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It has been three and a half months since the primary election, yet in many ways, it feels like a year. So much has happened, and at the same time, it feels as though nothing has happened.

I am writing this to give you an update on Tom and me, where we are today, what these past few months have looked like, and what God has been teaching us through this unexpected chapter of our lives.

Two verses have become especially meaningful to us during this season. They have brought us comfort and peace, while also challenging us to trust God more deeply and strengthening our faith.

Psalm 27:14:

“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.”

And Romans 8:28:

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

There are many things right now that we simply do not know. We do not know exactly what tomorrow holds or what this new chapter will look like. But in the midst of all the unknowns, there are some things I know with absolute certainty:

God has not changed. God has not lost control. And God has not forgotten us.

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is nothing new under the sun, and nothing we are walking through has caught Him by surprise.

So, while this chapter began with loss, the loss of an election and, unexpectedly, the loss of our income, I do not want this story to be about what we have lost. I want it to be about what God is doing through the loss, what He is teaching us in the waiting, and whether we will have the courage to trust Him when we cannot yet see what He is doing.

There are three areas where we have especially seen God working in us: physically, financially, and spiritually.

Physically: Learning to Be Still

Being still and waiting on the Lord sounds simple, but I am learning that it is actually an act of obedience, discipline, and faith. When you have spent years constantly moving, slowing down does not come naturally.

For the past four years, our lives have been going nonstop. There were events, campaigning, meetings, legislative sessions, endless hours of reading and studying, phone calls, traveling, and the everyday responsibilities of life squeezed somewhere in between. We kept going because there was always something that needed to be done, somewhere we needed to be, or someone who needed our attention.

What we did not fully realize was the physical toll it was taking on us.

It wasn’t until everything suddenly slowed down and the pressure of another general election campaign was gone that we began to understand just how exhausted our bodies really were. We had become so accustomed to running on empty that exhaustion had begun to feel normal.

In an unexpected way, this season of waiting has also become a season of physical healing. God has allowed us to slow down, rest, breathe, and begin taking care of things we had neglected while constantly looking toward the next responsibility.

I am beginning to understand that sometimes “be still” is not a suggestion. It is an act of obedience. There are seasons when God calls us to move, to fight, and to stand. But there are also seasons when He tells us to stop striving, be still, and wait on Him.

Perhaps one of the harder lessons for people who are accustomed to getting things done is learning that resting in God is not the same thing as doing nothing. Sometimes waiting is the work He has given us to do.

Financially: Learning to Trust

When I think about our financial situation, I keep coming back to Jesus’ words about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. If our Heavenly Father knows their needs and provides for them, how much more does He know what we need?

We have not been sitting idle. Tom and I have been working, praying, and pursuing opportunities to replace the income we unexpectedly lost. By all worldly standards, this should be a season filled with anxiety and fear about the future. Yet somehow, in the middle of all the uncertainty, we have experienced a peace that surpasses all understanding.

That does not mean we haven’t gone through the emotions that come with loss. We have. There have been moments of disappointment, frustration, uncertainty, and questions about what comes next. Faith does not mean those emotions aren’t real. It means those emotions do not get the final say.

Looking back, we can also see how God was preparing us for a season we never knew was coming.

For years, we have worked toward becoming completely debt free, including paying off our home. We have tried to save, live within our means, and learn to enjoy the simple things in life. We didn’t know what was ahead, but God did. Because of those decisions, we have savings, equity in our home, and things we can sell if necessary.

What once simply seemed like wise stewardship now looks a lot like God’s provision ahead of time.

His provision has come through people as well.

Through the relationships we built during the political mission we believed God had called us to, people have reached out with encouragement, friendship, support, and opportunities that we are now pursuing. In a season when it would be easy to feel alone, God has continually reminded us that we are not alone.

We don’t know yet exactly where those opportunities will lead, but we know Who is leading us.

The election may have cost us more financially than we ever expected. They may have taken our income, but they could not take our faith, our relationships, our peace, or the lessons God taught us along the way. We have gained things through this journey that money could never buy.

So yes, we are being responsible. We are working. We are pursuing opportunities. We are making decisions about our future. But we are also learning that there is a difference between working faithfully and striving fearfully.

We will do our part, and we will trust God with the rest.

Spiritually: The Reason for Our Hope

Of everything Tom and I have experienced over these past few months, this may be the most important thing I can share with you.

First Peter 3:15 tells us:

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.”

We are living in a time when people desperately need a reason for hope.

Tom and I are certainly not the only ones walking through loss. Everywhere we look, people are hurting. Families are struggling to make ends meet. Some are facing the end of a career they thought would last much longer. Others are dealing with broken relationships, the loss of a marriage, the loss of a job, sickness, or simply the fear of an unknown future.

We have friends who have lost loved ones in a shooting and others who have experienced the sudden loss of someone they love in a car accident. These are losses far greater than losing an election or an income. They remind us how quickly life can change and how little control we really have.

These are times when we need to give one another a reason for our hope.

We also need to remember that there is a spiritual battle taking place around us. Scripture tells us:

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness.”
Ephesians 6:12

Jesus warned us that the thief comes “only to steal and kill and destroy,” but He didn’t stop there. He said, “I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

We are living in a time when right is called wrong and wrong is called right. We see fear, division, confusion, and brokenness all around us. Too often, when things begin falling apart, we run first to people, politicians, programs, or government to fix what is broken.

Yet God has already told His people where healing begins:

“And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

Notice where God begins: with His people.

Maybe that is one of the greatest lessons I have learned through all of this. Trials have a way of stripping away the things we thought gave us security and revealing where our security truly lies.

We don’t learn perseverance because everything went our way. We don’t learn faith because we already know the outcome. And we don’t learn to hope in God when we have enough money, enough security, and enough control that we don’t think we need Him.

Perseverance is learned when we have to keep walking.

Faith is strengthened when we cannot see what is ahead.

Hope becomes real when everything around us says we should be afraid, yet we still choose to trust God.

So, as I finish these final months as your State Senator, I want you to know that I am still here. Until my term ends in December, I am here to serve you, encourage you, pray with you, help where I can, and most importantly, point you toward the reason for my hope.

That hope isn’t politics.
It isn’t government.
It isn’t a title.
It isn’t financial security.
And it certainly isn’t winning an election.

My hope is Jesus Christ.

I have no regrets.

Serving you these past four years has changed me. I am a better person because of it. My faith is stronger. My priorities are clearer. And strangely enough, even with all the uncertainty surrounding our future, I am more hopeful.

You gave me the privilege of serving you for four years, and I will forever be grateful for that opportunity.

I don’t know exactly what God has planned for Tom and me next. Right now, perhaps our assignment really is as simple, and as difficult, as this:

“Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14

So we will wait.

We will work.

We will pray.

We will trust.

And whatever comes next, we know where our hope comes from.

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As I waited to hear the latest updates from the tragic shooting here in Twin Falls, a tragedy that has taken lives and forever changed the lives of so many, one question continued to weigh on my heart:

Are you ready to give a reason for your hope?

1 Peter 3:10-18

10 “For
‘Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the HOPE that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Verse 15 is what I keep reflecting on, but when you read it in context, it speaks about doing good and refraining from evil.

Yes, evil exists, and we have to accept that truth. Jesus encountered people who were demon-possessed. He was tempted by the devil. He also told some of the religious rulers of His day, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44), exposing the lies, deceit, and destruction that Satan seeks to bring. Jesus Himself said that the thief comes “only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

Here we are today, dealing with the effects of evil. As I have been pondering these things, I invite you to ponder them with me:

Are we ready to give a reason for the HOPE we have in Jesus?

We can give financially. We can grieve with those who have been directly affected. We can pray for the victims and their families. But are we also ready to give HOPE? There is only One who has defeated sin, death, and the devil, and that is Jesus Christ. Are we prepared to share that hope, even with the family of the shooter?

There is a saying many of us have heard: “Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.” If we continue to respond only to the symptoms of evil while neglecting the only One who has overcome it, should we expect the outcome to change?

My heart goes out to those who were killed, those who were wounded, and their families, even the family of the shooter. We can pray, give, and come alongside them as they walk through this unimaginable grief.

But how do we share our HOPE, the HOPE that is found in Jesus? He is the True Hero who defeated death. He was rejected, betrayed, mocked, beaten, and crucified because He loved us that much.

What if we put aside our own self-interests and the fear that keeps us from being true disciples of Christ? What if we became intentional about changing the culture for Christ? How many tragedies like this might be prevented because someone shared the HOPE that is found in Jesus?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to keep playing defense. I want to be on the offense. Jesus has already won the victory. He has already conquered sin, death, and the grave. If we truly want to make a difference in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our public service, our cities, our counties, our state, and our nation, then we must believe, live, and boldly share that HOPE.

Scripture tells us that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). It’s time we started living like it.

Let’s honor those who were victims of this evil by going out and giving a reason for the HOPE that is within us.

We cannot change what happened in Twin Falls, but we can choose what happens next. We can choose to live differently. We can choose to love more deeply, pray more faithfully, and share the HOPE of Jesus more boldly. The world doesn't need more opinions, it needs the Savior. If there has ever been a time to be ready to give a reason for the HOPE that is within us, it is now. May we not allow this tragedy to pass without examining our own hearts and asking God to use us to bring His light into a world that desperately needs Him. Let us be people who not only speak about HOPE but live it, share it, and point others to the only One who has overcome sin, death, and evil, Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:13:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

The enemy never rests.

For the past four years, I have been warning Idahoans that our state is not as conservative as many have been led to believe. Today, we are facing another major challenge: the proposed “Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.”

Even its title is misleading. Supporters present it as a measure about “freedom” and “privacy,” but opponents argue it would significantly expand access to abortion, including after fetal viability under certain circumstances. They also contend it would weaken parental involvement protections for minors seeking abortions and could create broader legal challenges to state regulations involving reproductive health. Some have further argued that it could affect Medicaid-funded services and future litigation involving gender-related medical procedures.

Read full initiative, HERE.

This is one of the most consequential policy questions Idaho voters may face.

Churches of Idaho, I cannot overstate how important your voice, your involvement, and your vote are when it comes to the issue of life.

According to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census, Idaho has approximately 2,392 congregations. Imagine the impact if every pastor, elder, deacon, and church leader encouraged their congregation to register, become informed, and vote.

Together, we can stand for Idaho’s most vulnerable, God’s precious image bearers.

Scripture leaves little room for indifference:

James 4:17 (ESV)
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

If we know what is right and choose complacency, apathy, or silence instead, what will God’s judgment be upon us?

We have already seen the power of Idaho’s ballot initiative process. Medicaid expansion was adopted through that process, and there have been repeated efforts to legalize marijuana in Idaho through citizen initiatives as well.

That is why I am partnering with Honor Idaho to raise awareness, raise our voices, and raise the resources necessary to oppose this initiative. Beyond this single issue, we must also have a serious conversation about whether Idaho’s ballot initiative process continues to serve the long-term interests of our state.

The initiative process has fundamentally reshaped the policies of states like California. This year, California voters are expected to consider 14 statewide ballot measures. By comparison, in 1990, Californians voted on 45 statewide ballot propositions.

Is this what you want Idaho to become?

This fight will not be won by good intentions alone. It will require prayer, courage, volunteers, and the financial resources to educate Idahoans about what is at stake. If you believe that every life is created in the image of God, that parents have a God-given responsibility to protect their children, and that Idaho’s conservative values are worth defending, I ask you to stand with us today.

Please prayerfully consider making a generous donation to Honor Idaho. Your gift will help educate voters, equip communities with the truth, and build the grassroots effort needed to defeat this initiative. Every dollar invested today is an investment in protecting Idaho’s future and defending those who cannot defend themselves.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?” — Proverbs 24:11–12

The time for watching is over.

Now is the time to stand. Now is the time to speak. Now is the time to vote.

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Here is the direct link to donate, we will use your contribution wisely in this battle for life. Honor Idaho (Donate)

(My office is cleaned out, but I’m still your Senator till December.)

Three Weeks Later

It has been three weeks since the voters of District 24 decided they wanted a new senator. During that time, I have been mostly quiet on social media. Not because I had nothing to say, but because after more than a decade of political activism and four campaigns, Tom and I needed time to rest, restore, and heal.

