Dorothy Moon, Chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party
I hope by now you understand the awesome responsibility that comes with being a citizen of this great state and nation. It’s more than just voting—it’s about communicating with your legislators, knocking on your neighbors’ doors, and even putting your own name on the ballot to run for office.
There is nothing inherently special about being an elected official. Public office is not reserved for some upper caste of people. It’s about regular folks who want to play a role in self-government. Our state legislators, for example, come from all walks of life. We have lawyers, small business owners, and retirees—but also electricians, service technicians, and office workers. Our Legislature includes men and women, young and old, and every one of them must stand before the voters of their districts every two years.
Government of the people, by the people, and for the people only works if the people show up. Idahoans are not subjects of a ruling class; we are citizens of a republic, with the privilege and responsibility of governing ourselves.
The filing period for statewide and legislative offices opens next Monday, February 23. If you believe your current legislators or other elected officials are not representing you well, you have every right to put your name on the ballot and give voters a choice. I won’t sugarcoat it—running for office is hard, especially if you are challenging an incumbent. I know. I’ve been there. But never let anyone tell you it can’t be done.
If you plan to run, give it everything you’ve got. I don’t see the point in running just to say you did. We all know perennial candidates who pay the filing fee to get on the ballot but never raise money, knock on doors, or truly campaign. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Get out there and hustle—raise the money, knock the doors, attend events, and meet voters where they are.
Even if your name isn’t on the ballot, campaigns are a great way to learn how the system works. Volunteer for a candidate you support and learn what it takes—door knocking, voter outreach, and the work required to win elections in Idaho.
The Idaho GOP welcomes everyone planning to run in the Republican primary on May 19. Fill out the questionnaire on our website to be featured in our voter guide, and complete the Integrity in Affiliation form to affirm your support for the Idaho GOP Platform. If you disagree with a few points, that’s fine—just be upfront about it so voters can make an informed decision.
Running for office is both a privilege and an adventure. Good luck to all who step into the arena this year, and may the voters choose wisely when they head to the polls.
Boise, ID and Baker City, OR — February 19, 2026 — Today, Idaho Power and Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) announced they have entered into an agreement to transition ownership of Idaho Power’s Oregon service area. The proposed sale, with a base purchase price of $154 million, is subject to state and federal approvals.
“This decision reflects Idaho Power’s and OTEC’s shared commitment to meeting the needs of eastern Oregon communities,” said Lisa Grow, President and CEO of Idaho Power. “Oregon represents a small share of our business — projected to be less than 3% of total sales by 2030 — and reducing our service area to one state will allow Idaho Power to focus funding, infrastructure investments, and our workforce on Idaho’s growing population and energy demand. We’re confident OTEC will provide a strong local focus and dedicated service for eastern Oregonians, while Idaho Power concentrates on supporting Idaho communities.”
If the sale is approved, Idaho Power’s 20,000 residential, irrigation, commercial, and industrial customers in Oregon will transfer to OTEC’s service, adding to the cooperative’s current service territory across Baker, Union, Grant, and Harney counties.
“The integration of this service territory is a natural fit for our existing operations,” said Les Penning, CEO of OTEC. “OTEC and Idaho Power have a positive, long-standing relationship through transmission interconnection and delivery of power. This relationship will continue and is equally important moving forward as we transition these communities to the cooperative. We look forward to serving our new member-owners while remaining focused on our mission of delivering safe, reliable, and competitively priced power.”
After the transfer to OTEC, Idaho Power would no longer directly serve Oregon retail electric customers but would continue to own and operate generation and transmission resources in Oregon, including the Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) transmission line, that provide power to Idaho, Oregon, and across the region. B2H has always been and will continue to be a critical resource for serving Oregon customers.
Idaho Power and OTEC will work together closely to prepare for a smooth transition as regulators consider the proposal.
(Attorney General’s Press Release, February 19, 2026)
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined a 19-state coalition urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate over 150 American climate activist organizations suspected of violating federal law by taking nearly $2 billion from foreign entities to influence U.S. energy policy without registering as foreign agents.
“Foreign entities have poured nearly $2 billion in dark money into American nonprofit groups to fund climate litigation, lobbying, protests, and media campaigns designed to shut down oil and gas production in the United States,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Federal law requires anyone acting as an agent of a foreign entity to disclose that relationship. These groups haven’t. Americans deserve to know when the organizations pushing to eliminate fossil fuels, kill energy jobs, and drive up costs are being funded and directed by foreign interests. We’re asking the Department of Justice to investigate and enforce the law.”
