40 Facts About Butch Otter

Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter was born on May 3,1942 and is an American businessman and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Idaho from 2007 to 2019.

Butch Otter's father was a journeyman electrician, and the family lived in many rural locations in the Midwest and West during his youth, attending fifteen different schools.

Butch Otter graduated from St Teresa's Academy in Boise in 1962.

Butch Otter worked throughout high school as a janitor, theater usher, and lawn boy.

Butch Otter was the only member of his family to graduate from college, and made the dean's list in his last term.

Butch Otter served in the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Armored Cavalry from 1968 to 1973.

Butch Otter started at a low-level position and eventually rose to the company's presidency.

In 1986, Butch Otter returned to Idaho politics and was elected lieutenant governor, and reelected in 1990,1994, and 1998.

Butch Otter served under three different governors, Democrat Cecil Andrus, and Republicans Phil Batt and Dirk Kempthorne.

Midway through his fourth term in 2001, Butch Otter resigned to take his congressional seat in Washington, DC; he is the longest-serving lieutenant governor in Idaho history.

Butch Otter entered the Republican primary, and immediately became the favorite due to his name recognition as lieutenant governor.

Butch Otter won handily, and breezed to victory in November, and was re-elected in 2002 and 2004.

In Congress, Butch Otter was largely conservative with a slight libertarian streak, as reflected in his opposition to the Patriot Act.

Butch Otter was one of three Republicans to vote against the Act in 2001.

Butch Otter since stated that "much of the USA PATRIOT Act is needed to help protect us in a dangerous age of stateless zealots and mindless violence".

Butch Otter was very critical of the Bush Administration's Terrorist Surveillance Program concerning communications to those outside the United States.

Butch Otter served as a deputy majority whip for most of his time in Congress.

Butch Otter is anti-abortion and has voted to ban federal funding of abortions and opposes so-called "partial-birth abortions".

Butch Otter has been a strong advocate for Second Amendment rights and opposes federal restrictions on gun sales.

Butch Otter has supported expanding free-trade agreements with nations such as Singapore and Chile.

Butch Otter has voted for medical malpractice and tort reform.

Butch Otter has voted to allow importation of prescription drugs and has supported small business associations to reduce health insurance costs via collaborative efforts.

Butch Otter brought a delegation to Taiwan that resulted in Idaho's Micron Technology becoming Taiwan's largest direct US investor.

In December 2005, Butch Otter announced his candidacy for the gubernatorial seat in 2006.

Butch Otter was initially considered an overwhelming favorite, given his popularity and Idaho's strong Republican lean.

Butch Otter has recommended an increase in Idaho state educational funding by $1.36 billion as well as expanding needs-based scholarships for college-bound students.

Butch Otter supports expanding offshore oil drilling and supports tax incentives for development of alternative fuels.

On January 11,2007, Butch Otter announced his support for a "gray wolf kill," in which all but 100 of Idaho's recently recovered population would be eradicated, pending the forthcoming US Fish and Wildlife Service removal of the wolves' federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.

Butch Otter even remarked that he would be first in line to purchase a tag to kill one of the animals.

Butch Otter was sworn into his second term on January 7,2011.

In March 2011, Butch Otter signed two bills into law, one limits the ability of teachers to collectively bargain and eliminates tenure for new teachers.

Butch Otter ordered Idaho State Police to investigate to see if criminal charges should be brought.

Butch Otter had received a total of $20,000 in campaign contributions from employees of the company since 2003.

In January 2014, Butch Otter announced that the state would take back the operations of the prison.

In March 2014 Butch Otter established the "Wolf Control Fund and State Board" which continues his policy of exterminating wolves in Idaho.

In November 2014, Butch Otter was elected to a third consecutive term as governor.

In July 2017, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of Republican Attorneys General from nine other states, and including Butch Otter, in threatening the Donald Trump administration that they would litigate if the president did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that had been put into place by president Barack Obama.

Butch Otter said the arresting officer observed him swerving as he was reaching for his cowboy hat, which had been blown off by the wind in his open car.

Butch Otter offered several explanations for failing the field sobriety test including: his stocking feet were stung by weeds and gravel, he had run eight miles and his knee hurt, he was hungry, and that he had soaked his chewing tobacco in Jack Daniel's.

Butch Otter publicly admitted the incident could have ended his political career; it likely forced him to abandon an anticipated run for governor in 1994 and instead seek re-election for lieutenant governor.