Otter the Flip-Flopper

(h/t to The Sniff Test for pointing to this.)

Butch vs. Otter

Proposition One

Butch: “The voters will get the final say. And as for me, I will vote for it.” [1]

Otter: Proposition One will be “doubling up” on school funding. [2] “I’m voting against it and I hope you will too.”[3]

Public Lands

Butch: Co-sponsored H.R. 3855 which would sell 5 million acres of Idaho public land. [4]

Otter: “I have been a strong advocate for greater access to our federal lands throughout my public life.” [5]

Immigration

Butch: “There should be second chances for citizenship, but there must be no shortcuts, program extension for illegal and NO AMNESTY!”[6]

Otter: Twice voted in favor of an amnesty immigrants. [7]

Term Limits

Butch: Voted for limiting term limits to 3 for state legislators.[9]

Otter: Otter said he opposes term limits.[8]

Smaller Government
Butch: Butch believes Congress has an obligation to taxpayers to be wise stewards of their money.[10]

Otter: In Congress, Congressman Otter has voted for $1.1 trillion in new spending.[11]

Medicare Part D

Butch: “I did not want to vote for this bill.”[12]

Otter: He voted for it. It was the biggest expansion of government spending in American History.[13]

Iraq War

Butch: Voted for the Iraq War Resolution.

Otter: Voted against spending the $87 billion to fight the war.[14]

Canned Hunts

Butch: Told the Elk Breeder’s Association that he would support their industry.

Otter: Told the Idaho Sportsmen’s caucus that he would support a ban on canned hunts.[15]

[1] Spokesman-Review, July 6th, 2006
[2] Coeur d’Alene Press, August 9th, 2006
[3] Lewis-Clark State College Gubernatorial Debate, Oct. 12, 2006
[4] Congressional Record, 105th session of Congress
[5] Idaho Statesman, January 6th, 2006
[6] Letter to his constituents entitled “Securing Our Nation”
[7] American for Better Immigration Report Card, click here
[8] Idaho Statesman, May 26, 1999
[9] Joint Resolution 3, as a state representative
[10] Congressman Otter’s Campaign website http://www.otter4idaho.com/issues_fiscalresp.php
[11] National Taxpayer’s Union website http://www.ntu.org/main/misc.php?MiscID=12
[12] AP Newswire, November 22, 2003
[13] Congressional Bill HR 4792
[14] Idaho Falls Post Register, by Corey Taule “Otter Pulls a Flip-Flop” September 23, 2005.
[15] Headwaters: Idaho Falls Press Tribune, by Corey Taule “Brady, Otter: ‘Shooter bull’ operations should be banned” September 22, 2006.