Bob Neugebauer welcomes Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate to the Idaho Pulse for a sweeping discussion of the battles shaping the 2026 Idaho legislative session. The conversation opens with the historic and controversial Convention of States vote, which passed the Idaho House 36 to 34 for the first time in state history. Nate details how Convention of States advocacy groups used campaign contributions and political threats to secure the narrow victory, and warns that any future constitutional convention would be dominated by establishment delegates and liberal states rather than principled conservatives.
The discussion shifts to education policy, where Nate highlights the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s release of a video showing the NEA president promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion doctrine at a national convention. He connects this to the broader fight over school choice in Idaho, arguing that teachers’ unions receive taxpayer-funded dues through stipend programs and then use that influence to block competition. Nate also reports progress on repealing the Blaine Amendment from Idaho’s constitution, a provision rooted in 19th-century religious bigotry that opponents say creates obstacles to school choice programs already validated by U.S. Supreme Court rulings like Espinoza v. Montana.
Neugebauer and Nate turn to the grocery tax, with Nate confirming that Representatives David Levitt and Glenita Ziderweld are pushing a repeal bill, though committee chairs have shown little interest. As one of only four states that fully tax groceries, Idaho’s policy compounds the effects of inflation on families. The episode closes with a look at upcoming Capitol Clarity events focused on cloud seeding and geoengineering consent, the governor’s race, and IFF’s ongoing work to reduce income taxes, property taxes, and government overreach across the state.
0:02 Welcome to the Idaho Pulse
Bob Neugebauer introduces the show and welcomes Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate to discuss the latest developments in the Idaho Legislature. The two exchange friendly banter about life in New Meadows before diving into the day’s topics.
1:01 Convention of States Passes the Idaho House
Nate delivers what he calls bad news: for the first time in Idaho history, a Convention of States resolution passed a legislative chamber, squeaking through the House 36 to 34. He explains how Convention of States advocacy groups used campaign money and political threats to secure votes, and argues the measure was supported primarily by moderate leadership rather than principled conservatives or constitutionalists on either wing. Nate outlines three core objections: the risk of a runaway convention, the likelihood that Idaho would send establishment delegates rather than conservative ones, and the probability that any balanced budget amendment would lead to tax increases rather than spending cuts. Neugebauer notes that 27 of the yes votes received money from Convention of States supporters.
6:48 The Historical Precedent and Constitutional Risks
Nate and Neugebauer discuss the risks of a convention using historical and metaphorical arguments. Nate points out that the only prior convention—called to amend the Articles of Confederation—became a runaway convention that produced the entire Constitution, and he doubts modern delegates would match the caliber of the Founders. Neugebauer questions how many current legislators have even read the Constitution they swore to uphold. The discussion touches on term limits as another Convention of States objective and why both hosts see existing elections as the proper mechanism for limiting terms.
10:16 IFF’s Education Battles: NEA Video, Union Funding, and School Choice
Nate shares good news from the Idaho Freedom Foundation, including a viral video of the NEA president promoting DEI at a national convention and a Capitol Clarity presentation by Max Nelson on public sector union influence. He explains how teachers receive taxpayer-funded stipends that match union dues, effectively using public money to grow the Idaho Education Association. The conversation expands into school choice, with Nate arguing that private education costs less per pupil than public education and that union resistance to competition reveals the system’s failures.
16:28 The Blaine Amendment and Religious Liberty in School Choice
Nate explains the Blaine Amendment in Idaho’s constitution, tracing its origins to 19th-century anti-Catholic bigotry and James Blaine of Maine. He describes how the amendment prohibits public funds from going to sectarian purposes but notes the existing carve-out for religious hospitals like St. Luke’s and St. Alphonsus. Citing the Supreme Court’s Espinoza v. Montana decision, Nate argues the amendment is now a constitutional relic and reports it has just passed the House, heading to the Senate for consideration.
19:25 Grocery Tax Repeal and the Signature-Gathering Challenge
Neugebauer asks about the grocery tax, and Nate reports that Representatives David Levitt and Glenita Ziderweld are pushing repeal legislation, though committee chairs remain uninterested. Nate explains that Idaho is one of only four states that fully tax groceries, and the tax compounds inflation’s impact on families. Both hosts lament that conservative grassroots networks lack the paid infrastructure that liberal organizations use for signature gathering, contrasting the difficulty of the grocery tax effort with the successful abortion petition signature campaign.
22:57 Cloud Seeding, Geoengineering, and Informed Consent
Nate previews the upcoming Capitol Clarity event featuring Representatives Hostetler, Kaler, and Weiswinger alongside activist Sarah Alsta, focused on ending non-consensual cloud seeding and geoengineering. He describes both airborne and ground-based cloud seeding operations across Idaho and argues citizens should have informed consent before chemicals are released into their environment.
25:00 IFF Wins, the Governor’s Race, and Looking Ahead
Nate highlights IFF’s track record, including reducing income taxes from 7.4% to 5.3% and ongoing plans to eliminate property and grocery taxes. Neugebauer asks about potential gubernatorial challengers to Governor Little, and Nate mentions Mark Fitzpatrick from Old State Saloon as a possible candidate while arguing Little has claimed credit for legislative accomplishments he opposed.
