Sedition or Fascism?
News Roundup Apr 7-10
TN a Harbinger for Idaho?
The Tennessee legislature has had a memorable session. While legislation over transgender care, inappropriate library materials for minors, abortion, education reform etc… have been similar to battles in the Idaho legislature, the shooting in March that killed 6, including 3 children, sparked additional calls for gun control legislation. Three members of the TN House protested the rejection of gun control bills which hampered normal business in the legislature and led to two of them being removed from the body. That has caused even more debate - were the protests out of bounds or was the TN Legislature’s response?
Tennessee has similar, large majorities of Republicans in both Houses plus the Governorship as we do in Idaho. Protests around similar controversial bills have taken place at the Capitol in Boise. Could the events in Tennessee happen in Idaho?
Is Idaho Spending Too Much?
Now that the legislative session has concluded, the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) crunches some numbers on our State budget. In 2020, it was $9B but now the tab for 2024 will be almost $14B, a 50% increase in four years. Is this sustainable?
While an increase in population would cause higher than regular cost of living increases in budgets, the population growth does not appear to cover the spread. IFF also points to federal subsidies that help balance our budget. Those often carry strings and they can also be scaled back or eliminated.
Border Crisis?
There are two narratives put forward about what is happening on the US-Mexico border. Some supporters of the Biden Administration say there is no crisis. Supposed surges in immigration are normal patterns that news outlets are sensationalizing.
On the other hand, critics cite statistics that over 5 million immigrants have entered the US since the start of the Biden administration, a number that is more than twice the population of Idaho. In addition, these migrants are being victimized by cartels that control the migration efforts, robbing them and raping many of the women.
Who is more accurate? According to recent Rasmussen polling, 30% think the Biden Administration is doing well on immigration versus 50% that do not.
Abortion Pill Ruling Could Halt Use
Medication abortion is used in half of pregnancy terminations, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute. A US District Court ordered mifepristone from the market last Friday which would go into effect this Friday at midnight. Opponents to the ruling point to the dangerous precedent this would set for future medication approval procedures.
The drug was initially approved by the FDA in 2000, however, in the ruling, the District Court pointed to flaws by the FDA in the approval process for this drug.
Hurdles for Meta Data Center in Kuna
HB328 was signed into law and addresses tax issues for data centers like the one that Facebook parent Meta is planning to build in Kuna. The project is opposed by some who dislike Meta’s business practices, the relatively few jobs it provides after the center is constructed and the effect the center will have on water resources.
The bill was intended to provide property tax relief to the area’s citizens but concerns voiced at a recent Kuna City Council meeting by the City’s Economic Development Director say the legislation could kill additional development efforts. Specifically, the Meta investment would have been used to build an industrial park to entice more business to the area but that is now in jeopardy.
Should the US Continue to Fund Ukraine?
So far, Congress has appropriated move than $113B in aid to Ukraine, that is more than 8 times the size of the State budget of Idaho.
While sentiment is mixed amongst the US population on the issue, Idaho’s US Senator Jim Risch is one who is urging continued support.
Taiwan Tensions
Both the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and the US have engaged in war drills recently in the Taiwan area. Taiwan is considered by China to be a ‘rogue province’. Concerns of a blockade or outright invasion by China have been on the table since the split after World War II. These latest war drills are more intensive than have ever been seen raising concerns that China is preparing to move on Taiwan.
In addition to the human cost of such a move, Taiwan manufactures a large portion of integrated circuits (IC) and a blockade or invasion could cripple that industry. This would have profound effects worldwide on a variety of products, from appliances to cars, that use those ICs.
Good mix! Well done.
We all need to push harder to prevent Idaho and America from sliding into communism. Not so much with dollars thrown at endless wars, but with our minds. Start thinking everyone.
* Talk with your legislators, mayors, city councils, library boards, especially in Idaho where many are still willing to listen.
Work at the grass roots level.
Sign up to be a precinct committeman or a poll worker.
Talk with your neighbors. Do not bury your head in the sand. Otherwise, the sand will bury the rest of you.
If you are a conservative, here are some good places to start getting involved:
* Idaho GOP: https://idgop.org/
* Conservatives of Idaho PAC: https://conservativesof.com/idaho/ (select your county, district, city, etc)
* Conservatives of Meridian: https://comeridian.org/ (awesome group for entire Treasure Valley)
* Idaho Freedom Foundation: https://idahofreedom.org/
* Idaho Speaks: https://idahospeaks.com/