Many people do not realize that my first campaign was for State Representative in 2018. What started as a desire to make a difference turned into a journey that would shape much of the next ten years of our lives. Looking back, I realize politics was never just something I did. It became a calling, a responsibility, and at times a burden that affected every part of our lives.

What people often see are the elections, the campaign signs, the speeches, and the votes. What they do not see are the sacrifices. They do not see the long days, the missed family moments, the financial strain, the attacks, the criticism, and the pressure to compromise. Public service sounds noble, and it can be, but there is a real cost that comes with stepping into the arena, especially when you genuinely believe that government was never intended to control people but to protect their God-given rights and liberties.

From the beginning, I believed the U.S. Constitution and the Idaho Constitution were written to limit government, not empower it. I believed my oath mattered. I believed my responsibility was to serve the people, protect liberty, and stand as a check against government overreach. That belief guided every vote I cast and every position I took.

My faith also shaped how I viewed public service. I have always believed our Founding Fathers were heavily influenced by Biblical principles and that many understood something we are in danger of forgetting today:

Freedom is not sustained by government. It is sustained by virtue, personal responsibility, and a recognition that our rights come from God, not from politicians.

The Founders paid a tremendous price for those beliefs. They faced opposition, ridicule, false accusations, and powerful establishments determined to preserve a government that protected their power, their influence, and their special interests.

The longer I served in public office, the more I realized that human nature has not changed much. There are still those who think as the King of England thought: that government knows best, that power should remain concentrated in the hands of a few, and that ordinary citizens should simply comply rather than question.

There are still people willing to go to extraordinary lengths to protect their power, their influence, and their agendas. There are still those who believe every problem can be solved by creating another government program, another regulation, another bureaucracy, and another layer of control over people’s lives. What surprised me most was not that we disagreed. Disagreement is part of a healthy republic. What surprised me was how willing some people were to attack, intimidate, and even destroy those who refused to fall in line.

Which brings me to something I have found interesting for quite some time. Throughout my years in office, I was often told that I was ineffective. Yet if that were true, why did so many powerful people work so hard to remove me?

That question alone tells me everything I need to know.

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Why I Was Elected

The truth is that I was elected because I was willing to challenge government overreach, excessive spending, lack of transparency, and the absence of accountability.

The people did not send me to Boise to go along with the system; they sent me to question it.

As I look back on the amount of money spent against me and the involvement of political leaders, lobbyists, government agencies, unions, water interests, church influences, and others, I have reached a simple conclusion:

I did exactly what I promised I would do.

I fought for the people, asked hard questions, and refused to compromise the principles you elected me to defend.

The Real Cost

Most people understand losing an election. What many do not know is that the election was not the greatest loss our family experienced.

We also lost our livelihood.

That reality is painful, but it is not unique.

Over the years, I have watched the same story unfold again and again. The names change, but the pattern remains remarkably familiar. People like Priscilla Giddings, Janice McGeachin, Mark Fitzpatrick, Diego Garcia, Ammon Bundy, Congressman Thomas Massie, and many others found themselves in the spotlight after challenging powerful interests or questioning accepted narratives. Whether someone agreed with them or disagreed with them was never really the issue. What stood out was what happened next.

It often began when someone asked a question that made people uncomfortable or brought attention to something others preferred to ignore. Instead of a healthy debate, the atmosphere would shift. The conversation would become less about ideas and more about consequences. Pressure would begin to build. Criticism would intensify. Reputations would be attacked. Financial burdens would appear. Professional opportunities could disappear. The message was rarely spoken aloud, yet it was understood by everyone watching.

As each story unfolded, others observed from the sidelines. They saw the personal cost that came with speaking too boldly or refusing to fall in line. Some began to wonder whether it was worth the risk to voice their own concerns. Others chose silence, not because they lacked convictions, but because they feared what might happen if they expressed them.

That is why these stories matter.

Freedom is not measured by whether people are allowed to speak when it is easy or popular. It is measured by whether they can speak when doing so carries a cost. The moment citizens begin censoring themselves because they fear losing their jobs, their businesses, their reputations, or their livelihoods, liberty begins to fade.

The real purpose of intimidation is rarely limited to the person being targeted. It serves as a warning to everyone else. It tells observers to stay quiet, stay in line, and avoid becoming the next example.

My hope is that we never accept that message.

A free society depends on people who are willing to speak honestly and participate without fear.

If fear becomes the price of participation, then freedom itself becomes little more than an illusion.

No Regrets

I was warned more than once by fellow legislators that if I refused to compromise, I would not get re-elected. Perhaps they were right. But I did not run for office to trade away my principles for political survival.

I entered public service because I had grown tired of watching politicians abandon the very convictions that earned them the trust of voters in the first place. I believed then, and still believe now, that elected officials should fear betraying their oath far more than they fear losing an election.

So when the choice came between standing on principle and protecting a title, I chose principle.

Titles come and go.

Elections come and go.

But integrity, once surrendered, is far more difficult to reclaim.

As I leave office, I do so with a clear conscience, knowing I kept my word, honored my oath, fought for what I believed was right, and never stopped asking difficult questions on behalf of the people I was elected to serve.

For that, I have no regrets.

What Comes Next

This chapter has closed, but the story is not over.

For more than a decade, politics demanded our time, our energy, and ultimately our livelihood. When that season came to an end, Tom and I found ourselves facing the same reality many families encounter after an unexpected setback: the need to rebuild. We have spent this time seeking God’s direction, exploring new opportunities, and asking where He would have us go next. While the future is not yet fully clear, we are focused on providing for our needs, restoring what has been lost, and remaining open to whatever doors God chooses to open.

Through it all, I have learned that uncertainty does not have to produce fear.

I do not know exactly what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.

I am not bitter about what happened.

I am certainly not defeated by it.

If anything, these experiences have clarified what truly matters.

Holding office required a certain level of restraint in what I said and how I said it, but that chapter has now ended. The title is gone, the election is over, and our livelihood has been damaged, yet the things that mattered most were never dependent on any office.

My faith, my family, my integrity, and my voice remain firmly intact.

What has become increasingly clear is that the mission itself has never changed. Long before I held public office, I felt called to stand for truth, defend liberty, ask difficult questions, and speak when others were afraid to do so.

Public office was simply one avenue through which I pursued that calling.

It was never the purpose. It was only a platform.

As Tom and I look toward the future, we are not merely searching for our next opportunity. We are searching for the next mission God has for us. Whether that path leads into business, ministry, public service, or something entirely unexpected, we intend to follow it with the same convictions that have guided us throughout this journey.

Perhaps this is not the end of the story after all.

Perhaps it is simply the beginning of a new chapter.

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Quote: "Duty is ours; results are God's." — John Quincy Adams

Bible Verse: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
— Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

Song:

It was a beautiful day, one set apart to remember those who gave everything so that we might live free.

As I shared with those gathered, Memorial Day is not just about looking back. It is about recognizing what has been entrusted to us and asking what we will do with it.

Below is the message I delivered.

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“What a beautiful day, here at the Rock Creek Cemetary. I want to open with sharing three quotes from out Founding Fathers.”

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” — Thomas Paine

“I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us… Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.” — John Adams

“Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” — Thomas Jefferson

Today, we gather in remembrance.
But also in gratitude… and in quiet resolve.

Because the men who founded this nation understood something we must never forget: freedom is a blessing, but it is never free. It must be earned, defended, and, at times, paid for in full.

Nearly 250 years ago, they spoke of sacrifice not as poetry, but as reality. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, knowing the cost would be high.

And it was.

Since that first generation, countless Americans have stepped forward to carry that same burden, ordinary men and women called to do extraordinary things. They left behind homes, families, and futures… and many never returned.

This day belongs to them.

It belongs to the fallen whose names are etched in stone, and to those known only to God. It belongs to quiet courage, unseen sacrifice, and the final full measure given so that others might live in freedom.

And if we allow it, this day does more than remember the past, it speaks to us.

It humbles us.
It steadies us.
It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today were not cheaply won—and they are not permanently secured.

We are the beneficiaries of courage we did not have to show… sacrifices we did not have to make… burdens we did not have to carry.

And that should shape us.

Not with guilt—but with purpose.
Not with fear—but with clarity.

Because Memorial Day asks each of us a simple but serious question: what will we do with what we have been given?

We may not be called to the same battlefields.

But we are called to the same responsibility.

To be thoughtful in how we live.
To be bold in what we stand for.
And to be courageous when it would be easier to remain silent.

The generation that secured this nation saw, as John Adams said, rays of light beyond the cost. They believed in something greater than themselves.

And those we honor today proved that belief again and again, through action, through sacrifice, and through unwavering commitment to something enduring.

As we celebrate 250 years as a nation, we are reminded that each generation must decide: will we simply inherit freedom… or will we preserve it?

Not with anger.
Not with fear.
But with steady courage.

The kind that builds.
The kind that protects.
The kind that honors what has been entrusted to us.

And as I stand before you today, I do so with a full heart, because this will be my final Memorial Day address as your sitting State Senator.

It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve you. To stand for this community, to speak on your behalf, and to do so with love for this state and respect for the responsibility entrusted to me.

For that, I am deeply grateful.

And I will continue to serve—with that same heart—in my personal capacity.

But above all, I am grateful for those who made any of this possible.

Because without them, there is no freedom to defend… no voice to raise… no republic to preserve.

So today, may we do more than remember.

May we live in a way that honors.
May we carry forward what is good, what is true, and what is worth preserving.

And as we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom, we must not overlook the Foundation of all sacrifice.

Because the ultimate act of sacrifice was not first demonstrated on a battlefield, it was demonstrated on a Cross.

As Scripture declares, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

Jesus Christ did not just speak those words, He fulfilled them.

He willingly laid down His life, bearing sin and death, so that we could be set free, truly free, redeemed and restored.

The heroes we honor today gave their lives to preserve our liberty in this nation.

But Jesus gave His life to secure our eternal freedom.

And it is from that sacrifice that all true courage, all true love, and all true freedom ultimately flow.

So as we remember the fallen, let us also fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author of that love, the Source of that sacrifice, and the Foundation of our hope.

May we live not only as grateful citizens…
But as people who understand the depth of what has been given, for our country, and for our souls.

May we never forget.

And may God bless the memory of the fallen, comfort those who mourn, and may His grace continue to guide and bless Idaho and the United States of America.

A few more images of the day.

We even had a mama duck and her ducklings join us.

Why We Cannot Give Up

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“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
— Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

Anybody can start something. Few people finish faithfully.

My journey in the Idaho Senate has taught me that standing for truth, asking hard questions, and refusing to compromise principles comes with pressure, criticism, and personal cost. I have had to discipline myself to stay the course and not compromise what I believe is right.

Titles come and go. Elections come and go. But sacred honor, our integrity, is not so easily restored once lost.

Our Founders understood this when they signed the Declaration of Independence and pledged their “sacred Honor.” They were risking their lives, reputations, livelihoods, and future for the cause of liberty. Betraying that cause would have made them dishonorable before God, their fellow citizens, and history itself.

That kind of courage built America.

I have lived in Idaho most of my life. Many of you have known me for decades. I attended school here, church here, worked beside many of you, raised a family here, and built my life here.

That is why it is heartbreaking when people begin believing propaganda from mailers, texts, or commercials without ever reaching out to ask me directly why I voted the way I did.

Every vote I have made was guided by my oath:

• to uphold the Constitution,

• protect Idaho’s sovereignty,

• be fiscally responsible,

• and ensure government accountability and transparency.

It has never been in my nature to harm or hate anyone. I have always been justice-driven, a defender and fighter for the people and principles I love.

And no matter the lies, the slander, or even efforts to financially destroy us, I will not allow bitterness and hatred to take root in my heart.

Am I hurt? Yes.
Am I angry? Yes.
Am I disappointed? Absolutely.

But my faith, hope, and joy are in Jesus Christ.

I will choose forgiveness over hatred.
I will choose obedience over bitterness.
And I will keep fighting because that is how deeply I love Idaho and the people of this state.

Scripture reminds us:

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Freedom requires endurance.

Strong families require endurance.
Strong faith requires endurance.
Strong nations require endurance.

The beginning is often exciting. But the end reveals faithfulness.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

That is the goal.

Not popularity.
Not comfort.
Not titles.

Faithfulness.