The coalition sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg requesting an investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). FARA requires any organization or individual collecting money and operating in the interests of a foreign entity to register with the Department of Justice and disclose that relationship.
According to an October 2025 report from Americans for Public Trust, five foreign-based organizations have sent nearly $2 billion to over 150 U.S.-based climate groups over the past decade. The five foreign funders are Oak Foundation (Switzerland), Quadrature Climate Foundation (United Kingdom), Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (United Kingdom), KR Foundation (Denmark), and Laudes Foundation (Switzerland). At least one, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, maintains documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The 150 American groups receiving this foreign money engage in climate litigation funding, federal and state lobbying campaigns, protest coordination, research to support policy advocacy, and media campaigns, all aimed at restricting or eliminating fossil fuel production in the United States. Among the largest recipients are ClimateWorks Foundation ($344 million), Energy Foundation China ($88 million), Grantham Foundation ($80 million), New Venture Fund ($67 million), and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($130 million).
The letter cites substantial evidence that these organizations have acted as unregistered agents of foreign principals, including grant agreements with ongoing reporting requirements, performance reviews, and monitoring provisions that demonstrate the foreign entities’ direction and control over the American groups’ activities.
Attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia also joined the letter.
(Governor’s Office Press Release, February 19, 2026)
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little took steps to further expand school choice in Idaho with a new executive order opting into the federal scholarship tax credit program created through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Governor Little issued the executive order Monday, Feb. 16.
“Idaho is proud to be the only state offering education freedom from kindergarten through career. My executive order strengthens our commitment to ensuring every parent has the opportunity to choose the education environment that best fits their child,” Governor Little said.
“Every student learns differently and deserves an education that reflects their individual strengths and needs. Idaho’s commitment to education freedom ensures families have meaningful options to find the path that works best for their child,” Senator Lori Den Hartog said.
“Idaho families have consistently called for more choices in their children’s education. By expanding education freedom, we’re responding to Idahoans and ensuring parents have greater access to options that meet their child’s individual needs,” Representative Jason Monks said.
“Opting in on this opportunity will benefit every student and family in Idaho, no matter what their educational choices may be. This is a chance to give Idahoans more – more support, more resources, and more options – without taking away from what we already have,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said.
House Resolution 1 – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – created a federal tax credit for individuals who wish to support students by donating up to $1,700 to a qualified scholarship granting organization. The new program expands educational opportunities for all students without placing any additional burden on taxpayers. States must opt into the program. On January 20, 2026, Idaho officially submitted documentation declaring our intention to participate in the program. Governor Little’s new executive order directs the Idaho State Department of Education to implement the new education tax credit.
February 12, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
What is the Law? Two bills this session aim to clarify the law of the land.
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!
-Sir Thomas More, The Man for All Seasons
What is the law? It’s both an easy question and a very difficult one. All of us are subject to layers upon layers of laws. We have city and county ordinances that govern how we interact with our neighbors, state laws that govern all sorts of matters, and national laws on top of that. Idaho is subject to our state constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution. Administrative agencies craft rules to comply with statutes, and those rules carry the force of law as well.
Underneath all of these lies the so-called Common Law, based on ideas, traditions, and judicial precedents that have stood the test of time. Even deeper is Natural Law, an attempt to understand the way God crafted the universe and how we can best align ourselves with reality.
Like computer code, laws tend to become complex and sometimes contradictory over time. Legislatures add new laws, often neglecting to prune or repeal old ones. History shows that the men regarded as great leaders were often lawgivers, reforming and replacing burdensome systems with new codes that could be more easily understood. When he wasn’t on the battlefield, Napoleon Bonaparte rewrote much of Europe’s legal system. The Code Napoléon remains the basis for French law, as well as for many nations once under French influence.
The very concept of a country is tied to the land where a certain set of laws applies. The United States of America, for all intents and purposes, means the people and places subject to the U.S. Constitution and American law. The same is true of our state. “Idaho” means the jurisdiction where Idaho law can be enforced. Cross the Snake River and you may find yourself under the jurisdiction of Oregon or Washington law (though as an Idaho resident, you remain subject to certain provisions). Cross our northern border and you will find yourself under Canadian law.
