Ron Nate reports from his recent observations at the Idaho GOP summer meetings in Pocatello, where he witnessed significant conservative victories on key policy issues. The most notable development involves Idaho’s budget situation, where media and government officials are panicking over tax collections falling $141 million short of projections. However, Nate reframes this as excellent news for taxpayers, explaining that Idaho still maintains a $278 million surplus while collections remain 4.5% higher than last year, proving the projections were simply wrong rather than indicating any real crisis.
The conversation takes a serious turn as they discuss escalating threats from leftist activists, particularly from Massachusetts, targeting Idaho legislators and conservative leaders over the state’s child protection laws prohibiting transgender surgeries on minors and public decency regulations. These threatening voicemails and calls represent the intolerant nature of those demanding tolerance, with violent rhetoric becoming increasingly common from the political left. The threats extend beyond just legislators, with radio host Kevin Miller receiving his second death threat, highlighting how the supposed “party of tolerance” operates through intimidation and violence.
The Idaho GOP meetings produced significant conservative wins, with overwhelming support for a citizen’s initiative to repeal Idaho’s grocery tax, making Idaho one of only four states that fully tax groceries. Despite years of resistance from House leadership, particularly Speaker Mike Moyle who has completely reversed his previous support, over 90% of GOP delegates backed the repeal effort. The party also passed immigration reform resolutions, though they removed e-verify requirements due to accuracy concerns, instead focusing on ending employment practices that attract illegal immigrants and ensuring taxpayer-funded benefits don’t subsidize illegal immigration.
The discussion reveals alarming statistics about welfare dependency, with 51% of New Meadows residents reportedly on welfare despite abundant construction work available, while illegal immigrants fill agricultural positions that should employ Americans. Local government overreach emerges as another concern, with county commissioners arbitrarily restricting property rights through building permit moratoriums on agricultural land. Nate concludes by promoting the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “Save Our State” campaign, seeking to raise $17,760 between Flag Day and Independence Day to fund media and legislative efforts protecting Idaho from illegal immigration while preserving constitutional rights and freedoms.
**01:38 Idaho Budget “Crisis” Reality Check**
Ron explains how Idaho’s $141 million budget “shortfall” is actually good news for taxpayers, with collections still 4.5% higher than last year and a $278 million surplus remaining. The crisis narrative from government officials reveals their assumption that taxpayer money belongs to government rather than citizens. Nate advocates for eliminating bottom-line surpluses entirely, returning all excess funds to taxpayers instead of growing government programs.
**02:54 Leftist Threats Against Idaho Legislators**
Discussion of violent threats from Massachusetts leftists angry about Idaho’s child protection laws prohibiting transgender surgeries on minors and regulating public decency. Ron received threatening voicemails with explicit language and veiled threats, while radio host Kevin Miller got his second death threat. The conversation exposes how the “tolerance” movement operates through intimidation and violence rather than civilized discourse.
**09:17 Federal vs State Government Solutions**
Analysis of why conservative solutions must come from state level rather than Washington DC, with Idaho needing to become the beacon of freedom other states can follow. Discussion includes concerns about federal debt reaching 160% of GDP and the unsustainable nature of current spending patterns. Ron emphasizes returning Idaho to its more conservative roots with lower taxes, limited government, and individual liberties as foundational principles.
**12:47 Conservative Organizational Challenges**
Examination of why leftist groups organize more effectively than conservatives, partly because their supporters often have more free time due to welfare dependency rather than productive employment. The discussion reveals 51% of New Meadows residents are on welfare despite abundant construction work, while conservatives are busy working, raising families, and running businesses, making political engagement more challenging.
**20:21 GOP Victory on Grocery Tax Repeal**
Report on overwhelming GOP delegate support for citizen’s initiative to repeal Idaho’s grocery tax, with over 90% approval despite years of resistance from House leadership. Idaho remains one of only four states fully taxing groceries, creating an unfair regressive burden on working families. The initiative could force legislative action before citizens pass it themselves, potentially embarrassing resistant leaders like Speaker Mike Moyle.
**25:29 Immigration Reform Without E-Verify**
GOP passes immigration reform resolutions to end employment practices attracting illegal immigrants, but removes e-verify requirements due to 16% error rates and concerns about making employers enforcement agents. The focus shifts to preventing taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants and ensuring legal immigration through proper channels. Agricultural industry acknowledgment that 70% of their workers would likely fail legal immigration verification.
**29:11 Conservative Coalition Building Strategy**
Ron outlines the need for broader conservative coalitions rather than focusing on internal conservative factions, identifying the real divide as squish Republicans versus true conservatives. He envisions eliminating income tax, grocery tax, and capping property taxes over six years while maintaining current government funding through economic growth rather than tax increases.
**31:52 Local Government Property Rights Violations**
Discussion of county commissioners imposing building permit moratoriums on agricultural land, preventing property owners from exercising basic rights to build homes on their own property. The arbitrary nature of these restrictions, affecting even deck additions and garage apartments, demonstrates how local officials abuse power when elevated just four inches above citizens in meeting rooms.
**34:38 Save Our State Campaign Final Week**
Final push for Idaho Freedom Foundation’s fundraising goal of $17,760 (1776 plus zero) between Flag Day and Independence Day to fund media and legislative campaigns protecting Idaho from illegal immigration. The campaign aims to preserve constitutional rights and liberties while encouraging proper legal immigration processes. With one week remaining, supporters can contribute at idahofreedom.org.