So no matter what comes, I will continue standing firm in faith, truth, and love. I will continue defending the forgotten man, the taxpayer, the parent, the small business owner, the Idaho family trying to preserve freedom for the next generation.

And if you choose to send me back to the Idaho Senate, I would be deeply honored to continue fighting for you and serving you.

Vote May 19th.

Because with God’s help:

The end can still be better than the beginning.

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Many of you received this text message, against many of your Proven Conservative Legislators. So in typical Glenneda style let’s shine light on this topic and the Pac.

In Idaho, we believe two things at the same time: children deserve protection and families deserve protection from government overreach. Both matter. Both are essential.

That is why many of us voted no on HB 776, also known as “Benji’s Law.”

Supporters framed the bill as a necessary response to a heartbreaking infant death, arguing it would simply speed up safety checks for high-risk newborns. But when lawmakers read the actual language of the bill closely, it became clear that HB 776 goes much further than a targeted safety measure.

The legislation expands the authority of Idaho’s child protection bureaucracy to investigate and monitor certain families based on prior conduct or registry history, even when there has been no new finding of abuse or neglect. The bill creates a framework for preemptive government intervention and ongoing surveillance of parents, raising serious concerns about due process, parental rights, and the limits of state power.

Idaho Families Have Already Seen What Happens When Government Overreaches

For many Idahoans, those concerns are not theoretical.

The Boise case involving Baby Cyrus became a statewide flashpoint after the child was removed from his parents by authorities. According to the family’s legal advocates, a judge later dismissed the case and restored custody rights to the parents. Regardless of where people stand politically, the case left a lasting impression on many Idaho families about how quickly government systems can move and how devastating those actions can be.

When agencies with that kind of history are given broader authority and accelerated timelines without meaningful accountability, the outcome is predictable: more rushed investigations, more families treated as guilty before facts are established, and more children separated from parents first while the government sorts out the truth later. That kind of unchecked power does not prevent trauma, it creates it, often for families who have done nothing wrong.

Idaho should not respond to one tragedy by creating the conditions for another. We should not create more “Baby Cyrus” situations in the name of preventing future “Baby Benji” tragedies.

This Was Not a Vote Against Children

This vote was about protecting children without sacrificing the constitutional rights of Idaho families. HB 776 expands CPS authority, lowers the threshold for government intervention, and increases the risk of families being investigated or separated before facts are fully established, especially low-income families with fewer resources to fight the system.

The bill also does little to fix the actual failures that led to the tragedy it is named after. Instead, that tragedy is being used to justify a dangerous expansion of government power.

We voted against this bill because real leadership means defending due process, demanding accountability from government agencies, and refusing to hand more authority to bureaucracies at the expense of Idaho families.

Rep Heather Scott gave a great testimony on the floor.

1st Debate

2nd Debate.

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The Political Campaign Behind the Attacks

Since the vote, a Boise-based PAC called Defend and Protect Idaho has launched text-message campaigns attacking lawmakers who opposed HB 776.

Supporters of the PAC portray the effort as a grassroots movement of concerned Idaho parents. I argue it is something very different: a professionally organized political operation backed by a coalition of establishment interests, national networks.

Voters deserve to know who is involved.

Follow the Money

The Democracy Program

The Democracy Program is a flagship initiative of The Carter Center, the nonprofit founded by former President Jimmy Carter in 1982. Launched in 1989, the program focuses on election observation, international election standards, civic engagement, digital security, and combating disinformation.

Supporters describe the effort as a pro-democracy initiative designed to strengthen public trust in elections and civic participation worldwide. Critics argue that globally connected democracy programs can sometimes blur the line between neutral civic work and ideological activism, especially when intertwined with heavily funded political advocacy networks.

Way Back PAC and the Progressive Funding Network

Way Back PAC highlights how modern political money frequently moves through layers of nonprofits and advocacy organizations that make tracing the original source of funding difficult for ordinary voters.

One of its funding channels, Western Futures Fund, reportedly received millions from the Sixteen Thirty Fund one of the country’s largest progressive “dark money” organizations managed by Arabella Advisors and backed in part by donors including George Soros and Hansjörg Wyss.

Additional funding reportedly flowed through the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund, another left-leaning donor network connected to progressive causes nationwide.

Supporters say these organizations provide critical infrastructure for advancing voting rights, abortion access, climate policy, and progressive priorities. Critics argue the structure allows wealthy ideological donors to exert enormous political influence while shielding the true origins of campaign money from public view.

Idaho Land Fund

Idaho Land Fund represents a very different side of Idaho’s donor ecosystem.

According to FollowTheMoney.org, the organization has contributed approximately $475,370 to more than 150 Idaho candidates, PACs, and political committees over the past 25 years. Unlike national ideological funding groups, Idaho Land Fund operates primarily as an establishment Republican and business-oriented donor organization within state politics.

Its contributions have largely gone toward groups such as the Idaho Victory Fund, Idaho Majority Club, Senate Republican PAC of Idaho, and other GOP-aligned candidates and committees focused on maintaining business-friendly influence within Idaho government.

Idaho State AFL-CIO State PAC

The Idaho State AFL-CIO State PAC is the official political arm of Idaho’s labor movement and the state affiliate of the national AFL-CIO organization.

The PAC primarily supports Democratic candidates and labor-backed causes including collective bargaining protections, workplace safety laws, education funding, prevailing wage policies, and public employee benefits. Its chairman, Joe Malone, is also a longtime labor lobbyist in Idaho politics.

Take Back Idaho

Take Back Idaho is a coalition backed by multi-generational Idaho political insiders who have never fully supported conservative republican grassroots reforms and who also supported Ranked Choice Voting Proposition 1, including former Attorney General Jim Jones and former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb.

In 2022, Jim Jones broke with the party and supported Democrat Tom Arkoosh’s campaign for Attorney General, serving as campaign treasurer.

Bruce Newcomb first sought office as a Democrat for Cassia County commission and lost. He then switched parties, ran as a Republican in the next cycle, and won remaining a Republican thereafter.

We Answer to Idaho Families — Not Political Machines

We answer to the people we represent, not to PACs or national political networks. Every vote we take is guided by the constitutional oath we swore to uphold and the belief that individual rights come first.

That means protecting children while also defending the God-given rights of parents, demanding accountability from government agencies like CPS, and standing firmly against unnecessary government intrusion into Idaho homes.

We will continue fighting for limited government, due process, and the constitutional freedoms that protect every Idaho family, even when it is politically difficult. Because true conservative leadership is not about protecting systems or bureaucracies. It is about protecting people.

Just a little extra A-Ha moment.

Every one of our challengers appears on the contributor list. Whether they wrote large checks or simply paid to attend a fundraiser, the fact remains: they financially supported and participated in these political networks. That makes them contributors.

I also highlighted several additional names here in the Magic Valley so voters can clearly see how deep these political connections run locally.

Now more than ever, it is critical for voters to stay informed and not be manipulated by emotionally charged political messaging designed to provoke fear, anger, or division. If you have questions about a vote, reach out directly to your legislators and ask them why they voted the way they did. An informed voter seeks facts, context, and truth, not just headlines and attack ads.

Too much of today’s political messaging is built around emotional reaction instead of honest discussion. But elected officials should never govern based on emotion or political pressure. We should govern based on principles, facts, constitutional responsibility, and what is truly best for the people we represent. Idaho deserves leaders who stand firm in truth, not leaders who simply follow the loudest voices or the latest political narrative.

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Sitting on my back porch after a long day, listening to the quiet calm and the birds singing their sunset songs, I found myself reflecting on the journey that brought me here. In just seven days, the people of Idaho will once again make their voices heard and decide who they trust to serve them for the next two or four years, depending on the race.

As I look back on the last four years you sent me to Boise, I am humbled by the responsibility you placed in my hands. You trusted me not to compromise my oath, my principles, or your liberties, and I have carried that responsibility with deep gratitude every single day.

I think back to a small-town Idaho girl who spent her summers riding horses, swimming, and eating fresh peaches and pears straight from the trees. Life was simpler then, and the world felt very different just a few decades ago. Never in my wildest imagination would I have believed that path would one day lead me to serve as your Idaho State Senator.

It has been a journey filled with mountaintops and valleys. Along the way, I have met countless people and walked through experiences, both good and hard, that shaped me in ways I never expected. The victories taught me humility, while the difficult seasons taught me courage. Both taught me grace, mercy, and gratitude. Looking back now, I can honestly say I am thankful for every part of the journey.

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Who I Am at My Core

I know it is hard to know what to believe when it comes to government today. Many people no longer trust the government or, to be brutally honest, the people elected to keep it in check and uphold their oaths. I hear you. I understand it more than you may realize, because I am living it too.

The deeper I stepped into public service, the more I saw the pressure, the politics, the influence, and the compromises that too often happen behind closed doors. That reality has made me even more determined to stay grounded in who I am and where I came from.

So let me remind you who I am at my core.

I have always been a hard worker and someone who learns by jumping in and figuring things out. I taught myself how to swim. I competed in tennis and earned third place in Idaho in mixed doubles. I was the girl serving coffee and meals at the truck stop in Jerome and working shifts at the local cinema.

Right out of high school, I got married and left my small-town life for the busy streets of Los Angeles, working numerous jobs while learning how different the world could be outside Idaho. Then came motherhood in my twenties, one of the greatest blessings and hardest responsibilities of my life.

Every season brought challenges, lessons, sacrifices, and growth. Looking back now, I can see how each chapter was shaping me long before Boise ever knew my name. The determination, resilience, courage, and grit I carry today were not learned in politics, they were forged long before politics ever entered my life.

My Faith and My Compass

I am a born-again Christian, and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I cannot share who I am without sharing my faith, because my faith is the foundation that keeps me rooted in my convictions.

It is through Jesus that I learned my true worth, not through titles, accomplishments, approval, or worldly success, but through knowing I was created, loved, and redeemed by Him. That matters deeply because the way I view people and leadership flows directly from that foundation.

When Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself, He was not speaking lightly. I take those words to heart.

I do not believe we can truly love others well until we understand how deeply we ourselves are loved by God. Christ gave His life for us while knowing our failures, betrayals, and shortcomings. The rejection, betrayal, false accusations, and attacks He endured are beyond comprehension, yet on a very small scale I have experienced glimpses of those same things in public life.

And still, He chose forgiveness.

There were many miracles Jesus performed, but for me personally, one of the greatest miracles of all is the ability to forgive those who have hurt you. That kind of forgiveness does not come naturally. It comes from surrender, humility, and understanding the mercy we ourselves have been given.

I will not sacrifice my soul for the world, for political approval, or for a Senate title. I will do my best to do what is right, with God as my compass and truth as my guide. A ship can never reach its destination if it loses sight of True North, and I believe the same is true for our lives, our communities, and our government.

Question Everything

I know there are commercials, text messages, phone calls, mailers, and whisper campaigns designed to make you question who to trust. And honestly, you should question them. That is part of your responsibility as an informed voter.

I encourage you to reach out to every one of us running for office. Ask hard questions. Listen carefully. Seek both sides before making up your mind. We live in a time where narratives are often built before truth is even sought.

That is why I have always made my phone number available to you, and why I will continue to do so. I never want to forget how important it is for people to have the opportunity to explain their reasoning, experiences, and decisions. Every one of us knows what it feels like to have something said about us without being given the chance to respond.

I believe listening matters. I believe transparency matters. And I believe leadership should never become so elevated that it forgets the people it serves.

For Mother’s Day, I watched a movie, try to guess which one. No, it was not The Notebook, it was Gladiator II. There was a quote in the movie that stayed with me long after it ended:

“The best revenge is to not become those who have hurt you.”

That struck something deep inside me because that is truly my goal. I do not want bitterness, anger, or politics to harden my heart. I do not want to become like those who wound others. I want to be someone who loves, forgives, stands firm in truth, and refuses to return hurt for hurt.

A Final Thought

As I finish writing this, the sun is finally setting beyond the Idaho horizon, and the sky is painted in shades of pink, orange, purple, and gray. Moments like this remind me that God is always faithful, even in uncertain times.

Over the next seven days, I will run this race with everything I have. I would be honored and humbled to continue to serve you, sacrificing my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor for you, for the future of our children and grandchildren.

The liberties we enjoy today were paid for dearly by Founders, and we must never take them for granted.

