February 23, 2026
Idaho Families Struggle While Guthrie Blocks Tax Cuts
By: Honor Idaho President Greg Pruett
Senator Jim Guthrie (R-Inkom) continues to stand out in the Idaho Legislature for all the wrong reasons. While Idaho families are tightening their belts, Guthrie has consistently supported the rapid growth of state government and opposed major tax relief efforts.
Idaho’s budget has surged 55% in just five years, driven heavily by expanding Medicaid costs and a steady rise in government spending. Despite repeated surpluses during that period, Guthrie has routinely voted to keep spending climbing rather than pushing for restraint.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Spending Index makes the pattern unmistakable. In 2025, Guthrie earned an 8.1%, a score indicating he almost never votes against spending increases. His 2024 score was 16.4%, and in 2023 it was 9.8%. Three straight years of failing grades paint a clear picture: Guthrie is one of the least fiscally conservative Republicans in the Senate.
But Guthrie’s record doesn’t stop at supporting higher spending. He has also opposed key tax cuts that could have provided relief to Idahoans struggling with high prices for groceries, fuel, and basic necessities. Last year, he was one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against an income tax cut. This year, he voted against extending the Trump tax cuts for Idaho residents.
The result is a backward fiscal philosophy: more spending, fewer tax cuts, and higher burdens on Idaho families.
Now Idaho faces a budget deficit, an entirely predictable outcome after years of unchecked spending growth. Had the Legislature held the line on spending instead of expanding government year after year, Idaho would not be in this position.
Guthrie is far from the only Republican contributing to the problem, but his record makes him one of the clearest examples of how some lawmakers have abandoned the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility. Idaho deserves leaders who will fight for taxpayers, not grow government at their expense.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on HonorIdaho.com, and is republished here with the author’s permission.
