Busy, busy, busy…..life feels like a tornado these days. I don’t even have time to stop and think about how busy I am. I just get up and go. So much has happened that I’m going to give you just a few brief updates.
First, I want to share some good news for the taxpayer though not such good luck for Health and Welfare.
Here’s a little background: During my first legislative session as a freshman Senator, a lobbyist came to visit me. I always made it clear that I wasn’t elected just to vote right, cut the budget, and stop government growth. I was also elected to expose corruption wherever it’s found. I would point to a canvas on my wall and specifically to number nine “Expose corruption.”
The morning after one of these conversations, the lobbyist returned and asked, “Are you sure you want to expose corruption?”
I responded, “Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
He went on to tell me it was within Health and Welfare. I assured him, “I wasn’t sent here to be afraid.”
He and a coworker had discovered $10 million in misappropriated funds. I told him I wanted to verify this with legislators who were aware of the situation. After verifying the information, I reached out to the Idaho Freedom Foundation to help me write an article that would bring this to the attention of Attorney General Raúl Labrador. Read More HERE.
Following that, we met with AG Labrador, presented the evidence, and he took it from there. And through his diligence he never gave up he secured a victory in court and now has full authority to investigate what has grown to $72 million in taxpayer misuse. Read the AG’s response HERE.
So busy I was behind on my pay raise donations. May donation went to the Wendell Senior Center. It was fun to have lunch and catch up with good friends.
I’m pictured here with Charles Morrison and Director Jan Gooding. I love my small towns. (Junes contribution will be in next Substack and then I will be caught up.)
“In every political movement, there comes a moment when loyalty is tested. Not by enemies, but by friends. That moment often reveals whether the movement is built on principle or on personality, on truth or on tribal instinct. We are living in that moment now. And the greatest threat to our cause is not the hostility of the opposition, but the fear within our own ranks.”
As I was reading this Substack by Jeff Pierson, even though he shares this opinion on the federal level, I couldn’t help but identify with it on a state level. Read more HERE.
Message from the Gang of 8:
“When the eight of us took the budget pledge last session, we made a clear commitment: we would not vote for any budget that added full-time positions, accepted more federal dollars, or grew by more than 1.2 percent. We weren’t looking for applause. And we weren’t grandstanding. We were drawing a line based on principle and long-term responsibility.” Read Full Substack HERE
Mark your calendar!!
Watch Movie Trailer HERE.
Bring Lawn Chairs!!
Quote of the week: It's not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it frees you.“ Tyler Perry
Bible Verse of the week: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him," James 1:12
Song of the week:
Sen. Zuiderveld,
Thank you for staying vigilant!
As a spending watchdog, you may appreciate this Centers for Medicare Services press release:
Jul 17, 2025 -- CMS Finds 2.8 Million Americans Potentially Enrolled in Two or More Medicaid/ACA Exchange Plans: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finds-28-million-americans-potentially-enrolled-two-or-more-medicaid/aca-exchange-plans
Perhaps something like this is happening at the State level too!
Thank you Glenneda, keep up the good work!