So please, get out and vote. Not just because it is your right, but because it is your duty.

My prayer for you is this: May God bless your homes, your families, your health, and your future. May He give you wisdom in uncertain times, courage to stand for truth, and peace that steadies your heart. May we never lose sight of the blessings of liberty, the importance of faith, and the responsibility we carry to leave a stronger Idaho for the generations that come after us.

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Bible Verse:

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?”
~Micah 6:8

Quote:

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.”
~commonly attributed to William Penn

Song:

My politics are simple: I will not sell out Idaho families, our Constitution, or our rule of law to keep a paycheck or please a lobby. The Idaho Dairymen’s Association and a handful of powerful dairies don’t like my politics, and when they couldn’t get me to change my principles or my votes on policy, they came after my livelihood instead. I am a lifelong Idaho farm girl who has spent decades in and around the dairy industry, and I will not apologize for standing up for secure borders, parental rights, health freedom, fiscal discipline, and an agriculture policy that serves the people of Idaho, not the political class or the special interests that think they own this state. If the price of standing firm is losing 80–85% of our income, then so be it, my job is not to make Big Dairy comfortable; my job is to tell the truth, defend your liberty, and refuse to bow to anyone who believes they can bully a senator into silence.

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Are These the Politics They Want Silenced?

• I keep my oath to the Constitutions of Idaho and the United States, even when it costs me personally. I don’t treat my oath as a slogan for campaign season; it is the standard I use on every vote, whether lobbyists and politicians like it or not.

• I oppose any government growth that is not clearly constitutional or necessary. If a program or agency can’t be justified by the Constitution and real need, I won’t vote to grow it just because “that’s how Boise has always done it.”

• I will not support spending money we do not have or bloated budgets padded with pork, favors, and slush funds. Idaho families have to live within their means, and government should have to do the same instead of stuffing budgets with projects that benefit insiders.

• Illegal immigration is breaking the law, for those who enter unlawfully and for those who knowingly hire them. We cannot claim to be a nation of laws and then look the other way when it is politically or economically convenient.

• Life begins at conception, and I will defend the unborn without apology. Every child is a human life deserving protection, and I will stand for policies that respect and safeguard that life.

• Government must be accountable; I oppose “blind appropriations” and demand detailed audits of how every single dime is spent. Before we hand agencies more money, they should have to prove how they used the last dollar and what results Idahoans actually got.

• State sovereignty must be protected from federal overreach; the states created the federal government, not the other way around. I will resist schemes that bribe Idaho with federal dollars in exchange for surrendering our rights, our land, or our self‑government.

• The federal government is supposed to be defined, confined, and checked, and Idaho must have the backbone to say “no” when D.C. goes beyond its limits. Saying “no” to unconstitutional mandates is not extreme; it is exactly what our system expects of strong states and strong legislators.

• No governor, lieutenant governor, agency, canal company, union, or industry group gets to buy my vote or silence my voice with threats to my livelihood. If I can be intimidated into breaking my principles, then any legislator can and that would be a direct threat to every Idahoan’s freedom.

• I support the Second Amendment as an individual, God‑given right to keep and bear arms, and I oppose attempts to chip it away through “common sense” gun control. “Shall not be infringed” means something, and I will stand against back‑door restrictions that punish law‑abiding citizens instead of criminals.

• I believe income and property taxes are abusive and fundamentally wrong; I support shrinking government and shifting to a fairer system that does not threaten people with losing their homes. Government should not have the power to tax you out of your land or confiscate your labor at will; we must rethink how we fund essential services.

• Education should serve parents and students, not unions and bureaucrats. I support parental rights, school choice, and getting indoctrination and political agendas out of Idaho classrooms so parents have transparency and real options when their local school refuses to respect their values.

Remembering What the Founders Risked

Our Founding Fathers gave us a constitutional republic and pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to secure it. They fought for freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition our government, liberties that have kept America free for nearly 250 years. I am learning firsthand that if we intend to keep that republic and stand on the same principles, it will cost us, too.

The Declaration of Independence listed grievances against a king who taxed without true representation, used regulations to crush livelihoods, ignored petitions, and concentrated power far from the people living with the consequences. Today, we have turned a blind eye as those same patterns creep back in: unelected bureaucrats making rules that feel like laws, politicians treating taxpayers as a bottomless ATM, agencies punishing dissenters, and leaders listening more to big donors than to the citizens they swore to represent.

Our Grievances in Idaho Today

So in our day, here in Idaho, we have our own grievances:

• When government agencies retaliate against citizens for their beliefs instead of protecting their rights, we have turned a blind eye.

• When lobbyists and big donors decide what happens, and too many elected officials just go along instead of thinking for themselves, we have turned a blind eye.

• When families are taxed out of their homes while budgets grow and bureaucracies expand, we have turned a blind eye.

• When illegal immigration is tolerated because it is convenient for cheap labor and political power, we have turned a blind eye.

• When parents are treated as threats for wanting a say in their children’s education, we have turned a blind eye.

• When federal “grant money” is used to drag our state into programs and policies we never voted for, we have turned a blind eye.

The Founders wrote their grievances to warn the king and awaken the people. I am writing ours to warn the political class, and to awaken Idahoans, before we lose the very freedoms they bled and died to secure.

The Price My Family Is Paying

When I talk about “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor,” that isn’t just a line from a history book for my family, it has become our daily reality. We have watched 80–85% of our income disappear almost overnight because I refused to bend my votes to satisfy powerful industries, political leaders, and agencies that expected obedience instead of integrity. My husband has lost work, our plans have been upended, and every month now comes with a question mark where there used to be stability and predictability. We have had some very hard conversations at the kitchen table about what we can cut, what we can sell, and how far this will go if the pressure keeps coming.

And yet, in the middle of all that pain and uncertainty, my family and friends has stood with me and said, “We are not for sale.” We know that if those who still believe in the Constitution back down whenever the cost gets high, then the people who use money and power to control our government will never be challenged. I would rather my children and grandchildren watch me lose work for doing what is right than watch me live comfortably after compromising what I know is true. That is the real test in front of us, not just whether we can quote the Founders, but whether we are willing, in our time, to pay a price to preserve what they left in our care.

It has been deeply grieving to watch businesses threatened because they supported me and to see others stay silent or hide their support out of fear of Big Ag’s retaliation. I’ve watched individuals in the agriculture industry, on boards, and in key community positions tell me they agree with me, but they cannot say so publicly because they know their job, their farm, or their business could be next. That is not the way a free state behaves; that is the way a captured system behaves, where a few powerful interests believe they have the right to punish anyone who steps out of line. The fact that ordinary Idahoans feel they must hide their convictions to protect their livelihoods is exactly why I refuse to bow. If they are being forced into silence, then I have a responsibility to speak louder, not softer.

A Call to Pray, Speak Up, and Vote

Now I am asking you to stand with me.

Pray, for courage, for protection over every family and business under pressure, and for leaders in Idaho who will fear God more than they fear losing power or income. Speak up, at your school board, in your church, in your neighborhood, and in your circles of influence, so that those who are trying to control this state with fear hear from more than just lobbyists and insiders. Support those who are paying a price for standing on principle; don’t leave them to fight alone while others enjoy the benefits of their courage.

And on May 19th, vote. Vote as if your children’s and grandchildren’s liberties depend on it, because they do. Vote for candidates who are willing to lose their livelihoods before they will lose their integrity. Vote to send a message to Big Ag, big government, and big unions, and to a Governor and Lt. Governor who try to use their influence to punish dissent, that Idaho is not for sale and its people are not easily intimidated. And vote for those who have already proven they will stand in the gap, like the Gang of 8, the State Freedom Caucus, who have taken the heat, paid the price, and refused to back down from defending your liberty.

If we will pray, speak up, vote, and stand together behind those who refuse to bow, then the price my family is paying and the price others are paying, will not be wasted. It will be an investment in preserving liberty in Idaho for the next generation.

Quote of the Week:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bible Verse of the Week:

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” ~Ephesians 5:11

Song of the Week:

It fades when people are told that one more regulation, one more emergency power, one more surrender of local control is necessary “for the greater good.” History shows that liberty is usually not destroyed all at once; it is sliced away piece by piece until the people wake up and realize the system no longer belongs to them.

That is not a new pattern. It is exactly the kind of abuse our Founding Fathers knew firsthand. They had lived under a government that imposed taxes without consent, kept standing armies among the people in peacetime, quartered troops, and concentrated power far from the citizens who had to live under it. James Madison warned that the accumulation of legislative, executive, and judicial power in the same hands is “the very definition of tyranny,” and Patrick Henry’s cry for liberty came in direct response to a government that had stopped listening to the people and started ruling over them.

The American Revolution was not fought over one tax or one isolated act. It was fought because the colonists recognized a pattern. They saw power centralizing, consent being bypassed, and government treating the people not as citizens to be respected, but as subjects to be managed. The men who signed the Declaration pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor because they understood that once freedom is surrendered by degrees, reclaiming it comes at a terrible cost.

History kept proving them right. In postwar Eastern Europe, communist parties did not always seize control in one obvious blow. In Hungary, communists entered coalition government, then took control of key institutions and dismantled their opposition “slice by slice,” a method that became known as salami tactics. Across Eastern Europe, similar patterns allowed Soviet-backed regimes to preserve the appearance of democratic process while hollowing out real political freedom.

Chile offers another warning. Salvador Allende came to power through an election, then pursued nationalization, state expansion, and deeper government control over the economy in the name of justice and reform. What followed was not stability or equality, but soaring inflation, shortages, social breakdown, and finally political collapse ending in the 1973 coup.

Venezuela may be the clearest modern example of the slow fade. Hugo Chávez was elected on promises to fight corruption and help ordinary people, but over time his government rewrote the constitution, expanded executive power, nationalized industries, and tightened state control over society and the economy. Under Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela descended into hyperinflation, mass emigration, and authoritarian rule, showing how a system can move from democratic language to centralized control step by step.

The lesson is not that every public program is communism or that every policy disagreement is tyranny. The lesson is that free people must learn to recognize patterns before they harden into systems. When government grows beyond its constitutional bounds, when unelected institutions dictate more of daily life, when speech is pressured, property rights are weakened, and citizens are trained to depend on centralized power, the warning lights are already flashing.

The slow fade depends on distraction. It depends on people dismissing one small step after another because each step, by itself, does not seem big enough to fight over. But history repeats itself in patterns, and the pattern is always the same: power accumulates, freedom shrinks, and those in charge insist it is temporary, necessary, and for your own good.

Our Founders gave everything to save us from exactly that kind of government. They did not build a constitutional republic so future generations would quietly trade liberty for comfort, security, or political convenience. They built barriers against centralized power because they knew human nature had not changed, and they understood that the greatest threat to freedom often comes wrapped in promises of order, fairness, and protection.

The question for our time is not whether history will repeat itself word for word. It won’t. The question is whether we are wise enough to recognize it when it rhymes. If we fail to notice the slow fade, we may one day discover that we have drifted back toward the very kind of rule our Founders risked everything to escape.

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The Choice Before Idaho

At the end of the day, this race isn’t about personalities. It’s about whether Idaho keeps drifting toward the same big‑government mindset that has been running things for decades, or whether we turn and go the other way.

On one side, you have a man who has spent 35 years inside government, moving from one title to the next, comfortable with the way things are and convinced that more programs, more agencies, and more centralized control are just “how it’s done.” He talks about managing government. I am running to limit it.

When you’ve lived in that environment long enough, more regulations, more boards, and more top‑down control start to feel normal, even reasonable. I don’t see it that way. I come from the world that has to live under those decisions, the families trying to keep their land, the small businesses trying to survive another mandate, the parents fighting to protect their kids and their values.

I did not go to the Capitol to make friends with the bureaucracy. I went there to fight for families, for property rights, for local control, and for the God‑given freedoms our Founders risked everything to secure. I am not interested in going along to get along while Idaho drifts the same direction as every other bloated, top‑down government.

So here is the contrast in District 24:

• He represents the system as it is.

• I represent the people who are tired of being managed by it.

If you want another long‑time government insider who sees the answer in more of the same, my challenger is your candidate. If you want your sitting senator to keep standing in the gap, push back, draw a line, and say “No more slow fade of our freedoms,” then I am asking for your vote.

