By Rep. Heather Scott, District 2, Idaho Freedom Caucus Co-Chair
As Idaho House Freedom Caucus members, we work hard to promote meaningful liberty-focused change, even if it takes time. Our efforts may not always grab headlines, but they’re important for reining government overreach and making meaningful structural reforms. Here are some notable achievements by Idaho House Conservatives from the 2024 legislative session.
Wins.
In early February, House conservatives decisively ousted the House Republican Majority Leader, who consistently undermined GOP principles and conservative lawmakers. This action demonstrated our commitment to prioritizing the interests of conservative Republican House members over corporate lobbyists, the liberal Main Street Caucus, and the executive branch, thus reaffirming our dedication to liberty-minded governance.
In this session, we proposed, debated, and successfully implemented a more transparent budgeting process. This change brings more transparency to government agency spending, making it easier for lawmakers to distinguish between a government agency’s essential needs and non-essential wants. Now, both lawmakers and citizens can scrutinize spending more effectively.
Conservative House members ramped up efforts to push back against executive branch overreach. We stopped bureaucratic agencies from unilaterally deciding on public property sales and reduced the influence of executive branch bureaucrats in some specific legislative matters. These steps are important for restoring balance between government branches.
Several important bills are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. These include laws about compelled speech, defining biological sex, making ballot harvesting a crime, and protecting children from sexually explicit materials in libraries. These bills reflect our commitment to safeguarding children, individual liberties, and traditional values.
Additionally, the House tackled important issues like Fentanyl abuse, sex trafficking, and unemployment reform. We also strengthened Second Amendment protections and promoted fiscal responsibility by allowing state investments in gold and silver.
Setbacks.
Despite our legislative successes, we also faced setbacks. Unfortunately, good bills addressing domestic terrorism language, immigration enforcement, and education choice were stalled or rejected. These challenges show how hard it can be for conservatives to promote our values in a legislative environment that doesn’t always align with our principles.
Executive agencies wield significant influence over many legislators, who often approve major financial decisions without adequate oversight. Recent controversies highlight the urgent need for more oversight, accountability, and transparency in government operations. These include the proposed purchase of the University of Phoenix by the University of Idaho and the sale of valuable Idaho Transportation Department property in Boise using taxpayer funds.
We remain committed!
Facing these challenges strengthens the resolve of Idaho Freedom Caucus members to push for conservative laws and government accountability. Our caucus stands united in addressing these obstacles. We continue to pursue our goals with strength and unity.
Even as we celebrate our wins, Idaho Freedom Caucus members will stay vigilant and continue the fight for limited government, individual freedom, and fiscal responsibility. We urge our constituents to stay informed and engaged as we work hard to uphold conservative values and promote conservative legislation in the Idaho legislature.
