Idaho Republicans backed several proposals Friday that could be part of the lasting message of their state convention in Idaho Falls, including supporting Arizona’s new illegal immigration policy but rejecting new federal health care laws and two state constitutional amendments that will be on the November ballot. Many of the resolutions rebuffed the federal government.
Delegates gathered in a packed Friday to discuss more than 40 convention resolutions, with most of them receiving support. All the resolutions approved by the committee will need to be approved by the convention delegates on Saturday. Once approved, the resolutions would be sent by the party to all Republican elected officials in the state, but those officials would not be required to abide by all the resolutions.
The meeting was led by Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, who said lawmakers will look at the final resolutions. “It’s going to be what our party believes in, and we’re going to have to consider that when we vote.” He also said that the resolutions introduced were ideas that he’d heard from folks across the state.
The plan supporting Arizona’s immigration law, which allows police to determine the citizenship status of anyone they stop through lawful means, received unanimous support. “The whole issue of immigration is really a fireball of an issue,” said Bill Roberts, a GOP delegate from Boise County. “The federal government has dropped the ball.”
The committee didn’t adopt a resolution calling for Idaho to adopt a similar law. Hagedorn said he expects state lawmakers will wait to see the impacts of Arizona’s law. “We need to allow Arizona to run their law through the court system,” he said.
The resolution against federal health care laws instructs state lawmakers to nullify the federal plan. “I don’t think that anybody here supports Obamacare and the federal takeover of health care,“ said Chris Stevens, a former legislative candidate from Pocatello. “We’re fighting Obamacare in the courts, we’re fighting it in Congress, and we need to fight it in the state Legislature.” The committee also approved a plan encouraging the Legislature to nullify other federal laws that are intrusive or unconstitutional.
The committee approved a resolution to reshape the Idaho Legislature so that each of Idaho’s 44 counties would have one state senator, while apportionment of the House would remain based on population. That proposal, which would likely require an amendment to the Idaho Constitution, could run afoul of the federal “one person, one vote” standard, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Many of the resolutions targeted federal rules and regulations. The committee approved a plan asking Idaho to take ownership of federal lands, which cover more than 60 percent of land in Idaho. Potential federal regulations on food made in Idaho and allowing the state controller rather than the IRS to collect federal taxes also garnered support.
Committee members also forwarded a plan to reject constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot this November that would let airports and publicly-owned hospitals borrow money.
Two plans related to public school policy failed in the committee. One recommended that public schools stop requiring vaccines for enrollment, as well as outlawing children from being prescribed drugs like Ritalin and some antidepressants. Another failed plan asked lawmakers to disband all Idaho public schools and set up a voucher system to fund children’s education.
However, the committee approved a plan to use the Bible in public schools as a reference tool. “How in the world can we expect to teach true history, literature, and art if we disallow any reference of the Bible in our public schools?” asked Ronalee Linsenmann, a Canyon County delegate.
The most prolific presenter of resolutions was Boise state senate candidate Lucas Baumbach. He offered 13 resolutions, 12 of which passed. Baumbach said he thinks that the non-binding resolutions may not be as important as the party platform, but that they spark debate.
The committee also put the brakes on a plan backing efforts by Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, to legalize the medical use of marijuana. “The public views this as a radical agenda, and if we approve this, the Republican Party will be seen as radical,” said Kootenai County delegate Jim Hollingsworth.
Resolutions to phase out the state corporate income tax, create a state militia, and encourage the state prison system to charge inmates for their own room and board and farm their own food all were approved and will be considered Saturday.