Not because I want a career in politics, but because I want my grandchildren to inherit an Idaho that still looks like the Republic our Founders fought for, and not the centralized system they warned us about.

I’m Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld, proudly serving Idaho’s District 24.
If you believe Idaho should remain a place where freedom is real, where local people make local decisions, and where the slow fade of liberty stops at our borders, then I’m asking you to stand with me.

Vote Glenneda Zuiderveld in the Republican Primary, May 19th.

Let’s send a message: Idaho is not for sale, not for control, and not for surrender.

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I find it difficult to understand how so many who once called themselves Reagan Republicans now claim that I am anti-agriculture, anti-water, anti-law enforcement, anti-veteran—and the list goes on—simply because I dare to ask questions.

It was by asking questions that I caught an error in an employment compensation motion in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. It was by telling lobbyists I was not there just to write bills, but to expose corruption, that they returned the very next day with proof of fraud within Health and Welfare—fraud that cost taxpayers up to $70 million. I ran for office, and was elected, to question government—not to blindly go along with it.

Today, I received a letter from surface water users attempting to defame my character because I questioned Governor Little’s executive order regarding quagga mussels. This is the same governor who issued an executive order shutting down Idaho during COVID—before we had even documented a single case in our state. We all know how that turned out. So yes, I question.

My concerns began when a meeting was held on a Sunday evening in Twin Falls with the Director of the Department of Agriculture. During that presentation, we were told that water samples had tested positive for veligers—microscopic larvae we cannot see—and that a scuba diver had searched a two-mile stretch of river and found a single male quagga mussel. Their own words: it was like finding a needle in a haystack.

We were told it had been “isolated” with some form of containment, and then shown an Idaho license plate covered in quagga mussels found in another state. Despite many valid questions, the decision was made to spend millions on a treatment that would kill all fish in that section of river.

As I continued to ask questions, I looked into the natural predators of quagga mussels—bottom-feeding fish like carp, catfish, and sturgeon—the very species we just destroyed. After three years of treatment, I asked a simple question: is there a better way? Because what we are doing now—killing everything but the quagga—defies common sense. Doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results is not a solution.

The letter also criticizes me for questioning cloud seeding. Again, we are spending millions of your tax dollars. Is this truly the best use of those funds? Or could we invest in proven solutions—reservoirs, dams, and long-overdue water infrastructure projects that would deliver lasting benefits?

Lastly, the letter questions my “no” vote on the ongoing $30 million allocation for water projects.

I voted no because there is no true accountability tied to that funding. There was discussion about making it a one-time appropriation and revisiting it the following year to ensure proper oversight and measurable results. That proposal was rejected by the workgroup.

At the same time, I learned we are already sitting on nearly $400 million allocated to water projects that have yet to move forward. Parking hundreds of millions of dollars in reserves does nothing to address the water challenges we face today.

The real question is not how much more money we can spend—but why the money already allocated is not producing results. What questions need to be asked? What pressure needs to be applied to ensure these projects are completed?

I understand how critical water is to our region. But solving these issues takes more than writing checks—it requires elected officials who demand accountability, enforce timelines, and deliver results.

Why does asking these questions make me the enemy?

We should never fear questioning our government. As our founders warned: “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

Some of you may look at what is happening—the attacks, the false accusations, the attempts to harm my livelihood—and wonder if it is worth it. But this is nothing compared to what our Founding Fathers endured when they stood up to their government.

I have always made myself accessible. My phone number is public. I welcome your calls, your emails, your questions about how I vote and why. Yet very few reach out.

I will continue to ask questions. I will continue to stand firm. And I will continue to represent you—not the system.

Let me be clear: I am not the enemy of the farmer—I am one of the few willing to stand up and fight for them when it matters most. Real advocacy is not about going along to get along; it is about asking hard questions, demanding accountability, and refusing to accept decisions that put our land, water, and livelihoods at risk. That kind of leadership comes with a cost, and I have been willing to bear it—because the stakes are too high to do otherwise. I will continue to stand in that gap, speak the truth, and fight for the people who feed and sustain our communities, no matter the pressure or the personal risk.

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In counties like Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas, agriculture isn’t just an industry—it’s the backbone of family life, main street businesses, and our entire local culture. A recent University of Idaho report estimates that agriculture now drives about $44.5 billion in annual sales and accounts for roughly 17.2% of Idaho’s total economic output. One in nine Idaho jobs is tied to this work. That is something to respect and protect, not attack.

At the same time, a growing share of what happens on Idaho farms and dairies is influenced by decisions made in Washington, D.C.—often through federal subsidies, crop insurance support, and conservation programs that many operations depend on to manage risk. Every one of those programs comes with paperwork, eligibility rules, and conservation or compliance requirements. That raises a fair question for anyone who cares about both agriculture and Idaho sovereignty:

Are we strengthening Idaho agriculture’s future, or slowly trading local control, for water, land use, and production decisions, for federal leverage that comes with the money?

This isn’t about shaming farmers. It’s about asking whether the way we structure federal programs today truly serves Idaho’s long‑term interests in water, land, and local decision‑making.

How Much Federal Money Are We Talking About?

Over the past few decades, federal farm programs have become a core part of the financial landscape in farm country, including right here in Idaho. Public data show billions flowing into commodity programs, crop insurance premium support, and conservation contracts across the state since the mid‑1990s. While precise totals vary by category and year, the basic picture is clear: federal dollars are a major player in Idaho agriculture’s balance sheet.

A few key realities:

• Idaho’s agricultural economy is large and growing, with recent analysis placing its economic contribution at approximately $44.5 billion and about 17.2% of the state’s total output as of 2024 data.

• Those dollars are supported in part by federal risk‑management programs—subsidized crop insurance, commodity price supports, and conservation incentives that help smooth out droughts, price swings, and disasters.

• Nationwide, a substantial share of subsidy dollars is concentrated in a relatively small slice of operations, and that general pattern appears here too: larger, more capital‑intensive operations tend to capture a bigger portion of federal support compared with smaller family farms.

In places like Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas Counties, where dairies, cattle, and row crops dominate the federal presence is not theoretical. It shows up in insurance bills, in conservation contracts, and in the compliance visits and paperwork that come with them year after year.

That doesn’t make those programs “bad,” but it does mean they deserve scrutiny—especially when we talk about water, aquifers, and who is really making the rules for Idaho land and producers.

Why Farmers Use These Programs

To be clear: most Idaho producers who use federal programs are not “selling out.” They are trying to survive and compete in an unpredictable global market. Federal farm programs offer some real benefits:

• Risk protection – Subsidized crop insurance can be the difference between surviving a drought or a market collapse and going under. In a state where weather and water availability are never guaranteed, that risk‑sharing can keep families on the land.

• Income stability – Price‑based programs and disaster assistance help stabilize revenue when commodity prices fall or when disaster strikes, which can keep lenders, employees, and suppliers whole in tight years.

• Conservation funding – Voluntary conservation programs can help pay for soil health practices, water‑use efficiency, and other improvements that many Idaho producers care deeply about, especially in areas facing aquifer and groundwater concerns.

• Rural economic stability – Because agriculture drives such a large share of Idaho’s economic activity and jobs, stabilizing farm income can also stabilize rural main streets, equipment dealers, and local tax bases.

Many farmers describe this as a partnership: they follow federal rules, and in exchange they gain some level of predictable support in a very unpredictable business. From their perspective, that’s not a handout; it’s a risk‑management tool.

The Strings Attached: Where Federal Leverage Comes In

Where my concern comes in is not about the existence of these programs, but about the stringsand how they can quietly shift decision‑making away from Idaho and toward federal agencies.

Here are a few examples of how that leverage can work in practice:

• Conservation compliance rules – To stay eligible for certain subsidies and crop insurance premium support, producers must meet federal conservation standards on highly erodible lands and wetlands, documented through federal forms and overseen by NRCS and USDA. Those requirements can apply to all of a producer’s land, not just the acres directly benefitting from a particular payment.

• Eligibility and reporting rules – Producers must meet federal definitions of being “actively engaged in farming,” respect federal income caps and payment limits, and submit detailed acreage and production reports. One paperwork mistake can trigger penalties or loss of benefits, even when the error is unintentional.

• Multi‑year program contracts – Programs that pay for conservation or land‑use changes often lock producers into multi‑year commitments. Exiting early can mean repaying funds plus penalties, which is a powerful incentive to stay in line with federal expectations even if local conditions change.

For a dairy near Hansen or a ranch outside Twin Falls, this can mean that a missed deadline, a disputed wetland boundary, or a changed plan on water use leads to losing premium support or other payments for the year. When margins are tight, that kind of leverage matters.

Again, this is not an accusation that producers are doing anything wrong. It is an acknowledgment that federal dollars, by design, come with federal control mechanisms attached.

What This Means for Idaho Sovereignty and Water

At the state level, we’ve been working hard to assert that Idaho has primary jurisdiction over water, natural resources, agriculture, and land use. Legislation like House Bill 650 has advanced the principle that jurisdiction over matters arising within Idaho should be presumed to reside with the state, unless the federal government can clearly show constitutional authority to do otherwise. H650 explicitly emphasizes state jurisdiction over water and natural resources, agriculture, and land use.

That’s the direction many Idahoans want to go.

But federal farm and conservation programs operate on a different track. They don’t have to “take over” a state on paper; they simply attach conditions to money, and over time, producers, understandably, shape their choices to keep that money flowing. Congress and federal agencies set the rules in massive Farm Bills and regulatory handbooks, and states are often left reacting.

So here is the tension I’m raising:

• On one hand, Idaho is trying to assert and defend our sovereignty over water, land, and agriculture through state policy.

• On the other hand, the federal government continues to shape on‑the‑ground agricultural decisions through conditions attached to subsidies, insurance subsidies, and conservation programs.

We can say that participation is “voluntary,” and technically that’s true. But when entire business models and local economies are structured around these programs, the choice to opt out becomes less real and more theoretical.

As we debate new water projects, conservation initiatives, and federal grants, we need to ask: Do these dollars help us protect Idaho’s water and future, or do they hand more leverage to agencies in D.C. over how we use our land and water here at home?

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This Is Not Anti‑Agriculture. It’s Pro‑Idaho.

Because I’ve raised these concerns, some have claimed I’m “anti‑agriculture” or somehow against farmers and dairymen. I reject that!

My concern is precisely because agriculture is so important to Idaho’s economy and communities.

Here’s where I stand:

• I support Idaho agriculture as a critical pillar of our economy and identity.

• I want Idaho producers, not federal agencies, to have the strongest voice over Idaho land and water.

• I worry that certain federal arrangements, especially those tied to water and long‑term land use, may undermine that over time.

• I will hesitate to approve new federal dollars, especially for projects that don’t clearly and measurably improve water security or respect local control.

Those are not anti‑farmer positions. They are pro‑Idaho positions, focused on long‑term sovereignty and resource stewardship.

An Open Question to Farmers and Dairymen

I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I know many producers see these programs very differently. That’s why I want to turn this back to you, especially if you work the ground, run a dairy, or ranch in counties like Twin Falls, Gooding, Camas, and beyond:

• Do you feel federal programs give you more stability than they cost you in flexibility and freedom?

• When it comes to water projects and conservation rules tied to federal dollars, do you feel Idaho producers and local boards are truly in the driver’s seat, or do you feel boxed in by federal terms?

• If Idaho pushed for reforms that reduced dependency on federal programs but increased local control over water and land, would you see that as a threat or an opportunity?

I’m asking these questions not to criticize agriculture, but to better understand how we protect both our producers and our state’s sovereignty in the long run.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Federal farm programs are not going away tomorrow. They’re deeply embedded in our markets, our lending systems, and our local economies. But as Idaho debates water projects, federal grants, and new state‑federal “partnerships,” we get to decide what kind of future we want.

We could choose to:

• Push for federal reforms that simplify programs, reduce leverage over local water and land decisions, and treat states like real partners, not subordinates.

• Strengthen Idaho laws that assert primary state jurisdiction over water, agriculture, and land use, and ensure our agencies don’t sign away that authority in pursuit of short‑term funding.

• Expand market‑based, locally driven approaches that help producers innovate, conserve water, and stay competitive without as many federal strings attached.

