Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Drawers Are No Substitute for Debate

Our legislative process is meant to play out in plain view—in public committee hearings, open floor sessions, and recorded votes. But one of the most consequential parts often happens quietly, behind closed doors: when committee chairmen choose not to schedule bills for a hearing, effectively killing them without fanfare, public input, or a vote. “Drawering” […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: The Importance of Defending Private Property

You know, there might be nothing more important than private property. Those of us who have chosen to build our lives far from the cities understand that better than most. I live on a mountain in Custer County, on one of the few plots of land that isn’t owned by the state or federal government. […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Taxpayers Should Not Have to Subsidize the Teachers’ Union

Imagine there was an organization that donated almost exclusively to left-wing candidates, promoted radical racial and gender ideologies, and constantly attacked America’s Christian heritage. Now imagine that your tax dollars subsidized this organization. Well, you don’t have to imagine, because it’s sadly true. Idaho tax dollars are currently being used to support the teachers’ union—and […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Government Must Stand for Citizens, Not Illegals

Immigration is the defining issue of our time. For the better part of a century, America has struggled with illegal border crossings and visa overstays, with foreigners claiming refugee or asylum status, and with migrant workers we’re told are necessary for our economy to function. President Ronald Reagan believed he had struck a grand bargain […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Trump Knocked It Out of the Park Again

President Trump has given many great speeches over the years, but this week’s State of the Union Address took the cake. Between honoring American heroes, reflecting on a year of tremendous progress, and calling out Democrats for their blatant hypocrisy, Donald Trump delivered a masterpiece on Tuesday night. The president’s consistent message—just as it has […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Flags and Bathrooms, Oh My!

Nearly two decades ago, I stood with millions of American taxpayers in demanding an end to bailouts, crony capitalism, and endless government spending. The Tea Party movement was a wake-up call to the political class that the working people of America were fed up. How simple it seems looking back. If you had told me […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Lincoln Day is an Idaho Tradition

On March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office to become the first Republican president in American history. Two years later, in the midst of a terrible civil war, he signed an act creating the Idaho Territory. From the very beginning, Lincoln, Idaho, and the Republican Party have been linked. That shared history […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: A Convention of States is Not the Answer

We all agree there are serious problems in our country: skyrocketing national debt, the breakdown of law and order in our biggest cities, and an economy built on hope and bubbles—it’s enough to drive anyone to despair. But I’m not despairing, and I hope you’re not either. We believe these problems can be solved when […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Winter Meeting is a Time for Unity and Celebration

This Friday and Saturday, Republicans from all over Idaho will gather in Meridian for the 2026 Winter Meeting. Members of our State Central Committee will vote on new rules and resolutions, recognize those who have given of themselves to the party and our state, remember those we lost in the past year, and enjoy a […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Year

A few years ago, I got a new license plate for my car. I chose the number 2024 as a reminder of how important that year was going to be. The fate of our nation hung in the balance—would we accept the yoke of woke totalitarianism, progressivism, and Marxism, or would we elect a leader […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: Lessons of the Christmas Story

Christians have celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ for nearly two thousand years. The image of a baby boy, the Son of God, laid in a manger, visited by shepherds and heralded by angels, has left an indelible impression on cultures throughout the world. While some mistakenly apply the lessons of the Christmas […]

Categories
Opinions

Op-Ed: The Role of the Idaho GOP Platform

A lot of folks ask me what the Idaho GOP stands for. With 90 elected legislators, seven elected statewide officials, two senators, two congressmen, hundreds of precinct committeemen, thousands of volunteers, and over 600,000 Republican voters, we have a lot of healthy debate on a variety of issues. However, there is one document that defines […]

Gem State Patriot News