“I firmly believe that the kind of conservative, sustainable policies I’ve outlined today are the best way to protect our traditional values while strengthening the foundation of our future,” Gov. Butch Otter told lawmakers this morning in his State of the State message, which ran a bit over half an hour. “Our path is as straightforward but as challenging as living within our means. It is as simple but as complex as making government better without growing it bigger. It will require us to put aside partisanship and personal ambition in the public interest. And in this even-numbered year it will demand of us – as I’ve said before – a willingness to look beyond the next election to Idaho’s next generation.”

Lawmakers, every one of whose positions – like Otter’s – is on the ballot this year, greeted that with strong applause.

House Speaker Scott Bedke told Otter, “Thank you, governor. We appreciate your remarks, and we think that collectively it’s a good general blueprint for our going forward.” As Otter left the speaker’s podium, Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, greeted him, saying, “Great job – especially that wolf part.”