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Press Conference Audio

Audio for October 30, 2009

Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter on Friday, Oct. 30th officially opened a third lane on I-84 between Nampa and Meridian, a heavily used route traveled by 74,000 vehicles per day. The project increases safety, reduces congestion and creating career-path jobs to stimulate Idaho’s economy.

Governor Otter talks about how this highway expansion is vital to commerce.
Audio Clip #1
“If it’s a french fry, it’s got to be moved down the highway. If it’s a computer chip, it’s got to be moved down the highway, at least to the airport, to get to its final destination – its economic destination.”

Governor Otter talks about how Idaho needs a strong transportation system to carry the weight of growth.
Audio Clip #2
“I believe any additional growth is going to require additional attention to our transportation infrastructure.”

Governor Otter explains that economic prosperity comes from these transportation investments.
Audio Clip #3
“Obviously everything that we build and produce in a $51-and-a-half million economy has to move on that highway. It’s got to be good for the state and it’s got to be good for the economy.”

Governor Otter talks about the benefit of using GARVEE financing in this corridor.
Audio Clip #4
“We’re making extraordinary moves in terms of GARVEE, which we’ve never done before in Idaho. I think it’s an important tool to have in our toolbox, and one that we are using, I think, to the benefit of all Idahoans.”

 

Audio for October 22, 2009

Here are some selected audio clips of the First Lady, Lori Otter, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Curtin, who performed an outpatient shoulder surgery on Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter this morning at Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise.

Dr. Curtin explains that the surgery on Governor Otter took place without complications and was successful.
Audio Clip #1
“Surgery went exceptionally well and in contrast to the injury he had earlier this year, and the surgery he had earlier this year on his right shoulder, which was also a rotator cuff tendon tear, this tear was much smaller and much more readily repairable. I anticipate his recovery will be likewise easier on him and should be more expedited.”

Dr. Curtin says the Governor had a tendon tear in his shoulder that was about two centimeters long and a partial injury to his bicep tendon and needed to have surgery to correct it.
Audio Clip #2
“Medically necessary number one from a pain stand point. He may not be showing it out in public but the last month he has really been struggling with a great deal of pain in that shoulder, and this repair will help that pain considerably.”

First Lady Lori Otter was with the Governor immediately following the surgery and says he was released shortly afterwards.
Audio Clip #3
“I am feeling really optimistic that he is going to have a full recovery from the injury and will be able to go forward and as Dr. Curtin said do the things that he wants to do and be active as you know, he is a pretty active guy, so this won’t keep him down for very long.”

The Governor will be working from home for a few days while he recovers from the surgery.

 

Audio for October 21, 2009

Here are some selected comments from Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, regarding shoulder surgery he is undergoing on October 22nd.

Governor Otter explains the context of his injury that occurred while he was clearing brush on his ranch near Star, Idaho.
Audio Clip #1
“Well fortunately it is not as serious as the one I had in February on my right shoulder but I was working out at the ranch, fell over backwards and jammed my left t shoulder and tore the rotator cuff, the tendon that attaches the bicep muscle to the shoulder and one of the tendons that’s in the shoulder. But it is significantly less than what I had to go through in February of this year.”

The Governor say that an MRI revealed the injury required surgery to correct.
Audio Clip #2
“I did it about, oh I would say, a month or five weeks ago. We have tried therapy to correct it. It just hasn’t responded the way the doctor wanted it to and so he felt an operation as soon as possible was necessary.”