Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

Paying More for Less

Idaho legislators are on the verge of becoming the highest-paid part-time lawmakers in the country. If the Compensation Committee approves the 43% pay increase and legislators do nothing to stop it, it will be clear that priorities in the Statehouse need realigning—toward the true needs of Idahoans, not higher pay for lawmakers. Leadership’s proposal (read […]

Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

New Idaho Laws

Did you know that most laws passed by the Legislature took effect on July 1? Several key pieces of legislation, carried by our dedicated Republican lawmakers, are now in place, and I want to share a few of them with you. Remember when the Biden Administration called concerned parents “domestic terrorists” because they dared speak […]

Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

Hate Lost

We have the election results and all of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) Recommended Candidates won their races. KCRCC Recommended Candidates Leslie Duncan, Marc Eberlein, Bob Norris, Carl Bjerke and Elaine Price won their competitive races by wide margins. This is a repeat of the 2022 primary where all of the KCRCC Recommended […]

Categories
Bob's Words of Wisdom

It’s Time to Pick your Poison for the Primary Elections

I’m going to make this short and sweet as this primary election has been more contentious than any I have experienced in my 31 years of following politics in Idaho. I have said many times in my writing and on the radio that Idaho is basically a Libertarian-bent state when it comes to politics and […]

Categories
John Livingston

Other People’s Time By Other People’s Money

Last night at The Garden City Council meeting I watched with amazement a process I have also watched several times at the Idaho Legislature last month. Again, I have the utmost respect for people that give of their time and talents to serve their constituent’s and the citizens that they represent. They almost all come […]

Categories
John Livingston

Queensbury Rules or No Holds Barred

Did it ever occur to anyone that all the out of State money going into the Defend and Protect Idaho PAC, The Governor’s PAC, and the Idaho Freedom PAC may be coming from the same places in many cases? What better way to help the Idaho GOP implode than to up fund both sides of […]

Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

Debunking the Baseless Criticisms of the Idaho Freedom Index

Originally published by the Idaho Freedom Foundation Recently, Robert Gillis, a retired California Law Enforcement Officer, wrote a lengthy letter critical of the role that the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) plays in public policy in Idaho, condemnatory of our influence on legislation and legislators, and scathing of our primary legislative bill rater Parrish Miller.  Gillis, […]

Categories
News

Gem State Patriot 2024 GOP Primary Endorsements

For county and local races, please consider the 2024 May Primary Voter Guide from ConservativesOf: Idaho. U.S. Representative, District 1 — Russ FulcherU.S. Representative, District 2 — Scott Cleveland Legislative Dist. 1 — Senate — Scott HerndonLegislative Dist. 1 — House Seat A — Spencer HutchingsLegislative Dist. 1 — House Seat B — Cornel Rasor […]

Categories
Bob's Words of Wisdom

Just How ‘Red’ is the State of Idaho?

You will be surprised Misinformation has become prevalent just about everywhere you look and here is an excellent example. There was an article published by the “Coeur d’ Alene/Post Falls Press on April 7 titled “Idaho is becoming redder” that caused me to write this piece. Our current Secretary of State Phil McGrane during a […]

Categories
John Livingston

Turkey Sightings at the Capitol

My wife Lynn and I are privileged to live on The Plantation (now referred to as The River Club) golf course in Garden City. Every year we anxiously await the “coming home to roost” of the wild turkeys. This event seems to coincide with The Idaho Legislature winding down and always occurs during the last […]

Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

Sen. Jim Guthrie Thinks He’s a Dictator

Republished from the Idaho Freedom Foundation Idaho’s Legislature is a representative government — or so we thought. Instead of 105 legislators casting their votes on the hundreds of proposed law changes, bills often live or die at the whim of a single, stubborn, committee chair.  This session, Sen. Jim Guthrie has taken it upon himself […]

Categories
Opinions / Op-eds

Recommended Candidates

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC), the official Republican Party, has made their recommendations for the upcoming May Primary Election. The KCRCC candidate rating and vetting process is just that, a process involving questionnaires, interviews, candidate forums, due diligence, sub-committee reports, discussion, debate, and finally a vote by the full KCRCC. Candidates are initially […]

Gem State Patriot News