SAFE COMMUNITIES, STRONG FAMILIES

I believe that our representatives should vote to reflect the will of the communities that they represent. As I have watched how Senator Tammy Nichols has voted over the years, I can see that she is out of touch with what most of us really care about:  safe communities to raise our children and earn a living.  Instead, she is a career politician who seems determined to maintain her leadership position in a Political Action Committee - the Freedom Caucus. 

When our law enforcement is underfunded and overwhelmed, our justice system suffers. Like you, I do not want to go the way of our west coast neighbors.  I intend to keep law enforcement properly supported. My opponent routinely votes against requests by our Idaho State Police for better training to detect illegal drug and human trafficking.  This is an insult to our law enforcement community and puts our families, homes, and businesses at risk.  She also votes against properly funding our Corrections Department and Judiciary.  This is why I have earned the support of Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue.  He knows that I understand the need for public safety and the challenges facing the law enforcement profession. 

In 2004-05, I had the difficult privilege of being a full-time military wife.  Brett deployed with 116th Cavalry for an overseas tour of duty to Iraq and Kuwait.  I’m incredibly grateful that he returned home, safe and whole in every way.  Some families are not as fortunate, and their soldiers come home injured, traumatized, or ill-prepared for civilian life.  As a patriot and as a veteran’s wife, I want our young people to know that if they choose to serve, they will not be forgotten when they return home. Conversely, my opponent frequently votes against caring for our veterans.  I am deeply committed to caring for those who have stood on the front lines defending our democracy and way of life.

My opponent would have you believe that I am not a true conservative, but a liberal in disguise - a sheep in wolf’s clothing. She and her supporters promote this false narrative to stoke fear and provoke outrage. They throw out the accusation of RINO so often that it has lost any real meaning, although I do appreciate Butch Otter’s take on the term – he says a RINO is just a “Reasonable Individual with Noble Objectives.”  I’ll take it!

I am a different kind of conservative than my opponent - I am a traditional Reagan Republican conservative.  When I am elected, I will not be an obstructionist who interferes in the business of Idaho without providing workable solutions. I will hold on to our Idaho way of life by being efficient with our tax dollars - investing in public education, maintaining and developing a strong infrastructure, and supporting our police and military. 

My opponent “proves” that she is conservative by consistently voting against those very things that keep Idaho strong.

For me, embracing conservative values isn't just a slogan; it's my way of life. I am a small business owner, a mother, a volunteer and a faithful member of my church. I will not be bought and sold to the highest bidder. I will not engage in culture wars or issues that are beyond the reach of the Idaho Legislature.  I will naturally focus on District 10 because I spend my time here – at home, in my neighborhood, in church, and at community gatherings.

I love Idaho and I want to keep our state a beautiful and quality place to raise our families and run a business.  It is time for a senator who will cut taxes, invest in public education, and support law enforcement while keeping the government lean and efficient.   If this is similar to your vision for Idaho, I am asking for your vote on May 21st.

The Ranch Podcast: District 10 Candidate Lori Bishop

Matthew Todd is doing good work here in Idaho, providing a platform for all kinds of perspectives and experiences.  I was nervous to do my first podcast, but it was actually very enjoyable to be able to have a conversation about some issues I care deeply about: education, agriculture, and strengthening our rural communities.

Lori Bishop is running against Senator Nichols in District 10. Bishop is concerned about funding public education and serves on a curriculum committee for her school district. She also comes from an agricultural family and is acutely aware of the issues facing our farmers today. She also feels something must be done to reduce the revenue the state is receiving via property tax. We spoke about these issues and several more. Enjoy!

Laws and Educational Paths in Idaho

As a constitutional conservative, I am a strong advocate of the rule of law. In our great nation and state we are governed not by men, but by law. This is essential for promoting stability and provides a framework for justice. Because of this principle, we need to ensure that any new laws or statutes being considered are well-written and carefully crafted to accomplish what they intend to. Many laws have good titles, and often have good intentions, but are struck down because adjustments in language or structure are needed.

This past week, an ‘Anti-SLAPP’ bill (S1352) was voted on in the Senate.  “SLAPP” stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation and refers to lawsuits that are primarily undertaken to stop someone from speaking out by weaponizing judicial action. This legislation sought to create a new court process for SLAPP lawsuits.  

The vote ended up being fairly close, but it failed on a 15-20 vote. A common sentiment by those who opposed the bill was concern about the details of the bill as it was written. One of them, Senator Lee, pointed out 'This is model legislation that might be perfect for other states. I would offer that Idaho needs an Idaho solution, and we need more time for this." My opponent voted in favor of this bill. 

TARGETED EDUCATION

I will be watching for action on the Idaho LAUNCH program over the next few weeks. LAUNCH was designed to incentivize high school seniors to seek training for positions that Idaho employers are having difficulty filling or for which the demand is outpacing the supply. Over 12,000 students applied, so we know that we can incentivize students to enter these career fields. However, the legislature still needs to fund those scholarships. I see many benefits to LAUNCH, including:

 - providing a way for students to afford higher education

 - giving employers a pool of trained workers to hire from

 - keeping young Idahoans in Idaho for school and work

There are some lawmakers who would like to see LAUNCH ends before it begins, but I think it is an innovative way to improve the economy and restore balance to workforce supply and demand.