I’m willing to keep asking hard questions in the Legislature, even when it’s politically uncomfortable. But I don’t want to have this conversation about agriculture, I want to have it with you.

So here’s my question for you, as a reader and as an Idahoan:

Would you rather see Idaho agriculture move toward more independence, even if that means fewer federal dollars, or maintain the current system for the sake of short‑term stability?

I invite you to share your experiences and views in the comments or by reaching out directly. Your perspective matters, and it should shape how Idaho approaches both water policy and federal involvement in the years ahead.

Links to help you do your own research.

EWG Farm Subsidy Database (Primary Source for Payment Data)

• Twin Falls County Total Subsidies (1995–2024): $245+ million

• Gooding County Total Subsidies (1995–2024): $120+ million

• Camas County Total Subsidies (1995–2024): $29+ million

• Statewide Idaho Total Subsidies by County (1995–2024)

• Idaho Commodity Programs Overview (1995–2024)

• Idaho Conservation Programs Overview

Why I’m Asking for Your Trust

I’m running for another term in District 24 because this is home, and Idaho agriculture is my roots, not a talking point. My family has worked the ground, cared for cows, and lived the ups and downs of this industry for decades, and that experience is exactly why I will always question the motives of government when it puts strings on our land, our water, and our way of life.

I have never been interested in what is easy; I have always been driven by justice and by doing what is right, even when it means standing alone. I will keep fighting for Idahoans who have been here for generations and for those who just came because of the beauty, opportunity, and liberty we still enjoy. My goal is not to tell you I have integrity and principles, it is to show you, consistently, that I live by them.

You will not see me slander others to win your vote. If I earn your support, I want it to be because you trust that I will not compromise my principles, no matter the pressures from special interests in Boise or here locally. I will continue to expose corruption, insist on transparency, and uphold my oath to both the Idaho and U.S. Constitutions.

There’s a line in Braveheart that captures how I view public service: there is a difference between believing people exist to give you a position, and believing your position exists to give people freedom. I am asking for your vote so I can keep using this office to protect your freedom and I intend to go back and fight like it.

Let’s keep moving forward together, vote May 19th. I’d be honored to serve.

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You’ve probably seen or heard negative ads in my Senate race. They say “Paid for by WinAg PAC.” But when you look at WinAg’s own campaign‑finance reports, they show no current spending in this election.

That doesn’t add up.

Once again, both of these bills are enhancements—no defunding occurs here. Click on each bill and read them for yourselves. Remember, Table 1 shows the enhancements, and Table 2 shows the maintenance along with the total including enhancements. SB1409, SB1197

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What The Reports Show

• WinAg PAC is registered as a political committee in Idaho.

• Their latest public report shows money raised in past cycles, but no current activity listed for the 2026 primary.

In plain English: they are active in our race.

Why That’s A Problem

Idaho’s campaign‑finance laws are supposed to give voters the truth about who is spending money to influence your vote. When a PAC is running attack ads but its reports show “no spending,” one of two things is happening:

• They are using reporting gaps or technicalities to hide the timing and source of their spending; or

What WinAg Won’t Tell You

WinAg PAC doesn’t farm here. They don’t live here. They’re part of a political machine that pools money and then drops into local races to pick winners and losers.

They don’t put their name on the ballot.
They don’t come to your fields, your shops, or your kitchen tables.
But they do try to pick your senator for you.

If their cause is so noble, why don’t their public reports match what you see in your mailbox?

WinAg Biggest Donor

One more important detail about who is really behind WinAg: in 2024, its largest reported donor was the Far West Agribusiness Association, a Weiser‑based regional trade group for fertilizer, agrichemical, and big‑agribusiness interests across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. FWAA is not a local family‑farm co‑op; it is a 501(c)(6) business league whose mission is to “enhance the business and safety environment for the fertilizer and agrichemical industry” across five states, representing more than a hundred corporate members in inputs, crop protection, and distribution. Its board includes executives from Bayer Crop Science, J.R. Simplot, Nutrien, CHS, Helena, Valley Agronomics, and other large players, and it works closely with national industry groups like The Fertilizer Institute and CropLife America to fight pesticide restrictions and other regulations that affect their bottom line. In other words, WinAg’s money is coming from a professional lobbying arm for large agribusiness and chemical companies whose priority is protecting their business model across the region—not from the small irrigator or the family operation trying to hold on to ground in Jerome and Twin Falls.

The People’s Senator

When you work for the people, you’re going to catch flak from corporations and from government insiders who are comfortable with the status quo. We should never be afraid to question and expose both government and the powerful interests behind it, and we should always ask who stands to gain the most from the policies being pushed on us. In this race, I’m choosing to stand with the voters, not with the PACs and corporate lobbies that would rather you didn’t look too closely at where their money comes from—or what they’re buying with it.

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My challenger recently sent out a mailer claiming you deserve a leader who protects your livelihood. That sounds good, until you realize it’s built on misleading you. And I won’t stand by and let that go unchallenged.

Leadership isn’t about fooling people. It’s about informing them. It’s about respecting you enough to give you the facts so you can decide for yourself.

I’ve never believed in telling people what to think, I believe in giving you the truth.

My mom used to say, “If you lie in the small things, you’ll lie in the big things.” That stayed with me. Because character isn’t situational, it’s consistent.

I’m running on something simple: honesty, integrity, and the courage to stand on my principles, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it means taking the hits… even when it has cost me my own livelihood.

I won’t back down. I won’t bend the truth to win.

And when I win, it will be because I earned your trust, not because I deceived you.

HB88

Let’s start with HB88, the claim that I voted “in support of predators.” That is not just misleading. It is flat-out false.

The truth? The Senate never even voted on HB88. Not once.

So when my opponent says I supported it, he’s not stretching the truth, he’s ignoring it completely. And that should concern every one of us.

If someone is willing to mislead you about something this serious, what else are they willing to twist?

I won’t play that game. I won’t lie to win. And I won’t back down from calling it out when I see it.

You deserve leadership rooted in facts, not fear. In integrity, not deception.

HB445 (Enhancement)

Let’s be honest for a moment, why would a potato farmer’s daughter from the Magic Valley ever be against protecting your water? I wouldn’t. And I’m not.

This accusation is tied to my vote on HB445. But here’s what’s missing: HB445 wasn’t about whether we protect water, it was an enhancement bill, adding more spending on top of what already exists.

The reality is, we’re not lacking funding. Idaho is already sitting on roughly $400 million designated for water infrastructure.

What we’re lacking is local control and the ability to actually get projects moving.

So I asked a simple question: what good is adding more money to a system that isn’t delivering results?

I’ll always fight to protect our water. But I’ll also fight to make sure your money is used wisely, effectively, and with accountability. Because throwing more dollars at a problem we haven’t fixed isn’t a solution, it’s avoidance.

As you can see, I voted to invest $82.2 million in water—because protecting our water is essential.

But I voted against the additional $31 million because it was new spending with no added oversight.

SB1137 (Enhancement)

Against the military and our veterans? That couldn’t be further from the truth.

My family has served this country in every generation. Two of my own sons served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve seen firsthand the sacrifice, not just from those who wear the uniform, but from the families who stand behind them. When one serves, the whole family serves.

So ask yourself, why would I ever stand against them? I wouldn’t. And I never have.

This accusation is built on my vote on SB1137. But again, the truth matters: it was an enhancement bill that relied on new federal dollars.

I made a pledge to protect Idaho’s financial future and like my sons who honored their commitment to serve, I honored mine.

That’s not opposition to our military or veterans. That’s leadership grounded in principle, discipline, and keeping your word.

Enhancements do not defund our military or veterans.

SB1130 (Enhancement)

I think you’re starting to see a pattern as you look at SB1130.

An “enhancement” vote is not a vote to defund. It’s not a vote against our law enforcement.

I support our police and first responders deeply, but I also believe every hardworking Idahoan deserves respect, because every job plays a role in keeping our state running.

What you’re really seeing is consistency. Discipline. A willingness to hold the line on government spending, even when it’s not easy.

HB482 (Supplemental)

Now let me help you understand what a “supplemental” really is, because this is where things often get twisted. HB482 is a supplemental.

A supplemental is simply a change to the current year’s budget, not next year’s. It’s typically used to add funding for unexpected costs or emergencies, but it can also remove money or shift funds between programs.

In other words, it’s an adjustment, not a statement of support or opposition to any one issue.

So again, voting on a supplemental is not “defunding” and it’s not being against any group or service.

The challenge with this particular bill is that it bundled many different line items into one. And in my view, that approach raises serious concerns, even constitutional ones, because it forces unrelated issues into a single vote.

Here’s the reality: the legislature doesn’t have the option of a line-item veto. It’s all or nothing.

So when I vote, I’m not just looking at one piece, I’m weighing the entire bill and whether it meets the standard of responsible, transparent governance.

SB1197 (Enhancement)

The last bill my opponent points to is SB1197, again claiming I’m “defunding” police. Let’s be clear: that’s simply not true.

SB1197 was an enhancement bill. No base funding was cut. No defunding happened, not on my watch.

What I opposed was additional spending, not support for law enforcement. And there’s a big difference.

I will always stand with those who serve and protect our communities, but I will also stand firm in making sure your tax dollars are spent with discipline and accountability.

The Courage to Lead with Truth

At the end of the day, this comes down to one simple question: what does real leadership look like?

Is it saying whatever sounds good in a mailer? Or is it making the hard decisions, guided by facts, principles, and a responsibility to the people you serve?

Time and time again, I chose the harder path. I voted to fully fund what matters, our water, our communities, our essential services, while standing firm against unchecked spending, lack of oversight, and decisions that put Idaho’s financial future at risk.

I didn’t waver. I didn’t bend. I held the line.

Because leadership isn’t about what’s easy, it’s about what’s right.

My opponent says he will “fight for an affordable Idaho.” But affordability doesn’t come from more government, more spending, and less accountability. It comes from discipline. It comes from stewardship. It comes from leaders willing to protect your hard-earned dollars and ensure they are used wisely.

That’s exactly what I’ve done.

I’ve proven I will stand for every hardworking Idahoan, not just in words, but in action. With consistency. With transparency. And with the courage to tell you the truth, even when it’s not politically convenient.

You deserve leadership you can trust. Leadership that doesn’t back down. Leadership that puts you first.

That’s the standard I hold myself to, and that’s the leadership I will continue to deliver.

I Need your Help!

I will continue to be honest, transparent, and informative, giving you the facts so you can decide for yourselves and not be misled by false mailers, texts, or phone calls.

But I can’t do this alone. I need your help to get the truth out. Please share this Substack, and visit and share my website: glenneda.com.

Our founders reminded us that a republic is only preserved by a well-informed people. That responsibility belongs to all of us.

My mission is simple: to protect our Constitutional Republic, our liberties, and our freedoms, not just for today, but for the next generation.

Let’s stand together as informed voters.

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Today, we know what it feels like to lose our fortune. I have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and to stand on the principles so many of you elected me to defend choosing what is right over what is easy.

One of the top issues I hear about constantly is illegal immigration. Representative Dale Hawkins and I worked on a resolution together in 2024 that ultimately became a competing resolution to Senator Guthrie’s. Ours was stronger in its language, but it did not have the support of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Guthrie’s did. I knew that sponsoring our resolution, even though it was “just a resolution”, could come at a real cost to Tom and me if our customers, many of whom are dairymen, chose to retaliate. Our resolution did not make it through both chambers, but Senator Guthrie’s did. I was grateful at the time that we did not lose any customers.

This year, I have signed on in support of immigration bills that passed the House and are now sitting in Senator Guthrie’s drawer. You will hear some say I am ineffective, but if that were true, why did the Governor transfer money to a PAC that spent $100,000 against me in the last election? Why does the Idaho Dairymen’s Association contribute to my challenger?

I share all of this because today, before I even walked into the house, Tom was on the phone with a sick look on his face. He hung up and told me that three of our dairy customers no longer wants to do business with us because of my politics. I will be sharing the letter and additional screenshots. Tom and I will not be silent.

As William Wallace so powerfully said:

And:

What will we do? We are survivors. We will not let this stop us from fighting for our freedoms, or for the freedoms of our children. We will not bow to fear. Freedom is worth everything, either it is worth sacrificing for, or it is not freedom at all.

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Why are we expected to simply trust and never ask questions?