The reason we have nations and states is that different peoples have different preferences about how they should be governed. One of the great delusions of the Global War on Terror was the belief that we could impose American laws and traditions on foreign peoples. Afghanistan has very different laws from the United States. So does China. So does Uganda.
The laws of Idaho and the United States have their foundation in English Common Law and the Christian tradition of Western Europe. Trying to apply a foreign legal system within our borders creates problems, much like installing incompatible software on the wrong hardware. In recent years, many people have expressed concern about the potential imposition of Sharia, or traditional Islamic law, and have called for legislation to protect Idahoans from that possibility.
Two bills were introduced this session to ensure Idahoans would be governed only by our own laws.
Senate Bill 1233, sponsored by Sen. Dan Foreman, approached the issue by prohibiting religious or cultural laws from being enforced in Idaho. The bill consisted of a single paragraph:
CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS ACT. No state court at any level of jurisdiction or authority shall enforce, consider, or apply any judgment, decree, ruling, or decision of arbitration based on a body of religious or cultural law that does not fully support and conform with the rights of citizens as defined in the United States constitution and the constitution of the state of Idaho.
The policy team at Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) expressed concerned about the bill, rating it a -2 on its Freedom Index:
The problem with this wording is the common meaning of the rights enumerated in the Idaho and United States constitutions often no longer comport with our Founders’ original intent after a century of legal positivism. The purpose of originalism is to restore the proper meaning of these rights by interpreting the text in light of original intent. Oftentimes, original intent contradicts our contemporary understanding of the plain meaning of the text. For example, the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade erroneously extracted the constitutional right to abortion from the text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s right to privacy. The Supreme Court was only able to correct this error in Dobbs v. Jackson by going beyond the plain text and finding the right to abortion is not deeply rooted in our nation’s history and tradition. S1233 would prohibit the reasoning of Dobbs by stipulating that for “a body of religious or cultural law” to be valid, it must first align with the plain definition of the right in question as enumerated in the Constitution.
Sen. Foreman faced opposition during the committee hearing on S1233. Sen. Brian Lenney debated against the bill, saying that targeting religious law could run afoul of courts, while targeting foreign law stood a better chance of survival. Both he and Sen. Josh Keyser, who also debated against the bill, said they supported the idea, but were concerned about the implementation.
Caleb Pirc, general counsel for the Idaho Family Policy Center, pointed out that the bill could prevent judges from referring to William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England for context when interpreting the law. IFF’s Samuel Lair added that Sir Edward Coke, a renowned English legal theorist cited by the U.S. Supreme Court more than 70 times, could effectively be barred from Idaho courts under the bill’s language.
The questions raised by IFF and in testimony before the committee demonstrate how fuzzy the concept of law can be. All human language contains some degree of imprecision, which means context is necessary to understand what words truly mean. To fully understand the Constitution and our founding documents, we must look to the cultural and religious traditions of the Founding Fathers, placing ourselves in their context rather than imposing our own.
Critics worried that S1233 might unintentionally sever that connection to historical context. The bill was defeated on the Senate floor by a 15-19-1 vote. As the roll call shows, the votes did not fall neatly along predictable factional lines:
On the other side of the rotunda, Speaker Mike Moyle introduced House Bill 602, which took a different approach toward similar goals. Whereas S1233 focused on religious and cultural law, H602 targeted foreign law in a way that appears designed to ensure that the religious and cultural foundations of American law would not be undermined. H602 is longer than S1233—three pages—but its purpose can be summarized by a paragraph explaining legislative intent:
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It shall be the public policy of this state to protect its citizens from the application of foreign laws when the application of a foreign law will result in the violation of a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution of the United States or the constitution of the state of Idaho, including but not limited to due process, freedom of religion, speech, or the press, and any right of privacy or marriage embodied in the constitution of the state of Idaho.
Speaker Moyle and Rep. Steve Tanner presented H602 to the House Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee on Tuesday afternoon, where it passed unanimously. The only significant question came from Rep. John Gannon, who asked whether it could lead Idaho to attempt to supersede international treaties. He later noted that the bill explicitly exempts treaties from its scope.
To effectuate this purpose, the legislation would prohibit any court or adjudication panel from basing its ruling on “a foreign law that would not grant the parties affected by the ruling or decision similar fundamental liberties, rights, and privileges” such as “due process, freedom of religion, speech, or the press, and any right of privacy or marriage embodied in the constitution of the state of Idaho.”
