March 25, 2026
Where the Power Is
Friday evening, I attended the Elmore County Central Committee’s 2026 candidate forum. One question that I’ve been asked many times stood out:
Why does good legislation end up in a committee chairman’s “drawer,” and what can be done about it?
That question stayed with me long after I got home.
Traditionally, chairmen have broad discretion over which bills receive a hearing. While that authority exists, I believe it has been misused. In a representative republic, legislation deserves transparency. Bills should be heard, debated, and voted on by the full committee, not quietly buried based on one person’s decision.
Right now, two bills sit in the Senate State Affairs chairman’s drawer, both passed by the House, both addressing illegal immigration.
House Bill 700 would make it a misdemeanor for employers or recruiters to knowingly hire or continue employing unauthorized workers. It requires employers to act if an employee’s work authorization lapses and provides legal protection for those who properly use E-Verify. Violations could result in fines and jail time.
House Bill 704 would require all Idaho employers to use E-Verify (or a successor system) to confirm employment eligibility. It establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties for noncompliance, ensuring that Idaho jobs go to lawful workers.
So why are these bills being held?
Because this issue is bigger than policy, it’s about power.
In 2024, Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld courageously introduced legislation to address illegal immigration. She has consistently supported securing our border and upholding the rule of law.
Last week, her family paid a price.
Her husband, whose business serves Idaho dairies, was pressured by members connected to the Idaho Dairy Association to lose three of his largest accounts. This wasn’t a coincidence. It was economic coercion.
The Idaho Dairy Association is aligned with the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI), one of the most powerful lobbying forces in our state. Their influence at the Capitol is undeniable.
Read her story here.
What happened to the Zuiderveld family sends a clear message:
If you challenge the status quo, you will be punished.
And now, two bills that would directly impact the availability of an illegal workforce are sitting in a drawer.
That is not how a free republic is supposed to function.
When legislation is blocked without a hearing—especially under pressure from powerful interests—it silences not just lawmakers, but the people they represent.
Idahoans deserve better.
We deserve a system where:
- Bills are given a fair hearing
- Votes are taken in the open
- Lawmakers are free to act without fear of retaliation
This isn’t just about immigration.
It’s about whether our government answers to the people—or to the most powerful voices in the room.
My Commitment
Let me be absolutely clear:
I stand with Senator Zuiderveld and her family.
What has been done to them is wrong. No elected official—or their family—should face economic retaliation for standing on principle and doing what is right for the people of Idaho.
And I stand with you—the citizens of this state—who are tired of watching good legislation die behind closed doors while powerful lobbyists pull the strings.
This upcoming election is about drawing a line.
It is about deciding whether Idaho will be governed by the people… or controlled by an entrenched establishment that uses pressure, influence, and intimidation to get its way.
I will never bend to the establishment lobby machine.
I will not be intimidated.
I will not be controlled.
And I will not be silent.
I will stand my ground.
I will fight to ensure that every bill gets a fair hearing, that every voice is represented, and that no Idaho family is punished for standing for what is right.
Most importantly—
I will always be a voice for the people.
Because this government belongs to you.
And it’s time it started acting like it.
Standing Your Ground for Idaho.
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Thank you for your trust these past years. Let’s stand together unyielding, for the love of our families and our state.
With gratitude and resolve,
Senator Christy Zito
LD 8
Elmore, Valley, Boise & Custer Counties