The bill to update Idaho’s charter school laws was signed by Governor Little this past week (H422). Charter schools are one of many school choice options in Idaho and they include provisions for accountability and oversight that hard-working taxpayers deserve.

VOTING EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY

Many other states where new Idaho residents are moving from have state-issued voter guides. According to BSU’s recent Idaho Public Policy Survey, 78% of Idahoans would like one as well. The bill (S1273) that would authorize the Secretary of State’s office to publish and distribute crucial information via a guide passed the Senate 22-13 this past week. My opponent voted against it. 

Caring for ALL of Idaho’s Children

The wonder of Idaho is found in its natural resources:  its agriculture, forestry, water, mining, climate, and  - most importantly  - its children.  Investing in our children’s well-being, education, and development is crucial to maintain and enhance our way of life for years to come.  For those who represent us at the Capitol, this is not only a moral imperative but a legislative mandate.  Article IX, Section 1 of the Idaho Constitution states that “it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform, and thorough system of public, free common schools.” 

As a mother and community member, I have done my part to ensure a robust educational experience for all children in our state.  From volunteering in classrooms to serving on hiring committees to reviewing curriculum, I have advocated for our children, for Idaho values, and for economic prosperity. 

Conversely, our current state Senator touts herself to be a champion for education, but her 2023 voting record says otherwise. Instead, Tammy Nichols attempts to defund Idaho education by voting against bills that fulfill the legislature’s constitutional obligation (H208, S1204, S1206, S1207, S1209).  She also resists attempts to invest in training our youth for high-demand careers such as mechanics, construction, equipment operation, and commercial truck driving (H267, H364). Many Idahoans appreciate that their children can take college level classes in high school and then pursue higher education locally, but Senator Nichols voted against these opportunities for our youth (S1160, H311, S1176).

Most frustrating of all is that during the same legislative session, Senator Nichols co-sponsored Senate Bill 1038 which would have cost $45 million and created a new government bureaucracy with no accountability for the tax dollars used. S1038 would have established an Educational Savings Account (ESA) program to provide $5,950 for a few of the 30,000 students who are homeschooled or attend non-public schools. To help all 30,000 Idaho kids enrolled in private schools or educated at home would cost over $178 million.  And, although families would have to be approved to receive the scholarship, there would be no oversight or accountability for how the funds are used once they are awarded.

 There are ways to reduce taxes and cut bureaucracy, but beyond voting against the budgets that have been carefully hammered out by budget drafters, Tammy has not found a way to do it. I am Lori Bishop and if you value an efficient and responsible government that prioritizes our children, vote for me to be your next Senator on May 21

Election Integrity

In Idaho, we are blessed to have secure elections giving us the freedom to choose our representatives with peace of mind.  Several bills advanced this past week which could further increase the integrity of the State Republican Primary on May 21. 

S1363, co-sponsored by Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, prohibits voting machines in Idaho from being able to connect to the internet and makes it a felony to tamper with voting systems.  It has been printed and referred to committee.

To maintain the integrity of elections and to provide voters a polling place free from interference or intimidation, S1244 was passed by the Senate and is now headed to the House.  This legislation clarifies and adds to the prohibitions against electioneering and related activity at the polls. The penalty for violations is also increased and a misdemeanor conviction applies to repeat offenders.  My opponent voted against this bill. 

Another bill, H565, sets restrictions on the use of “deep fakes” generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in campaign materials or “electioneering.”  A candidate who has been misrepresented may seek injunctive relief.  This bill is currently in the House State Affairs Committee. 

Safe Places to Gather and Learn

On Friday, H521 - which seeks to address our school facilities maintenance backlog and shortage - passed in the House and will now head to the Senate.  Like many bills, this one has compromise woven thoughout. Because the appropriations would be based on student attendance, the districts with larger populations get more “bang for their buck.”  For example, while West Ada would receive $140 million, the rural district of Salmon would receive only $2.6 million (in either a lump sum or over a 10 year period).  While $140 million can build several new schools in West Ada, it is not enough to replace Salmon’s aging Pioneer Elementary School which has made national news for its run-down condition. In addition, this bill requires districts to meet a yet-to-be-determinded number of instructional days which could be difficult for schools that are currently in session only four days per week.  Ultimately, most of the representatives voted in favor of the bill as it passed 61-6-3. 

Most of our area school districts have run multiple bonds in the last 10 years.  A few have passed but most have failed and this is the same scenario across the state.  The threshold of two-thirds voter approval is set by the Idaho Constitution.  The House Education Committee voted to propose a constitutional amendment to lower the threshold to 55% in even-numbered years. A supermajority would still be required in odd-numbered years.  This proposal has a long and uphill battle ahead: Two-thirds of the House and Senate must agree to it, then a majority of Idaho voters must agree to adopt it.

Unintended Consequences 

My opponent sponsored a bill that S1317 that establishes another specialty license plate in the state of Idaho. It narrowly passed on the Senate floor, with one of the objections being that you can support worthy causes without involving government bureaucracy. 

Another bill recently introduced to the Local Government and Taxation Committee by my opponent was titled “Working Animals Protection Act.”  This law would prevent local authorities from passing statues to deal with smelly livestock, barking dogs, and backyard exotic zoos, regardless of the proximity of the nearest neighbor.  The director of the Humane Society testified against this bill because it was so broad that it would protect puppy mill operators. It was held in committee, effectively killing it - for this year.