April 23, 2026
I Was Elected to Ask Questions
Why asking hard questions is the only way to protect Idaho’s farmers, water, and future
By: Idaho Dist. 24 State Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld
“I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” — President Ronald Reagan
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.
