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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 third-consecutive term as governor on Nov. 4, 2014. He was elected to his second term as Idaho governor on Nov. 2, 2010. Otter first became Idaho's governor on Nov. 7, 2006.Gov. Otter was at the helm during the peak of the Great Recession and it was his administration that oversaw the cutting of the state budget, record unemployment, and a boom in the number of people using government assistance.Otter spoke with StateImpact Idaho back in 2012 about that recession and its lasting impact on Idaho's workforce.Governor Otter: Every Generation Deals with Joblessness and We Live Through ItA Brief BiographyOtter, 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 TimesOtter 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 116th Armored Calvary until 1973.Butch Otter is married to his second wife, Lori. He has four children and several grandchildren.

Occupy Boise One Step Closer to Eviction

BOISE, Id – The Idaho Senate voted today to evict Occupy Boise from the Capital Mall.  That means the protest group is one step closer to being evicted from their campsite.

The bill would outlaw camping on state-owned property unless otherwise designated.  Occupy Boise members have been sleeping in tents next door to the Idaho Statehouse since November.  Speaking for the bill, Republican Senator Steve Vick said free speech is a constitutionally protected right, but camping is not.

Steve Vick “In my view, the Capitol Mall is kind of like our front yard for the state of Idaho.  And you don’t let people stay forever in your front yard.  I think what this bill is not about is who is camping, but whether this is an appropriate place for camping.”

Democrat Nicole LeFavour countered Vick, saying the bill attempts to silence people and remove them from sight.

Nicole LeFavour “The grounds we’re speaking of are actually not our front yard, they are the front yard of the people of Idaho and I think it’s important to look through history that people have encamped on state grounds, including on our Capitol steps at times to seek redress to all of us on very different issues.”

All Senate Democrats voted against the bill, along with two Republicans.  It has already passed in the House, but Senators amended the bill slightly. That means it will return to the House for another vote.

Copyright 2012 BSPR

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