Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter said he hopes to “under promise and over deliver” on his pledge to grow Idaho’s annual gross domestic product from $51 billion to $60 billion by the time he leaves office during his “state of the state address to the business community” at The Grove Hotel in Boise today.
“Think of it as a business plan for Idaho,” said Otter, whose 30-year career included a rise to president of Simplot International, at the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event.
Otter’s plan, known as “Project 60,” includes completing public infrastructure projects, such as the construction of roads and bridges; recruiting more computer scientists and engineers to the state; developing a regional technology transfer protocol; and growing international exports, foreign direct investment and investment capital for start-up companies.
How Otter plans to do all that, he didn’t really say.
He did mention that he would be organizing another foreign trade mission to Southeast Asia this fall – his fourth as governor – and suggested the state would make a greater effort to attract more international tourists, who tend to stay longer and spend more money.
Otter also talked about recruiting new business by building on the state’s recreational technology industry and its growing firearms industry. He also specifically mentioned luring Canadian companies south of the border.
10 Comments
"How Otter plans to do all that, he didn’t really say."
What ANY politician plans to do for ANYTHING they promise is nothing more than lip service.
Comment By Justin Beller Thursday, August 28, 2008 @ 6:29 PM
Otter is a joke. He's the George W. Bush of Idaho. All cowboy strut and not content. He won't deliver a damn thing. Never has, never will.
Comment By Gary Johnson Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 3:03 AM
I think you mean all hat and no cattle.
Comment By JT Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 10:53 AM
I've been a passive participant in this discussion forum for nearly a year, but today I have to say something because I am upset enough to voice my opinion.
I am sick and tired of this Governor. He has done absolutely nothing since coming to office. I've heard him speak several times and his vagueness is so unpalatable that I have decided to not go to any more of his speeches.
He is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I'm officially done with supporting the Republican party. They haven't represented me or my community for the past 10+ years. They are only concerned about the rural areas of Idaho and have no sense of duty to the urban areas. Otter is one of these people.
It sickens me to think about the economic future of Idaho. When will these politicians realize that farming hasn't and won't pay the bills of our state anymore. I fear that my grandchildren's education will be sub-par when they go to school because we will not have a healthy economy to pay the bills.
Can we please elect someone who has a focus on economic development that doesn't believe agriculture will grow with the growing demands of Idaho? Please?!
Comment By Jen Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 11:15 AM
Rancher Butch doesn't get it. He doesn't understand that being Governor means governing and leading the economy and our legislature with plans and initiatives that improve out economy. Geez...let's do another trip for he and the missus to a foreign country. That means nothing. Drop the boots. Roll up the sleeves. And, make things happen. Look at Utah or ORegon...their economies are the envy of the Western US. Ours is stuck in a 1980s timewarp, just like Butch. (it's embarassing.)
Comment By Bill S. Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 1:35 PM
Butch: nice work so far. Drops the Science and Tech Commission. Visits Cuba and Mexico for spicy meals and back-slapping. Cuts funding for technology in the budget. Doesn't introduce and pass a single bill on economic development or job creation. Leads the nation in golf tournaments and county fair appearances What a record! You should be proud!
Comment By TimIdaho Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 1:38 PM
Who needs a tech industry? We have potatoes and band-aids.
Comment By David Barlow Friday, August 29, 2008 @ 10:10 PM
You know what scares me the most? It is well known that Otter is going to run for Governor again. Why can't he just go away?
Comment By Scared Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 2:36 AM
I so love it when a governor asserts he's going to do something like raise GSP, when it fact he has no control over it at all.
I say let's hold him to it. If he doesn't get 'er done in one term, he's outta here!
Comment By Sally Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 1:52 PM
So the public sector is going to finally do some economic development and attempt to increase our State's GDP by 17.6%? Excellent! What is the plan?
Are the farmers going to plant more crops and the ranchers raise more cattle? They only represent 8% of Idaho's GDP. That industry hasn't grown materially in years. Do our cowboy Governor and our small town legislators know how to invest in anything in the business sector that isn't focused upon agriculture?
Sorry Gov. You are too late to the dance. Not only were you, Kempthorne and legislative leaders incapable of identifying and comprehending the problem local leaders told you several years ago, you also lack the mentality to change at the pace required to make a material difference.
The only way Idaho is going to hit those numbers is for you, Mike Moyle, Bart Davis and Bob Geddes to resign. We need new leadership in the public sector that understands concepts like – ROI, Economic Development, Growth Industry, High Wage Jobs, Urban Investment, Global Economy, Knowledge Workers, Innovative Industry, Competitive Advantage, and Branding. Also, we need someone who simply understands who’s paying the taxes. Pssst, it ain't the farmers.
Your attempt to grow this State’s economy based upon hope and wishful thinking just isn’t going to come to fruition. The insiders know that you will not give Don Dietrich enough support for him to implement the aggressive changes he needs to implement, and the rural leaders in the legislature won’t fund his initiatives that don’t directly invest into their local agriculture-based constituents.
You simply don’t understand the new economy or the challenges it poses to our Idaho-based companies. Your methods and beliefs will only drive our State back to its past. And, we know you want Idaho to stay the way it once was – small populations, open spaces, rural and where agriculture meant something to the economy. You loved it like that. Those were good times, weren’t they? Sorry Bud. Those times are gone. Please don’t insult us by pretending you have a plan or care about having a prosperous economy.
Governor, you represent Idaho’s past. The best thing you can do for Idaho is to get out of the way.
Comment By Hope Is Not a Stategy Monday, September 1, 2008 @ 2:19 AM
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