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One challenge I see in Idaho politics is that we often place trust in people simply because we have known them our whole lives. Many of them are third- and fourth-generation Idahoans, folks whose families have been part of our communities for decades. I hear it all the time: “Oh, they’re good people. We’ve known them forever.”

They may very well be good people and great neighbors. But something can change when we arrive at the Boise Capitol. Somewhere along the way, some forget who they are supposed to represent and who sent them there.

If we do not stay grounded by the people who actually voted us in, remember our oath of office, and guard our principles as if they were gold, silver, and rubies, it becomes very easy to drift. After spending four years at the Capitol, I can see how quickly someone could get caught up in the system. The pressure, the relationships, the constant stream of information, it is real. And the truth is, we are often outnumbered by the red and green badges in the halls.

Those badges tell their own story. The red tags represent government agencies. The green tags represent lobbyists or advisors. Different titles, but often the same purpose: men and women who are paid to influence whether legislation passes or fails in ways that benefit the interests they represent.

So let’s take a step back and look at how both government agencies and the lobby groups surrounding them have grown over the years.

Agencies:

Most Idahoans assume the structure of our state government is largely set by the Constitution. In reality, that is not the case. The Idaho Constitution establishes only a handful of offices and just three constitutional boards: the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners, the Idaho State Board of Education, and the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. Everything else, the many agencies, boards, commissions, and councils that exist today, was created later through legislation.

That means the vast majority of Idaho’s government structure is not permanent. It exists because the Legislature created it over time.

In the 1960s, Idaho had a relatively simple structure: roughly fifteen to seventeen major state departments and about sixty boards and commissions. These were primarily focused on core responsibilities like education, natural resources, agriculture, and transportation. Over the decades, however, that structure steadily expanded. Federal grant programs, professional licensing requirements, and industry commissions all contributed to the creation of new boards and advisory councils.

Today, Idaho still has roughly twenty major agencies, but the number of boards, commissions, and councils has grown to well over two hundred. The agency structure has remained relatively stable, but the layers of boards beneath those agencies have multiplied. Because nearly all of these bodies were created in statute rather than the Constitution, the Legislature retains the authority to consolidate, reform, or eliminate them when necessary. Understanding how this growth occurred is an important first step in evaluating how our government has grown.

Lobbyists

Another number worth paying attention to around the Capitol is the number of lobbyists. Idaho’s Legislature is intentionally small, just 105 citizen lawmakers serving the entire state. Yet surrounding that small body of legislators each year is a much larger group of professional advocates. In recent sessions, roughly 400–450 registered lobbyists have been working in and around the Capitol representing more than 700 employers and clients. Businesses, industry associations, unions, nonprofit organizations, and even government entities all hire lobbyists to follow legislation and advocate for their interests.

It was not always this way. Historical records from the Idaho Secretary of State show that in the early 1960s there were only about 60–70 registered lobbyists in Idaho. Today that number has grown more than sixfold. Participation in the legislative process is a right in a free society, and citizens absolutely should have a voice in their government. But the numbers tell an important story. When hundreds of organized interests surround a Legislature of just 105 members, it becomes even more important for ordinary Idahoans to stay informed and engaged. The balance of a representative government depends not just on those who are paid to advocate, but on citizens who are paying attention.

Why am I sharing all of this? Because I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on it as I commit myself to campaign to serve as your senator for another two years.

The discipline and courage it takes to be your statesman, to stand firm and refuse to compromise principles, must be rooted in a deep love for the people of this great state. I truly believe that. Serving you is not about titles or recognition. It is about stewardship, responsibility, and remembering who sent us there.

In the coming years, the pressures will only grow. I do not believe we are out of our budget challenges yet, even though many seem to assume that state and federal dollars will always be there. Over time, far too many programs, and far too many people, have become dependent on government funding. When the conversation turns to reducing or removing a program, it pulls at your heart, because real people are affected.

But the truth remains: we cannot spend money we do not have.

That leaves us with only two honest choices. We either return to our constitutional responsibilities, make those our priority, and begin making the difficult decisions about what government should and should not fund, or we continue down the path of placing more burdens on the people through taxes, fees, and fines.

That is a tremendous responsibility, and it is one that weighs heavily on me.

At times, I find myself frustrated when I think about the decisions made by previous generations of leaders who allowed government to grow beyond what our Constitution intended. Those choices have left us with a system that is increasingly difficult to sustain.

But frustration alone accomplishes nothing.

That is why I will continue to fight, serve, and work, with humility and determination, in the hope that we can begin correcting some of these mistakes and restore a government that is sustainable and faithful to its constitutional role.

I do it for the people of Idaho today, and for our children and grandchildren who will inherit the decisions we make.

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Bible Verse of the Week

“For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48 (NKJV)

Quote of the Week:

“It is the duty of a good citizen to question authority.”
— Benjamin Franklin

Song of the Week:

I am Groot….all these battles going on and I just keep dancing. LOL

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Serving While Campaigning

With the time change, we may lose an hour of sleep, but we gain more daylight to get work done. With only 72 days until the Primary Election, there is much to be done.

As the incumbent, my first responsibility is the job you elected me to do. That means reading bills, working through budgets, serving in committees, and spending long hours on the Senate floor. At the same time, campaign season brings its own responsibilities—town halls, meet-and-greets, putting up signs, raising funds for mailers and media, and traveling throughout the district to visit with constituents.

People often ask me how I manage it all. My honest answer is simple: I don’t spend much time thinking about it, I just do it. If you think too long about a difficult task, it’s easy to talk yourself out of it.

I was sent here to do a job: to keep my oath, defend your freedoms, and protect the sovereignty of our great state.That responsibility is something I take seriously every single day.

I also pray that my example encourages others to get involved. The work of self-government should never fall on the shoulders of just a few. When more citizens step forward, the weight becomes lighter for everyone, and our republic grows stronger.

With that in mind, you will begin to see more of my Substack updates. I will be sharing what is happening at your State Capitol, along with updates from the campaign trail as I ask for your support and your vote to serve you again.

Statehouse Update

JFAC Committee:

The goal is to move all enhancements and supplementals out of committee by March 11 so they can go before the full Legislature. At that point, the temperature of both the House and Senate chambers will determine whether these proposals pass or are sent back to committee for additional holdbacks.

As part of the Gang of 8, I made a pledge to the people of Idaho. In keeping that promise, you will notice that I have voted no on most enhancements and supplementals. In several cases, I have voted for the lesser of two motions to move an item out of committee, while reserving the right to change my vote when it comes to the Senate floor.

I have also learned that my vote on the Senate side in JFAC is often the deciding vote on many of these motions, which makes these decisions even more significant.

It is important to remember that enhancements and supplementals do not defund programs. Our maintenance budgets, even after reductions, still keep the core functions of Idaho government operating. So when you hear claims that something is being “defunded,” that is simply not accurate.

In fact, mark my words: when all the enhancements are added back in, you will likely see the overall budget increase, even after the roughly $750 million reduction to maintenance spending.

Senate Health and Welfare:

We haven’t seen many bills come through our committee this year. Here are some that I have voted to send to the floor:

H528 Directed Blood Transfusion:

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure patients in Idaho can provide their own or a directed donor’s blood for transfusions via a federally compliant blood establishment, protecting patient autonomy while allowing exceptions for safety, time, or emergencies.

S1346 Immunization Moratorium on Gene Therapy :

(I voted to send this to the 14th order, there was some language that needed to be clarified.)

This legislation establishes a temporary moratorium on the administration of certain human gene therapy products for infectious disease indications to children under eighteen (18) years of age and to pregnant women. The bill adds a new section to Chapter 48, Title 39, Idaho Code, to prohibit the administration of such products regardless of route or modality and regardless of whether the administration is termed an immunization, vaccine, or any other term.

Campaign

I Need Your Help

This campaign is truly a grassroots effort, and it only works when neighbors step up to help neighbors. If you are willing to lend a hand in any way, I would be very grateful.

If you can help with any of the items below, please text me. That is the best way to reach me during the busy legislative session, and I will call you back as soon as I have a free moment.

Here are a few ways you can help:

• Organize meet-and-greets or town halls in your community
• Help Tom put up campaign signs around the district
• Join our door-knocking team and visit with voters
• Help address envelopes for campaign mailers
• Make phone calls to encourage voters and supporters
• Share my Substack articles and social media posts to help spread the message

With both a Democrat and an Independent challenger in the General Election in November, I will also need to continue raising funds for the campaign. Any amount is a blessing, and I am truly thankful for your support.

Every conversation, every sign, every shared post, and every contribution helps move this campaign forward. Thank you for standing with me and helping keep Idaho strong.

To learn more about me, Glenneda.com .

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Bible Verse of the week:

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Quote of the Week:

John Quincy Adams

“Duty is ours; results are God’s.”

Song of the Week:

Saying “no” is not easy, especially when you are the only one saying it. It can be a lonely place to stand, out on what sometimes feels like the Island of NO.

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In the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), my Democratic colleague Senator Wintrow consistently warns about what she calls a revenue crisis. While we may disagree on many solutions, I respect consistency. But the alarm I believe we should be sounding is different.

The real warning bell is not just a revenue crisis.

It is a spending crisis and a federal dependency crisis.

Sometimes serving in the Legislature feels like standing as a watchman at the gate, seeing a storm coming long before others are willing to admit it. The watchman’s duty is simple: warn the people.

Right now, the numbers tell a story we should not ignore.

Governor Little recently ordered a 3% holdback across state agencies (excluding K–12) for Fiscal Year 2026 due to missed revenue projections. Yet in the same breath, we are told how strong Idaho’s economy is.

In response, the Idaho JFAC passed two rescission bills. One adds an additional 1% holdback for FY2026, bringing the total to 4%, and another applies the Governor’s 3% holdback for FY2027 with an additional 2%, bringing that total to 5%. These measures passed the Senate by a single vote, 18–17 and now have moved to the House.

If these bills fail, JFAC will be forced to reopen and revise the maintenance budgets already approved in committee, potentially delaying the legislative session into April.

Let’s be clear: the Legislature’s number one job is to appropriate taxpayer dollars and balance the state budget.

And here is the hard truth:

Both stories cannot hold forever. Either our economy is as strong as claimed, or our spending has grown beyond what our revenues can sustain. Eventually, reality will choose for us. Numbers do not lie. They can be manipulated, delayed, or reframed, but eventually they expose reality.

And the reality is this: Idaho state spending has grown roughly 60% in just six years.

That kind of growth eventually demands a reckoning.

At the same time, 43% of Idaho’s budget now comes from the federal government, with a large portion flowing through the Department of Health and Welfare. Federal money always arrives wrapped in the promise of help, but also tied to future obligations.

Recently, the Governor and the Department of Health and Welfare applied for nearly $1 billion from the new Rural Health Fund, created at the last minute inside the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” to secure enough votes for passage.

The application was submitted quickly, and already many people have their hands out, like when someone wins the lottery. Everyone wants to decide who will create the committee, who will provide the oversight, and how the money will be spent.

Many believe it will benefit rural areas, but I have already seen bills proposing that the funds be used for medical school tuition instead.

Like the ARPA funds, this money will be gone in five years, and Idaho will have to figure out how the state will continue once this one-time funding is spent.

Programs rarely shrink once they are created.

Ironically, while some legislators push for an Article V Convention of States to require a balanced federal budget, that same body often votes to accept billions more in federal funds, funds that are borrowed against a national debt now exceeding $38 trillion.

Are We Breaking our Oath of Office?

This is a serious moment in our history, and it raises a difficult question: Are we breaking our oath of office when we vote to raise taxes and expand entitlement spending? I would argue that in many cases, the answer is yes.

We often hear the warning that if we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Yet here we are, overlooking the very lessons our Founders paid for with their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor when they fought to free this nation from oppressive government.

Through my research, one truth stands out clearly: there is no constitutional duty, under oath or otherwise, to fund broad health and welfare programs. Neither the U.S. Constitution nor the Idaho Constitution creates a mandatory obligation for government to provide general public assistance, healthcare entitlements, or expansive welfare systems. Our oath requires us to support and defend the Constitutions as written, respecting, the limits, not to invent spending obligations that do not exist in the text.

