Guest Columnist Idaho Senator Christy Zito – The Green Book: Advisors or Influencers? Inside Idaho’s Lobbyist Machine

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.

God bless, and hold you and yours in His hand,