Gov. Butch Otter has asked state agencies to begin planning for possible cuts in their federal funds of 20 percent. Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey reports that in a speech last week at the IACI annual conference in Sun Valley, Otter said, “I’ve asked them to factor in a 20 percent cut in their federal funds and then come back to me with an action plan on what we’re gonna have to do.” Popkey reports that no cuts have been ordered as yet; Otter is preparing for possible federal cuts, and the 20 percent figure was suggested by Lt. Gov. Brad Little as a worst-case scenario; he expects something closer to 10 percent. You can read Popkey's full report here.

It includes this comment from Little: “If you did 20 percent, you’d have so much stress on the economy that it would slow the economy and make the numbers even worse. We don’t want to have a gun pointed at our heads like some other states where you turn a bunch of prisoners out, go to four-day-a-week schools and close all the parks. We can do this if we’re smart about it.”