Gov. Butch Otter, speaking to reporters at the Associated Press Legislative Preview today, suggested he'll take a tight-fisted approach to the coming year's state budget when he unveils his plans to lawmakers on Monday. "What Idaho has done over the last couple of years has really become very fashionable, and that is cutting budgets," Otter declared. "I think we can expect that to continue."

However, he did not flatly rule out some form of tax increase to cope with anticipated shortfalls next year. "The Legislature, of course, in the Rev and Tax committees are free to look at anything that they want to look at, but it's going to have to be based upon some pretty strong merit," Otter said.