Idaho Pulse

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate tackle Idaho's spiraling budget crisis where $800 million in maintenance cuts were wiped out by $800 million in agency enhancements. Nate details how committee chairs are killing popular bills—the union funding ban passed the House 45-23 but sits in Dan Foreman's drawer, while Jim Guthrie buries immigration bills to protect big ag interests. The conversation pivots to House Bill 850, IFF's highest-rated bill to repeal the $1.3 billion Medicaid expansion program that was sold to voters on understated cost projections now proven wildly inaccurate.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate expose the committee chairman "drawer" system killing Idaho legislation. Senator Jim Guthrie buries three House-passed immigration bills while Senator Dan Foreman refuses to hear a teachers' union dues bill he personally sponsored. Nate details how $769 million in promised budget cuts have been devoured by JFAC enhancement spending, tracks the teachers' union fight against school choice, and previews Idaho Freedom Foundation's Firearms and Freedom Dinner marking 10 years of constitutional carry.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate dig into the numbers behind Idaho's 2026 legislative session—884 bills prepared but only 9 passed both chambers. Nate details the razor-thin 18-17 Senate vote on $192 million in budget rescissions, the defeat of an Article 5 convention resolution, and why mosquito abatement districts fought informed consent legislation. The conversation turns to CPS reform, the Baby Cyrus case, Governor Little hiring Chris LaCivita, Trump's endorsement, and the closing of candidate filing.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate dig into Idaho's growing budget deficit, where spending has outpaced revenue growth for six years running. Nate breaks down maintenance budgets, explains why pre-COVID spending levels should be the target, and pushes back on legislators who claim voting for big government is the hard vote. They tackle school choice tax credits—applications now exceed funding—legislative filing week strategy, a suspicious residency bill targeting a specific challenger, and federal land control.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate break down Idaho's legislative session where serious bills on CPS reform, grocery tax repeal, cloud seeding oversight, and protecting children from harmful library materials are being killed by committee chairs while trivial bills on rat abatement, water ski mirrors, and Appaloosa license plates sail through. Nate details how the Idaho Freedom Foundation's bill rating system shapes legislation before it even reaches the floor and examines $900 million in federal rural healthcare dollars tied to the Big Beautiful Bill.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate tackle Idaho's historic Convention of States vote passing the House 36-34, revealing how campaign money influenced the outcome. They examine school choice battles against teachers' unions, efforts to repeal the Blaine Amendment's religious bigotry from Idaho's constitution, the stalled grocery tax repeal, cloud seeding concerns, and why IFF says Idaho needs bolder conservative leadership in the governor's mansion.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate expose the Article 5 convention threat advancing through Idaho's legislature, warning how John Schertz's memorial could unleash attacks on the Second Amendment despite balanced budget promises. Nate reveals Governor Little's resistance to Trump tax conformity—blocking $155 million in cuts to overtime, tips, and Social Security taxes—while addiction to federal COVID money created today's budget crisis. Discussion includes teachers' union funding exposure, Utah's gasoline export tax scheme, and the path to eliminating Idaho's property tax within seven years.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate dissect the governor's refusal to conform to Trump's "big, beautiful bill" tax cuts, rejecting hundreds of millions in overtime and tip income exemptions to patch spending-created budget holes. Nate reveals Democrats' coordinated messaging blaming tax cuts for budget problems while conservatives fail to counter that spending increased 60% over six years. The Idaho Supreme Court school choice case exposes weak constitutional arguments from teachers' unions, while IFF's viral videos capture the stark contrast between angry Women's March participants and peaceful March for Life attendees.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate dissect Idaho's self-inflicted budget crisis stemming from 60% spending increases over six years. Nate reveals the Idaho Freedom Foundation's $1.9 billion in proposed cuts, including repealing Medicaid expansion and Idaho Launch. The discussion exposes how the governor's acceptance of federal healthcare funding and workforce training programs benefits corporate cronies while taxpayers face potential tax increases instead of the promised cuts from federal tax code conformity.

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate examine Idaho Freedom Foundation's 2026 Freedom and Family Agenda targeting tax reductions, Medicaid expansion repeal, and education reform. Nate proposes $1.9 billion in spending cuts to enable elimination of property or income taxes. They critique Governor Little's State of the State address as lacking substance, analyze legislative committee restructuring under Speaker Moyle, and discuss tax conformity implications from federal changes. Nate announces Capital Clarity public education sessions moving to Thursday evenings.