the year before. Legislators approved spending $130 million to add new underground wings to the Capitol to make room for additional committee rooms and office space. Otter campaigned on the platform that the plan was unnecessary government growth.
They were at loggerheads until an agreement was reached to scale back the addition to just one floor instead of the two that were planned. Otter estimates the state can save $11 million by building just a single story.
Davis says if anything next session, lawmakers will have a much clearer understanding of where Otter stands on issues, and vice versa.
""It will take more than one session for us to understand the boundaries we're working in,"" he said.
For all the adversity a few of Otter's initiatives faced, Moyle said he still thinks the governor made out pretty well on most of them.
Otter appears to agree.
Asked last week whether he would reconsider his midterm ""D"" grade, Otter smiled.
""I'm getting a little better,"" he said.
Reporter Phil Davidson can be reached at 336-0145.