Allred for Idaho: A Governor for All

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The high cost of Butch Otter

October 29, 2010

In tonight's televised debate, Keith Allred reminded viewers that if they're looking for a fiscal conservative, they should look past Otter's party label.

"Butch Otter has a problem. I'm the candidate who has a plan to cut taxes for everyday Idahoans," Allred said. "He's the one who tried to raise taxes."

Is it any wonder that the national Republican Governors Association and the Idaho Prosperity Fund have spent nearly half a million dollars trying to distort the facts about Keith Allred? According to campaign finance reports filed with the Idaho Secretary of State's Office, the Republican Governors Association gave the Idaho Republican Party some $400,000 in October. The Idaho Prosperity Fund recently filed reports indicating it spent nearly $50,000 against Allred in October, on top of more than $100,000 spent over the course of the campaign.

The ugly mailings that have tried to distort Keith Allred's plan to lower Idaho taxes are missing the mark. If conservatives were looking for the true big-tax politician, they ought to look at Butch Otter. Only one candidate in the race has a plan to lower taxes and protect schools: Keith Allred.

Add to that the problems Otter created in Lewiston:

This morning, the Lewiston Tribune reported that Idaho farmers lost $10 million in disaster payments last year because Otter failed to submit the required paperwork to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Otter's response in tonight's debate? "We lost the paperwork. Mea culpa."

Last week, when the Idaho Statesman endorsed Keith Allred, it called Otter's time in office "slapdash, undisciplined and unproductive."

They should have added "expensive."

Idaho farmers deserve better.  We all do.  But we're unlikely to get it with Butch Otter as governor.

"A governor's first responsibility is to pay attention to everyday Idahoans," Keith Allred said.  "As I've told Idahoans around this great state: As governor, I'll work for you."

Keith Allred is a fifth-generation Idahoan who grew up working on his family's ranches. He has been the leader of The Common Interest, a citizens' advocate group that helped lower property taxes and fight proposals to raise car and pickup registration fees.

Keith Allred Democrat Otter education governor Republicans Idaho