The U.S. Constitution’s reference to the “general welfare” appears in the Preamble as a guiding purpose and in Article I, Section 8 as a power to tax and spend for national needs. It is not a requirement to fund specific programs like Medicaid expansions or subsidizes.

The Idaho Constitution follows the same principle. While it requires the state to establish certain institutions, such as those for mental health, the blind, the deaf, and other limited facilities, and clearly mandates a system of public education, it does not create a sweeping duty to fund broad health and welfare programs or long-term entitlement systems.

Closing Thought

While serving on the Health and Welfare workgroup, reviewing enhancement and supplemental requests, I found myself troubled by a message I kept hearing, that we must continue funding entitlement programs that are constantly expanding, even for many able-bodied individuals who have learned how to qualify for them.

Finally, I said what had been weighing on me: “we are either entitled or enslaved”. It was not well received, but it reflects the reality many hardworking Idahoans see every day.

Across our state, there are people working 60-plus hours a week, receiving none of these benefits while their taxes fund them.

So I leave you with a question that every legislator, and every citizen, should wrestle with:

Is it truly the role of government to become a permanent charity, or have we lost sight of the principles that built a free and self-governing people?

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My Pay Raise Donation Recipient: Sage Women’s Center, Nicki Kroese, Executive Director.

Quote of the Week: You get two.

Benjamin Franklin

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”

“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means… I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”

Bible Verse of the Week:

Galatians 6:5

“For each one shall bear his own load.”

Song of the Week:

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We will be voting on enhancement requests next week, which will increase the JFAC base figure of $13,332,534,100. Because of that, I do not expect we will see as large a gap between the FY2026 budget and the final FY2027 budget as the maintenance numbers alone might suggest.

There has been a great deal of emotion in JFAC. At times, the discussion has felt personal. But the reality is straightforward: revenues did not meet projections, and we must now appropriate within those limits. Over the past six years, Idaho’s budget has grown by approximately 60 percent. Much of that growth was fueled by COVID-era and ARPA federal funds. We knew those dollars would eventually run out, yet many projects initiated with one-time money carry ongoing maintenance and operational costs that now fall to Idaho taxpayers.

In addition, when agencies receive large appropriations with limited oversight, problems can follow. Recent audits have identified concerns that underscore why fiscal restraint and accountability are not optional, they are essential.

I have received many emails, phone calls, and text messages from constituents concerned about Medicaid funding. Let me begin by offering some clarity: Medicaid was not affected by the recent rescissions. Neither were K–12 education, the Department of Correction, or law enforcement.

Regarding Medicaid, the federal government currently covers between 70 and 90 percent of the program’s costs, depending on the eligibility category. That leaves the State of Idaho responsible for roughly 10 to 30 percent. Any decision to reduce or eliminate those federal dollars would happen at the federal level, not in the Idaho Legislature. And here is the difficult truth: Idaho’s state revenues could not come close to absorbing the full cost of Medicaid if federal funding were withdrawn.

To understand the scale, consider the numbers. In 2026, Idaho’s total Medicaid budget is approximately $5.25 billion, funded jointly by federal dollars and Idaho taxpayers. The largest and fastest-growing portion is Medicaid Expansion, costing about $1.3 billion this year alone. While the federal government covers roughly 90 percent of that expansion cost (about $1.17 billion), Idaho taxpayers still contribute around $130 million. The remaining categories, Coordinated (primarily seniors and dual-eligible individuals), Enhanced (people with disabilities and special health needs), and Basic (pregnant women, children, and families), account for the rest of the spending.

What is clear is this: Medicaid is now one of the largest components of Idaho’s entire state budget. Even when Washington pays the bigger share, Idaho families are still responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and ultimately, that obligation rests here at home.

I do not believe panic is helpful. But preparation is prudent. With the federal deficit nearing $39 trillion, it would be unwise to assume that current funding structures will remain untouched forever. I respect you too much to withhold that reality. It is always better to plan thoughtfully than to be caught off guard.

I was disappointed when the Governor’s office released a list of programs that might be eliminated. As we reviewed that list, it became clear that many of the items referenced are tied directly to Medicaid and federal requirements and therefore cannot simply be “cut” at the state level. Releasing such a list without that clarification created unnecessary fear and confusion among Idahoans who rely on these services. Clear communication matters, especially when people’s health and livelihoods are involved.

We do have the option to repeal Medicaid Expansion. However, I do not believe there is currently the political will within leadership to pursue that course. And even if such a repeal were to pass the Legislature, it is highly likely the Governor would veto it.

Below are the different Medicaid programs. The reality is straightforward: the more funding directed toward able-bodied adults, less money remains to support the elderly, severely disabled adults, and medically fragile children who rely on these services the most. In a system with finite resources, priorities matter.

COORDINATED MEDICAID PLAN: Beneficiaries covered in this plan primarily consist of those who are age 65 and older. All individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, regardless of age, may elect to receive coverage under this plan.

ENHANCED MEDICAID PLAN: Medicaid-eligible group primarily made up of children and adults (non-elderly) with disabilities, or other individuals with special health needs, such as foster children. Individuals included in this plan may elect to remain in this plan after they turn 65 years old.

BASIC MEDICAID PLAN: Medicaid-eligible group primarily consisting of Pregnant Women and Children (PWC), Family Medicaid and Idaho's Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These populations are assumed to be in average health, with average levels of disease.

EXPANSION MEDICAID PLAN: Beneficiaries covered in this plan have an income level of 138% of the federal poverty limit (FPL) or less. These populations are assumed to be in average health, with average levels of disease. Coverage for this population group started on January 1, 2020.

The chart below reflects the FY2026 appropriations by fund source and function. I encourage you to pay close attention to the proportion of federal funds, as well as the total amount allocated to Health and Welfare.

The warning signs are there. I am simply doing my best to point them out clearly and honestly.

If you would like to review the 851 page Idaho Budget Book, click HERE.

One more point worth noting: education is not suffering to the extent some would have you believe. The FY2027 request totals $4,450,152,300, representing a 4.1 percent increase over the prior year. We will see where the final appropriation ultimately lands.

In addition, there is approximately $716 million in fund balances available. Those reserves could be utilized if districts claim they are unable to operate on $4.45 billion. The full financial picture deserves to be part of the conversation.

Read more about the school fund balances HERE.

Quote of the Week:

“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” ~Ronal Reagan

Bible Verse of the Week:

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.”
— Psalm 37:21 (ESV)

Song of the Week:

I have now taken the oath to the Constitution twice:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of __________ according to the best of my ability.”

Taking an oath is meant to protect the people, our state, our nation, and even those of us who are elected to serve. Our oath is clear: we solemnly swear to support both the United States Constitution and the Idaho Constitution.

These documents are not open-ended. They define and limit what government is allowed to do. That limitation is intentional.

Let me give a simple example. When you take your car in to have the tires rotated, do you need to list everything the mechanic is not allowed to do? Of course not. You give permission to rotate the tires, nothing more. If that work order does not authorize an oil change, replacing the radio, or repainting the car, the shop has no authority to do those things, no matter how strongly they believe you “need” them.

They are limited to rotating the tires because that is the only authority you granted.

The same principle applies to our Constitutions. Government does not have unlimited power. We have no authority to go beyond what is written and granted. Anything outside that authority is not ours to take, no matter how well-intentioned it may be.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress to tax and spend for three, and only three purposes: to pay the debts of the United States, to provide for the common defense, and to promote the general welfare of the nation. At the Founding, this authority was intentionally limited. Paying debts meant honoring national obligations to preserve credit and stability. Providing for the common defense meant protecting the entire country from external threats, one of the primary reasons the states formed a union in the first place. These were understood as clear, national responsibilities, not open-ended permissions.

The phrase “general welfare” was never intended to turn the federal government into a charity, a business partner, or a national problem-solver for every social need. The Founders rejected that idea outright. James Madison warned that treating “general welfare” as a blank check would destroy every constitutional limit on federal power. Government was designed to be limited in scope and restrained in action, not a distributor of benefits or manager of industries. Compassion, charity, and local needs were meant to be addressed by families, churches, communities, and States, not centralized in Washington. When government spends beyond its written authority, no matter how well-intentioned, it is no longer governing by consent but by assumption. The Constitution draws clear boundaries, and crossing them erodes both liberty and accountability.

The Idaho Constitution grants authority carefully and sparingly. Like the U.S. Constitution, it gives the Legislature the power to tax, appropriate, and spend public funds, primarily laid out in Article VII (Finance and Revenue). But what it does not do is just as important as what it does. The Constitution does not require the state to fund an ever-expanding list of programs, services, or entitlements. There are no broad mandates for welfare systems, infrastructure spending, healthcare programs, or economic development schemes. Instead, the document is written to limit government, restrain debt, prohibit misuse of public credit, and protect the people from unchecked authority.

The few funding obligations that do appear in the Constitution are narrow and specific. They include compensation for constitutional officers, judges, and legislators, and the duty to establish and maintain a general, uniform, and thorough system of public, free common schools, including protecting the permanent school endowment and distributing its earnings. That is it. Beyond these limited guarantees, nearly all other state spending exists by legislative discretion, not constitutional command. Roads, prisons, health programs, agencies, and modern policy initiatives are funded because lawmakers choose to fund them, not because the Constitution requires it. This distinction matters. When spending is treated as mandatory simply because it has existed for years or is supported by federal dollars, we drift away from constitutional government. The Idaho Constitution was designed to set boundaries, not write blank checks—and it places the responsibility squarely on legislators to know those limits and govern within them.

The reason I am sharing all of this is simple: we have forgotten the purpose of government and our responsibilities as “We the People,” and we are now living with the consequences. Last week at the Capitol, we made some difficult decisions. Some were necessary and good; others will carry consequences because we have failed, over time, to fully support and adhere to our Constitutions.

Our Founders placed limits on government for a reason. They had lived under the oppression of a power-hungry king who abused authority and burdened the people. Those limits were not accidental, they were intentional safeguards. I strongly encourage everyone to read not only the Constitution, but also the Declaration of Independence, to understand what our Founding Fathers fought to free us from and why they structured government the way they did.

Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers

Last Week:

On the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), we voted to add an additional 1 percent reduction to the FY 2026 budget and a 2 percent reduction for FY 2027, beyond the Governor’s proposed 3 percent holdback. This is only the beginning. JFAC is actively examining further reductions, and the germane committees are also identifying policies that can and should be repealed.

In response, we received many emails, phone calls, and visits from people fearful of losing funding they depend on. Some understood the reality; many did not fully grasp that Idaho does not have the revenue to sustain programs funded by the federal government, especially as our national debt approaches $39 trillion. It has never been the proper role of government to fund everything. That is a hard truth, but an honest one. Past and present elected officials have violated their oath, not lightly stated, but plainly evident when one studies our founding documents and compares them to how government now operates.

Another concerning vote was on HCR 25, which sends a message that Idaho supports a Convention of States to pursue a Balanced Budget Amendment. Once again, this proposal reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of our founding documents, which already make clear that government is to live within its means and avoid debt, as I shared above.

The problem has never been a lack of constitutional guidance. The problem is a lack of discipline, discipline in spending what is constitutional and refusing what is not, and discipline in remaining steadfast to the oath we solemnly swear to uphold and defend. Passing unconstitutional budgets and then calling for constitutional changes to fix the consequences of that behavior puts the blame in the wrong place.

This House Concurrent Resolution will now make its way to the Senate. I pray the Senate recognizes that sending a select few to alter our Constitution is not what needs fixing. A new amendment will not erase $39 trillion in debt. It will not change the hearts of men, nor will it suddenly instill the courage to stop spending beyond our authority. If we have not kept our word to uphold the Constitution we already have, there is no reason to believe rewriting it will make us more faithful. The Constitution has restrained power and preserved order for nearly 250 years.

What is broken is not the document, it is our willingness to live by it.

!!Contact all of your Idaho Senators this week to share your concerns!!

Quote of the Week:

James Madison

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions… They diminish that reverence which is necessary to the best government.”
— Letter to Thomas Jefferson, 1788

Why this matters:
Madison feared that repeated changes would train citizens and officials alike to treat the Constitution as temporary and negotiable. A Convention of States risks doing exactly that, lowering reverence rather than restoring restraint.

Bible verse of the Week:

Proverbs 29:2

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Authority is a stewardship, not a license.

Song of the Week: