Idaho Governor Says No to Vetting GOP Candidates

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, former Gov. Phil Batt and other Republican officials are rejecting a proposal to have GOP party officials vet candidates for primary races, saying it's an exclusionary plan that ignores the will of voters.

The plan is slated for consideration Friday and Saturday at the Republican Party Central Committee's meeting in McCall. Otter and Batt, interviewed Thursday with Secretary of State Ben Ysursa and House Speaker Scott Bedke, all say the proposal to require GOP candidates get their leaders blessing is a bad idea.

Otter said the proposal is from those aiming to shift the party away from the inclusive group championed by Ronald Reagan toward a narrower one focused on strict ideology. The proposal comes from former Idaho Senate Majority Leader Rod Beck, a GOP official.