Jared S. Hopkins
Times-News writer

One year ago, C.L. "Butch" Otter rode into the governor's office with all the delicacy of a just-paid range rider on Saturday night.

He shut down renovation on the Capitol. He boasted that he would personally kill wolves. He vetoed bills.

He also annoyed many in the Idaho Legislature.

As Otter continues to settle in as Idaho's chief executive, his relationship with lawmakers remains a curious one.

They say he's a breath of fresh air after staid Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, but his first session with the Republican-dominated Legislature swung back and forth between gains and losses.

Legislators say they hope for a smoother relationship in 2008, but also say they are unsure what to expect when Otter delivers his second State of the State speech Jan. 7.

"The governor's just a good, likeable gregarious guy. That's his personality," said Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. "But we don't vote on (bills) whether they're likeable. We vote on whether they're a good idea or what effect they'll have on our constituents."

Otter is less of a polished politician than was Kemp-thorne. He tends to take harder stances, which increases potential for conflict, said Jim Weatherby, a retired Boise State University professor of public policy.

"It was a mixed record and a rockier relationship with the Legislature than a lot of people anticipated," Weatherby said. "He points out, as we've seen before, that a Republican governor can have problems with a Republican Legislature. They're not all part of one big happy family."

Shooting from the hip

The discord began even before he took office when during his 2006 campaign he clashed with legislators ��" some from his own party ��" by criticizing long-set plans to renovate the Capitol. Later, he issued an executive order to limit the scope and the price of the project.

The quarrels continued through the 2007 session: Lawmakers rejected his proposals for means-tested grocery-tax relief, a tent-style prison and a state detoxification center. His vision for shifting duties from the departments of Human Resources and Administration to other agencies went nowhere. The Legislature overrode his veto of a ban on smoking in bowling alleys.

The relationship may be no less contentious in the next session. Many legislators say the wounds haven't healed, and some label his latest proposals nothing more than "trial balloons."

"He does these things and I don't think he does think about them, the consequences," said Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, who criticized Otter for his intervention on the Statehouse project. "They're just not thought through. That's what I saw all last year."

In October Otter announced a handful of projects aimed at addressing water issues in south-central Idaho. But Otter hadn't consulted a single lawmaker before going public, leading many to dismiss his approach as uncooperative.

Lawmakers and political observers said the incident reflects Otter's unpredictable and shows that his problems with the Legislature will likely continue.

"One (surprise) was he seems to have a tendency just to make some announcements without apparently having discussed some of these issues with the legislators themselves beforehand," said Gary Moncrief, a Boise State University political science professor and author of a dozen books about legislatures.

The governor has also become known for favoring closed meetings. He has convened conferences to study solutions to problems in health care and water policy, the latter of which was closed to politicians. Similar restrictions were in place for meetings on changing laws on liquor licensing and non-motorized boats.

And while Otter likes to throw out ideas to see how people react, he doesn't deal much with the media. In the 2007 session, Otter didn't call an official press conference until the last day.

The road to Boise

Miscommunication ��" and conflict with his party ��" might come as a surprise, given Otter's career in politics. He served in the state House from 1973 to 1976. And he was elected lieutenant governor from 1986 through 2000, when he began three terms in Congress.

But such a history might have setbacks, observers said. It's been more than 30 years since Otter dealt regularly with the state House. And two of his terms as lieutenant governor were under Gov. Cecil Andrus, a Democrat. Lieutenant governors in Idaho generally preside over the Senate and occasionally fill in as governor, but have few other duties.

"The reality is most of his experience is actually at the lieutenant governor's level, which is pretty much a non-office in Idaho, frankly," Moncrief said. "The lieutenant governor's role is a fairly circumstantial role, particularly with a Democratic governor."

Though Otter has been active in pushing his ideas, some are being dismissed as nonsensical. Lawmakers aren't biting at the idea of freezing property taxes at existing levels, which would require a change to the Idaho Constitution that would require not only their signoff but also approval of Idaho voters.

"I've heard no discussion about it anywhere except through the media," said Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, the state's longest serving senator. Another Republican called it a "joke."

And there are signs he's drifted from his libertarian principles. Otter now supports an increase in vehicle registration fees, which have been frozen for a decade. He expanded government, adding offices on energy and drug policy, and the division of labor and commerce departments.

But the most noted example of his reputed change in philosophy may be his proposed means-tested plan to grocery-tax relief for low-income Idahoans.

"He's not afraid to occasionally to propose some kind of tax component and that's obviously not something you tend to find in a libertarian," said Moncrief.

Cowboying up

The Legislature did approve a handful of his ideas: funding for emergency first-responders; scholarships; funding to battle noxious weeds; creating the Office of Drug Policy; and, perhaps most ambitiously, a division of the Department of Commerce and Labor.

Lawmakers and political observers agree that Otter's first year was a honeymoon with all the necessary adjustments in style and communication needed at the start of any marriage. And because population growth has forces the Legislature to deal with complex issues involving transportation, water and energy, arguments are inevitable, normal and healthy.

"Every governor is going to have a shakedown period with a state legislature," said Marc Johnson, who was Andrus' chief-of-staff. "That same criticism was leveled at my old boss: 'He didn't consult enough with the Legislature.' The fact of the matter is that's how our system works. We have a separation of branches, one that proposes and a Legislature that disposes, if you will."

Otter says he is pleased but not satisfied with his first year in office because there is a lot of work left to do, spokesman Mark Warbis said.

"With every new administration and new legislature, there's a process of getting to know one another," he said. "That continued through the 2007 session and the past year. We look forward to building on that progress as we move forward."

Meanwhile, it's not like Otter lacks support in the Legislature. Many lawmakers speak highly of his support of agriculture, fiscal responsibility and desire to limit government. One of the biggest positives, they say, is his accessibility in comparison with Kempthorne, who typically addressed legislators through his staff.

Rep. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, said aside from the libertarian streak in Otter, they shares philosophies. But he said he's taking a "wait-and-see" approach on Otter's budget. He said last year's proposal was more reflective of interim Gov. Jim Risch's approach, and was just "tweaked" by Otter.

"I think we saw glimpses of Butch and pretty good displays but it was not his budget," he said. "It was one put together before was elected. This will be his first full budget."

Jared S. Hopkins can be reached 735-3204 or jhopkins@magicvaley.com