The following commentary was provided by Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (R-Twin Falls) and Republican Senate Candidate Christy Zito.
Idaho legislators are on the verge of becoming the highest-paid part-time lawmakers in the country. If the Compensation Committee approves the 43% pay increase and legislators do nothing to stop it, it will be clear that priorities in the Statehouse need realigning—toward the true needs of Idahoans, not higher pay for lawmakers.
Leadership’s proposal (read here) attempts to justify this increase by citing “current legislator demands,” changes in statewide employee compensation (CEC), and legislative staff support. However, a recent survey on legislative needs—sent to all current legislators by two members—received few responses. As a result, these “demands” do not represent the views of all legislators, including us. At a time when hard-working Idahoans face rising costs, these demands seem out of touch with what truly matters to the public.
Legislators should not accept this significant pay boost; instead, we must focus on the real priorities of Idahoans. Let’s start with tax cuts, beginning with the grocery tax repeal. We also need to reduce the size of government, which has seen a 55% budget increase over five years, and curb unchecked spending by state bureaucracies. We shouldn’t trade a liberal nanny state for a conservative nanny state. Only after these steps are taken should the legislature consider increasing their pay.
We have crisscrossed our legislative districts, listening to Idahoans’ concerns. People are struggling; families are worried about how they will feed, clothe, and educate their children. Our senior citizens, too, are anxious—many fear they’ll be forced to sell the homes they’ve worked their whole lives to own because they can’t afford rising property taxes. These taxes punish homeowners based on unrealized gains in property value, an unfair burden on those who built their lives here.
Our farmers also struggle with rising input costs that drive up grocery store prices. Meanwhile, millions are spent on individuals crossing our borders illegally—funds that Idahoans need for tax relief. Our elections need protection; we should not spend $40 million on Dominion machines supporting ranked-choice voting.
We won’t forget the hard-working men and women in Idaho who pay their taxes only to see their money go to a bloated and wasteful government. Idahoans deserve a government that respects their sacrifices and puts them first. In the upcoming legislative session, let’s work together to put Idaho’s citizens first.
Glenneda Zuiderveld, Senator, District 24
Christy Zito, Senate Candidate, District 8