Otter deems final legislative session a success

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says he’s focused on celebrating the successes of his last legislative session during three terms in office rather than complain about what lawmakers didn’t achieve over the past three months.

Otter said Thursday that some of the highlighted accomplishments of the session included passage of a $225 million tax cut, investments in education spending and expanding criminal penalties for threats against schools.

However, the session was also marked by the failure for the sixth year in a row between lawmakers and Otter on finding a way to provide health care coverage to the state’s poorest working individuals.

Otter said he was disappointed that his proposal – which was estimated to help roughly 35,000 Idahoans – stalled in the House but said the discussions will help make progress at another time.