Notably, the H602 specifies that “it shall not be construed to require or authorize any court to adjudicate or prohibit any religious organization from adjudicating ecclesiastical matters,” ensuring the bill does not infringe upon the freedom of religion.
H602 could receive a vote on the House floor as early as Thursday.
The 21st century has brought mass movements of people and rapidly changing demographics throughout the Western world. Ideas once taken for granted—such as the cultural and religious foundations of our laws—are now being questioned or even discarded. Different peoples have different legal traditions, but only American law, built on centuries of English and Christian tradition, should govern in Idaho. I’m pleased that the Legislature is taking this issue seriously, and I thank Sen. Foreman, Speaker Moyle, Rep. Tanner, and everyone else who has worked on these bills. Let’s ensure that our children and grandchildren continue to enjoy the benefits of the law that we now take for granted.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Gem State Chronicle. I encourage our readers to visit their website and consider subscribing. Find this and other informative articles at the Gem State Chronicle here: About – Gem State Chronicle
February 19, 2026 (Photo credit: City of Lava Hot Springs FB)
Work is progressing on the renovation of Lava Hot Springs’ hot pools. The City of Lava Hot Springs has shared the following update on its Facebook page:
The updates are going good. The water is hot but may be murky/muddy the next few days. They are doing the backfill on the new retaining wall! Thank you for your patience during this project.
The hottest pool is being rebuilt because it was failing. This means it was sinking in places and the stairs were separating.
Why Bannock County Should Pause—Not Rush—Large-Scale Solar and Batteries
By: Jim Phelps
There is broad agreement in Bannock County on two points: Idaho’s energy demand is growing, and local leaders want economic opportunity that allows families to thrive here.
The real question is not whether energy development matters, but whether large-scale solar farms paired with industrial battery storage are the right fit for this county—right now.
Idaho Power projects real growth ahead and, as a regulated utility, must meet that demand reliably and affordably. Counties, however, have different responsibilities: land-use decisions, public safety, and long-term risk management. These roles are not interchangeable.
While solar farms paired with batteries may contribute to regional energy planning, it is neither a complete solution for round-the-clock power nor inherently compatible with every community’s land-use priorities.
It is also important to ask who actually benefits from these projects. California’s burgeoning community choice energy agencies plow as much renewable energy into their portfolios as possible.
These agencies would welcome carpeting Bannock County and other states with solar farms and batteries whose energy they would take, and whose end-of-life decommissioning and disposalwould be someone else’s problem.
Many utility-scale solar and battery facilities in the West meet California’s latest clean-energy accounting requirements.
New rules now allow “solar” generation deliveries during nighttime if that electricity is from batteries holding energy produced by solar during daylight.
The absence of executed power purchase agreements for the proposed solar-plus-battery facility near Downey heightens the likelihood that the project’s output would be exported to California’s higher-priced retail electricity market — about 3x Idaho’s prices — through direct sale, or layered resale, while Bannock County assumes land-use, safety, and environmental risks.
Those risks include liability for drinking water contamination from battery fires and pollution.
Economic claims also deserve scrutiny. Some counties have experienced modest revenue gains, while others have seen revenues fall short due to tax abatements, reassessments, and appeals.
Worth County, Iowa is cited for a nearly 20 percent increase in revenue from wind farms, but its June 2024 independent audit shows its increase would equal only about 2 percent of Bannock County’s current budget.
Other jurisdictions report revenue losses, fiscal instability, or moratoria following noise, setback, and health complaints.
These mixed outcomes show that promised benefits are far from guaranteed.
Battery safety presents a more serious and long-term concern. Large battery energy storage systems that are the proposed type in Downey, lithium-iron phosphate, are not immune from thermal runaway.
These fires burn for days making firefighters’ water supply of little use as toxic smoke is released and contaminated runoff threatens soil and groundwater.
Despite assurances, battery systems that meet established fire and safety standards still fail.
Pacific Gas & Electric’s 2022 Elkhorn (Tesla) battery fire was triggered by rain water. According to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI),operators did not receive alarms until two days later, when smoke and fire were reported to the fire department.
Downey’s proposed battery system would be monitored from Texas.
