Crushing Snakes!

Week 5

Victory for the People!

I have been thinking of this quote a lot this session “GOD WILL NOT HOLD US GUILTLESS. NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK. NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

This past week was filled with chaos, confusion, and a lack of transparency. "But God" granted the people of Idaho a victory. The original budget reform bills are moving forward after much debate behind closed doors. As I have previously shared on my Substack, this new process of separating the base budget from last year and all new growth requests for 2025 was decided this past summer and shared with all legislators via email in October. Read last week's email HERE.

Both the Senate and House Chambers held numerous Majority Caucus meetings. The battle behind closed doors led to the victory you are all witnessing with our budget. The appropriations on the Senate side passed with all Republicans voting in favor. However, I must be honest and transparent; this was not the will of many, especially those on the JFAC committee and members of the IACI 100 percent club that collaborated with the Democrats to hijack the committee and create a new omnibus bill, consolidating everything into one bill as they did last year. This is how our budget has increased by 50 percent over the last four years. If there was any item we deemed unfavorable for Idaho, we had to vote against the bill in hopes of sending it back to the committee for refinement. A "NO" vote does not defund anything; it simply sends it back for further review and adjustments. Without a lot of behind-the-scenes pressure from the Idaho Freedom Caucus and the more conservative members of the Republican caucus, the outcome would have been completely different. I would also like to suggest that you send appreciation to Senator Grow and Representative Horman for holding their ground in representing you.

What’s Next?

In the Senate Chambers we are beginning to see many bills show up and voting on Gubernatorial Appointees. I was able to get a Routing Slip printed and waiting for the bill to be heard in committee. The bill simply makes it so young adults who aren’t on a traditional public school schedule be able to work hours and times that are currently prohibited according to public school traditions.  This includes home schoolers, private schoolers, and alternative schoolers (doing a lot of work online).  Why must they be constrained by public school hours?

To read bill text HERE

Rep. Dale Hawkins and I are hopeful to have a House Joint Memorial on Immigration heard in House State Affairs. It will be competing with Senator Guthrie's Senate Joint Memorial that was voted on last year, from which he removed the Amnesty paragraph. Being the Chairman of Senate State Affairs does have its perks; he did not hold up his own Joint Memorial. However, we are at the mercy of the House State Affairs to get ours on the calendar. Hopefully, it will see the light of day. Just a side note: Senator Guthrie didn’t introduce his until after we asked the House Chairman to hear ours. Could there have been collusion? I would like to hope not, but I am learning a thing or two in the war games of Idaho politics. You can find a picture of our draft below. Click HERE to read Senator Guthrie's revised Memorial. Let me know which one you like best. In my opinion, Rep. Hawkins's and my draft have more teeth, showing how serious we are about protecting Idaho from the invasion of illegal immigration and Biden's open border agenda.

Campaign Front.

Thank you to everyone who reached out to me about the targeted commercial claiming I was voting to defund police and veterans. It's interesting how they included the Capitol main operator number on it. However, because I give out my number to all my constituents, you were able to call me directly. The ad is a lie, and they are hoping I'll spend my campaign dollars, which you have contributed to me, on a rebuttal. So, you will not see me spending your hard-earned money on a response. I trust that you will all do that for me, because I have worked hard to build relationships with as many of you as I can.

First, let me clarify that nothing is being defunded, as I have shared earlier. My "no" votes on appropriations were not to defund, but to return to JFAC because some line items, for example, the $9.5 billion for Hepatitis C treatments for Idaho inmates, raised questions for me. How much do each of these treatments cost, and do we have that many inmates in Idaho with Hepatitis C? Is this something that could be looked into and reduced to relieve the burden on taxpayers who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads in these days of inflation? Another issue with many of the appropriations is the federal money we accept to fund the ever-growing government expansion in Idaho.

I believe you sent me to Boise because you trusted me, and I have lived, worked, and contributed to the Magic Valley with honesty and selflessness. I have and will continue to sacrifice my life, fortune, and sacred honor for our state and our freedoms. I do this because I love my neighbor as myself.

One more thing: my family is full of veterans who have served in many foreign wars. Why would I vote for something that would harm them? Perhaps if we cut some of the frivolous waste, we can allocate more funds directly to help our veterans and police.

My motto for all those who serve is, "When one family member serves, the whole family serves."

Fun Photos of the week!

This is my song of the week, Crushing Snakes.