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And so it begins....

As I noted in a previous post, the Idaho Legislature convened yesterday and heard Governor Butch Otter give a bleak State of the State address that outlined painful budget realities. There will be targeted and significant cuts to the state budget which will be as difficult politically as they will financially. At the same time, the Governor outlined an aggressive and thoughtful approach to raising certain taxes and fees to address Idaho's crumbling roads. You could have predicted the rhetoric that is spewing forth from legislators searching for any reason to oppose the Governor. And so it begins....

On another note, at a legislative dinner last night for new Senators hosted by a small group of lobbying friends, as introductions were made around the table, many of the lobbyists good-naturedly insulted me given my age which, though relatively young in the scheme of life (though I am 4 months older than the President-Elect), having lobbied since the mid-80's and being in my 40's, many of these guys were in grade school or high school when I started. And they let me know it. For the record, I do NOT have false teeth....
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