Elkhorn demonstrates that risk persists even under regulated and “properly designed” conditions. EPRI concludes “investigations into battery failures are often inconclusive, and there is a lack of transparency that further limits the sharing of lessons learned.”
Bannock County relies heavily on wells and aquifers, including the Lower Portneuf Valley Aquifer—the sole drinking water source for Pocatello and surrounding communities. Lifting the County’s solar ban opens Pandora’s box, exposing the aquifer to the same development pressures Downey is now experiencing.
These concerns directly intersect with Bannock County’s adopted planning documents. “Comprehensive Plan 2040” emphasizes avoiding new or avoidable hazards, especially where critical water resources, wildfire risk, and emergency response capacity are involved.
Undisclosed acreage covered with industrial-scale battery storage introduces a hazard profile in Downey that does not exist on agricultural or open land, increasing the consequences of system failure.
Similarly, the “2021 Bannock County Hazard Mitigation Plan” calls for reducing—not increasing—foreseeable hazards, including hazardous materials incidents and threats to groundwater.
Siting large battery facilities in rural areas shifts long-term risk and emergency response burdens onto local fire districts and vulnerable aquifers.
Even with clearly defined decommissioning, recycling capacity, insurance coverage—including long-term tail coverage—and cleanup responsibility, large-scale solar paired with batteries remains a poor fit with both the Comprehensive Plan 2040 and the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
It’s a compounding reality given lack of guarantees that thinly capitalized developer LLCs will still exist when claims arise.
Choosing to pause is not choosing stagnation. Bannock County already contributes to Idaho’s energy future through hydropower, landfill gas-to-energy, and existing utility infrastructure. Bannock can continue to support innovation and economic growth without assuming disproportionate and avoidable risk.
Sometimes leadership means saying “not yet.” In this case, it may mean saying “not here.”
Bannock County should follow its comprehensive planning documents, protect its water and land, and let Idaho Power Company and California solve their respective energy demands — without turning southeastern Idaho into collateral damage.
Jim Phelps served several years in the rulemaking process, implementing energy reporting legislation at the California Energy Commission, codified by the California Public Utilities Commission. He has family that lives in Pocatello.
(National Park Service Press Release, February 18, 2026)
WASHINGTON — The National Park Service today announced park-specific visitor access plans for Summer 2026 designed to expand public access while maintaining safe and responsible management during peak visitation at Arches, Glacier, Rocky and Yosemite National Parks.
The tailored approaches reflect each park’s unique infrastructure, visitation demand and coordination with state and local partners.
“Our national parks belong to the American people, and our priority is keeping them open and accessible,” said Kevin Lilly, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “We’re expanding access where conditions allow and using targeted tools only where necessary to protect visitor safety, maintain emergency access and preserve these extraordinary places for future generations.”
All four parks are working to strengthen seasonal staffing and operational readiness to support strong visitation in 2026. When parking areas or roadways reach capacity, parks may implement short-term traffic management measures to maintain safe conditions and protect park resources.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park will not implement a timed entry reservation system in 2026. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, explore lesser-traveled areas if certain locations are busy, and be flexible when enjoying the park. Arches is an international dark sky park, and visiting after hours is highly encouraged. The park looks forward to working closely with state partners to implement these adjustments and refine the approach to serve visitors while protecting park resources.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park will not require a park-wide vehicle reservation system in 2026. The park will continue targeted congestion management in high-demand corridors, including active management of Going-to-the-Sun Road, parking limits at Logan Pass and temporary vehicle diversions if safety thresholds are reached.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park will continue its timed entry reservation system during peak visitation months, from late May through mid-October. The system aligns vehicle entry with available parking and roadway capacity and has operated for multiple seasons in coordination with Colorado officials and gateway communities.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park will not require advance reservations in 2026, including during peak summer months and the February–March firefall period. The park will rely on real-time traffic management measures, including temporary traffic diversions when parking areas reach capacity and deployment of additional seasonal staff to manage high-use areas.
Parks not using timed entry will closely monitor visitation, traffic flow and congestion throughout the season and are prepared to implement additional measures if conditions warrant. These tools may include increased seasonal staffing, enhanced parking management and piloting innovative technologies to improve visitor access while maintaining safe conditions.
More information about these parks can be found below:
You’ve never seen the Idaho State Capitol Building like this!
Join Blaine Conzatti (Idaho Family Policy Center) and a Christian state legislator (TBA) for a Christian heritage tour of the Idaho State Capitol Building.
