This article appears in the Boise Weekly, Sound Off.
“The more the government tries to control things, the more chaos it causes.”
These words, spoken by a Republican colleague, couldn’t be more true. This legislative session has shown how the desire to control one’s every move results in complete and utter chaos.
The once well-respected and well-reasoned Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, on which I sit, has become a clown car of dysfunction because a few politicians in charge want to sidestep committee rules and control the state budgeting process. Last week, the only thing missing from committee was a juggling bear riding a unicycle.
As power struggles interfere with good governance, self-appointed “DOGE-bags” slashed state agency budgets and cut off funds that help working families: $15 million for housing; $25 million for home energy rebates; $3 million in special education funding; $15 million to address college waitlists for in demand careers; $4 million to colleges as punishment for being inclusive.
The supermajority won’t meet our obligations to Idahoans on education, healthcare, or infrastructure because they prefer chaos to governing, and regurgitating right-wing talking points and divisive political theater to solving the problems you, the voters, sent us to fix.
Amidst the obsession with bathrooms, flags, and book bans, the Republican supermajority wrecked our chances to fund critical services. They prioritized tax breaks for the wealthy elite (refer to my March 25th Sound Off) by fudging the revenue numbers and cutting your services to make way for the most reckless revenue reduction in Idaho’s history. Like a family that goes on a Caribbean cruise instead of replacing their roof, this style of budgeting is reckless for Idaho’s future financial stability.
And what’s at the heart of the chaos?
A lack of hutzpa to govern and real courage to stand up to a few bullies swinging the wrecking ball.
Extremism has overtaken good governance and a serious commitment to lead. What happened to the party of small government, local control, and fiscal responsibility?
Nothing, if you look at Democrats and our voting record. We are fighting for working families, businesses, and personal freedom.
While Democrats fought for childcare, housing, food security for vulnerable populations, and a stable fiscal plan, the majority party was busy interfering with local business, local government, and personal choices.
There is only one party in Idaho that still embraces fiscal conservatism and local control, and it’s not them. I talk to Idahoans from Sandpoint to Rexburg who tell me they’ve never voted Democrat but feel increasingly like their party has left them.
If that resonates, know that Idaho Democrats offer a big tent. We use common sense in decision making and are willing to step up and get involved to take back our state’s increasingly extreme legislature. With a more balanced legislature, Idaho could:
- Pass a budget that fully funds public education, from pre-K to college.
- Invest in teacher pay, affordable childcare, and workforce development.
- Provide tax relief that helps middle-class Idahoans, not just the ultra-rich.
The chaos and gridlock we’re seeing this session is the natural result of extreme ideology, driven by deep-pocketed special interests overtaking the values Idahoans have in common.
Idahoans deserve better. It’s time to balance the legislature in order to balance our budgets and protect Idahoans young and old.