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--></style><title>Idaho Statesman: Otter and Wilderness
bill</title></head><body>
<div><font color="#000000">Agree or disagree with the actual bill,
Otter owes us an explanation of his opposition: especially if he wants
to be our governor.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Mark</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">*********</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Idaho Statesman<br>
Article published Jul 27, 2006<br>
<br>
Our View: Shame on Otter for missing crucial vote<br>
<br>
Is C.L. "Butch" Otter running for governor, or running from
controversy?<br>
<br>
The 1st District congressman was a no-show Monday on the most
important Idaho public lands vote to hit the House floor in his six
years on Capitol Hill. He missed the vote on 2nd District colleague
Mike Simpson's bill to protect 312,000 acres of wilderness in Central
Idaho's Boulder-White Clouds mountains - which passed, no thanks to
Otter.<br>
<br>
Two days later, Otter finally took a stand, but only after the
Statesman asked. He said he would have opposed Idaho's first
wilderness bill in 26 years - but refused to say why.<br>
For a guy who markets himself, rather successfully, as a
plain-talking, straight-shooting cowboy congressman, that's weak.
Voters deserve some clear like-'em-or-not-answers from the Republican
nominee for governor.<br>
<br>
Instead, voters will have to settle for a saga of logistics - and a
cryptic statement - from Mark Warbis, Otter's spokesman. First, the
logistics.<br>
Otter spends most weekends in Idaho and flies back Monday mornings.
His itinerary usually puts him back in Washington, D.C., by 4:30 p.m.,
and allows him to get to the Capitol in time for any recorded votes,
which aren't scheduled before 6 p.m.<br>
<br>
The Boulder-White Clouds bill - while a milestone for Idaho, and
vitally important to communities such as Stanley, Challis and Ketchum
- didn't merit a recorded vote. Some lawmakers criticized the bill,
but no one demanded a recorded vote, somewhat to Otter's surprise. So
on Monday afternoon, the bill passed on a voice vote, while Otter was
on a plane.<br>
<br>
Otter could have tried harder to be there. He'd booked his Monday
flight about a week ago, before Simpson's bill was on the agenda,
Warbis said. While Simpson's bill moved quickly - House leadership
suspended its normal rules to pass the bill and move it to the Senate
- leadership put out word Friday that Simpson's bill was on Monday's
agenda. Changing flight plans to vote on an important Idaho issue was
hardly out of the question.<br>
So anyway, how would Otter have voted? "I don't know if I have
heard a definitive answer on that," Warbis said Wednesday
morning.<br>
<br>
Five hours later, Warbis issued a less-than-definitive statement from
his boss. "Had we followed the normal process with a recorded
vote, I would have opposed the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill,"
Otter said. "While I admire and respect Congressman Simpson's
effort, and it generally reflects great progress over previous
wilderness legislation, there are elements of the compromise to which
I cannot agree."<br>
Which elements? New wilderness, off-limits to off-roaders, nearly half
the size of Ada County? A motorized vehicle trail between the Boulders
and the White Clouds? Federal lands that Custer County and Stanley can
sell to bolster a slender tax base?<br>
<br>
Otter won't say. His chief of staff, Jeff Malmen, listed several of
Otter's general concerns last week, including release language for
lands that aren't included as wilderness, water rights, and the fate
of traditional uses in the area.<br>
<br>
On Wednesday, Warbis said Otter has discussed his concerns with
Simpson and Sen. Larry Craig, but doesn't want to get into a public
debate about a bill that remains a work in progress. But because this
is a work in progress, it's precisely the time for an open, public
discussion.<br>
Among many tasks, the governor sits on the state Land Board. Otter's
Boulder-White Clouds position is an important harbinger of the
approach he would take to public lands issues.<br>
<br>
Otter is on the wrong side of a solid bill that protects wilderness,
helps local governments meet the demands that follow wilderness use
and balances competing interests in the Sawtooth Mountains. It's bad
enough he didn't fit this vote into his schedule. But his evasive
non-answer - to all Idahoans - is offensive.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">This week, the man who could be Idaho's
next governor has been a no-show, no-tell congressman.</font></div>
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