You will learn how God providentially intervened in the founding of both the United States of America and the State of Idaho, and you will see with your own eyes how the faithful men who framed our system of government sought to lay its foundations upon biblical principles. You’ll also learn how you to turn your faith into action by getting involved to preserve our Christian republic and our God-given rights.
Choose from two options:
6:30pm – 8:30pm on Thursday, March 5th
9:30am – 11:30am on Saturday, March 7th
Tickets cost $15 per person to help defray some of the cost of transportation. Registration is limited to 40 people each day, so be sure to purchase your tickets for this special event today!
Other details: We will begin at the IFPC office (121 N 9th Street, Boise, ID 83702) for a quick presentation. Then we’ll ride a chartered bus to the Idaho Capitol for a 45-minute walking tour. We’ll then come back to the IFPC office for final action steps.
The Green Book: Advisors or Influencers? Inside Idaho’s Lobbyist Machine
By: Idaho Senator Christy Zito
ID Senator Christy Zito (photo credit: Christy Zito)
Every session starts with a small green spiral-bound book that says more about power in Boise than most people realize.
At the beginning of the Idaho Legislative session, legislators are issued a small green spiral-bound book. When I first served, it was simply titled “Idaho Legislative Lobbyists.”
Today, it’s been rebranded as Idaho Legislative Advisors.
I’ll still call them what they are: lobbyists.
The current 2026 edition lists around 400 lobbyists, representing 392 in-state and 300 out-of-state registered organizations.
Nearly 700 entities with paid advocates working the halls of the Capitol—pushing priorities, shaping language, and steering votes. lobbyists outnumber legislators roughly 4-to-1.)
To be clear: many of these lobbyists provide genuinely useful information. I’ve developed great respect and trust for a handful over the years. They know the details of complex bills, can explain technical impacts, and sometimes help clarify unintended consequences.
But let’s not pretend that’s their primary role.
They are being paid—often huge sums—by clients with specific agendas. Their only job is to effect change: to sway legislators’ votes in the direction their employers want. Whether that’s blocking a bill, amending language, or securing funding, influence is the product they’re selling.
And the influence doesn’t stop at meetings or testimony.
Almost every evening during the session, there’s a dinner, reception, or event hosted by one group or another. Some nights, there are multiple overlapping events. Legislators are invited, wined and dined, networked with—subtly (or not so subtly) reminded of who supports what causes. It’s a constant drumbeat of hospitality designed to build relationships and goodwill. In a short, intense session, those relationships matter.
Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld has been shining a much-needed light on another layer of this system. In her Substack, she has detailed campaign contributions flowing to many legislators—often through PACs tied to corporate interests, leadership funds, or out-of-state-aligned groups.
A particularly telling piece is her June 2025 note on “Dark Money, Double Standards, and the Hypocrisy in Idaho Politics”, where she traces how legal but low-visibility PACs (like Friends of Brad Little, Idaho Leadership Fund PAC, Idaho Rising, and Gem State Legacy PAC) create quiet channels for lobbyists, global corporations, and wealthy interests to influence decisions—often targeting conservative legislators while flying under the radar. Her other posts, like “Understanding the IACI Endorsement”, further expose the muscle of groups like the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) and its Idaho Prosperity Fund PAC.
It’s telling. When you combine the daily access lobbyists have inside the building, the nightly events, and the campaign dollars that help decide who gets to serve (or stay) in office, you start to see why so much policy seems to favor well-organized, well-funded interests over everyday Idahoans.
This isn’t about demonizing every lobbyist or every contribution—some advocacy is legitimate and even beneficial. But transparency demands we acknowledge the scale and the incentives. The rebranding from “Lobbyists” to “Advisors” is cosmetic at best. The Green Book still serves as a directory of influence, and the system it represents operates largely out of public view.
Idahoans deserve better. We need legislators, true representatives of the people who will not be swayed by the constant influence of the green books.
Until then, that little green book remains a quiet symbol: a reminder that in Boise, the real work of legislation often happens not just on the floor, but in back rooms, over dinners, and through checkbooks.
What do you think? Have you followed Senator Zuiderveld’s reporting on campaign finance and influence? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your experiences or thoughts on how we restore more citizen control over our legislature.
If you value straightforward talk about transparency and accountability in Idaho government, consider subscribing for more updates.
