Idaho Gov. Butch Otter defended his cuts to education and his track record as governor Thursday night, as he met four rivals in the final debate before Tuesday's election. "The choice had to be made, because there’s only two ways that you can balance the…
Among the comments in the candidates' closing statements: Ted Dunlap said, "I stand for smaller government in every aspect." Jana Kemp said, "Are you really willing to trust a person who's running as a Democrat and says he's not one? ... If neither of these…
When Gov. Butch Otter said some of the other candidates want to raise taxes, Keith Allred said Otter knows he doesn't want to raise taxes. Otter responded, "This is Obama-speak," and said Democrats want to say they're for cutting taxes but really want to raise…
The candidates for governor have been clashing over water quality monitoring, and now about wolves. "Enough is enough," Otter declared, defending his decision to end state wolf management. Allred said Otter has been talking for 30 years about pushing back the federal government, but, "What…
Gov. Otter was asked how he squares his promise to make Idaho's government more efficient and customer-focused with the closing of local Health & Welfare offices, the fumbling of paperwork that cost Idaho farmers millions in disaster aid, and other flubs. Otter responded that when…
Asked what evidence there is that the "doom and gloom forecasts" used to set the state budget were fiscally irresponsible, Keith Allred said, "The last three months of revenue. ... We are $14 million ahead of the projections that were made in August." Jana Kemp…
Asked about the economy, Gov. Butch Otter noted that a recent USA Today story said Idaho is one of the states leading the nation's crawl out of the recession, along with energy states, and touted his "Project 60" to increase the state's gross domestic product.…
Asked whether they'd again dip into the state endowment's earnings reserve fund to avoid cuts to schools next year, the candidates for governor had varying answers. Otter said it "depends upon the shortfall," and it's "going to be hard" to tap that fund again. Kemp…
The candidates for governor are debating about possible budget shortfalls. "Butch Otter based a budget ... on doom and gloom rather than evidence," said Democrat Keith Allred. Independent Jana Kemp said she opposed the 2006 special-session decision to cut property taxes, raise the sales tax,…
The five candidates are each giving their brief opening statements on why they're running, with just 30 seconds for each. Among their comments:Pro-Life: "If you murder babies, that's pretty darn serious. ... This is serious business, this government, and that's why I run.Ted Dunlap: "70…
Here are the five candidates debating tonight: From left, Libertarian Ted Dunlap, Democrat Keith Allred, independent Jana Kemp, Republican incumbent Butch Otter, and independent "Pro-Life"
Here's the moderator and reporter panel preparing for the debate - moderator Thanh Tan of Idaho Public Television, and reporters Jessie Bonner of the Associated Press, Scott Logan of KBOI-TV, and Bill Spence of the Lewiston Tribune.
The Capitol Auditorium has been filling up early for tonight's big debate in the governor's race, in which all five candidates - Butch Otter, Keith Allred, Jana Kemp, Ted Dunlap, and Pro-Life - will face off. Earlier, Allred supporters held a raucous rally in Capitol…
With the latest independent poll showing Idaho's 1st District congressional race narrowing to a dead heat, Congressman Walt Minnick and GOP rival Raul Labrador clashed in a debate today on everything from wilderness to mega-loads on Highway 12; you can read my full story here…
Former U.S. Attorney for Idaho Tom Moss has come out with a statement backing Raul Labrador's handling of a 2001 federal drug case, and calling Walt Minnick's new campaign ad "unfair." Moss, a Republican, served as U.S. Attorney from August 2001 to June of 2010.…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Congressman Walt Minnick's new campaign ad criticizing GOP rival Raul Labrador for his handling of a 2001 federal drug case involving an illegal immigrant. Labrador's campaign has called the ad "despicable" and "desperate;" Minnick is…
GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador was joined by retired INS special agent Kent Nygaard at a press conference just now to criticize incumbent Walt Minnick's latest ad, which involves a case on which Nygaard was the INS agent and Labrador was the defense attorney. Nygaard…
In his closing comments at the Boise City Club debate, GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador said, "On the issues where I've been called 'fringe' by some, I'm actually with the people of Idaho." He asked the audience, "Are you better off today than you were…
The two leading candidates for Idaho's 1st District congressional seat were asked about the "mega-load" shipments proposed for Idaho's U.S. Highway 12. Labrador said, "I don't think that there is anything wrong with what the state is doing. ... What I see in this case…
1st District rivals Walt Minnick and Raul Labrador have sparred over immigration, cutting the deficit, and effectiveness in Congress so far in their Boise City Club debate. They mostly agreed on the war in Afghanistan, though Labrador took that opportunity to say he's publicly praised…
Walt Minnick was listing off reasons why he contends rival Raul Labrador is "so far out of the mainstream," from his positions on withdrawing from the United Nations to his support for repealing popular election of U.S. senators, and concluded, "He would deny his own…
Rep. Walt Minnick's new ad about a drug case that rival Raul Labrador handled in 2001 has led to a heated clash between the two at the Boise City Cloub debate. "This is the biggest example of the lies that Mr. Minnick has said about…
The first question in today's 1st CD debate, from the audience, was about both sides' "appalling" negative ads. Minnick answered, "There is not a single fact in my advertisements that is not well-documented." Labrador said, "I think Mr. Minnick's campaign is going to go down…
In their opening comments, Walt Minnick and Raul Labrador both agreed on one thing - that the country is in trouble. "The solutions to these problems are complex, they take time, they take hard decisions and don't lend themselves to politically expedient soundbites," Minnick said.…
Today is a big debate day in Idaho political races, with 1st Congressional District rivals Walt Minnick and Raul Labrador facing off at noon at the Boise City Club, and all five candidates for governor - Butch Otter, Keith Allred, Jana Kemp, Ted Dunlap and…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
