Gov. Butch Otter told more than 400 local officials, legislators, lobbyists and others gathered for the 67^th Associated Taxpayers of Idaho conference today that the headline for his agenda for the upcoming legislative session should be “More of the Same.” “I would rather be a little short on the front end, and perhaps under-promise and over-deliver,” Otter said. “And that’s what I think we’ve done in the last seven years with the help of the Legislature, and that’s what I’m planning on doing with the rest of my time on office.”

Otter said the state budget that’s set for the coming year likely will represent an increase of between 3 and 3.5 percent. “I would tell you, in my meetings with the JFAC chairs and leadership, we’re going to focus on replenishing some of those institutions that the Constitution tells us is our responsibility – we’ll focus on those first,” he said. “Then, next, other proper roles of government that we can agree need to be replenished. And finally, well maybe not finally, replenish our savings.”

Said the governor, “I don’t know what we would’ve done in 2008 if we hadn’t had $400 million in savings. … I can tell you there’s nothing tougher to do or more dysfunctional in government than a holdback.”