In a somewhat surprising move, Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder of Boise reprimanded two GOP state senators for disparaging editorials they wrote about fellow lawmakers. While Senator Scott Herndon of Sagle essentially got a slap on the wrist, Winder went a step further with Twin Falls Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld, stripping her position as Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Zuiderveld believes the offending editorial was one she posted last month on her Substack account in which she cast herself and other Radical Right Wing members as being of the “people” and the powerful Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) as, apparently, not of the people. In her mind, Zuiderveld and her “Freedom Caucus” allies are David to IACI’s Goliath.

To think either group is “of the people” is funny.

To be fair, Zuiderveld’s “editorial” is fairly tame in my mind, especially when you compare it to what’s going on nationally. It’s a lengthy post, but it basically makes the assertion that a bunch of fellow Republican lawmakers are in the pockets of “Global Corporations” represented by IACI and the people of Idaho are suffering as a result. Her post includes a cartoon of Senator Winder, along with Sen. Kevin Cook (R-Idaho Falls) and Rep. Stephanie Jo Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls) — all with rhinoceros heads — literally carrying water for IACI outside the Idaho State Capitol. In case you missed the gag, the rhinoceros heads are a reference to “RINO’s” which stands for “Republicans in name only.”

Clever.

I don’t know Sen. Winder well, but I do know decorum is a big deal to him. So, while I found Zuiderveld’s screed to be quaint by modern standards, I’m not totally surprised by Winder’s actions. However, to claim the “Freedom Caucus” is “of the people” of Idaho is perhaps the bigger gag in this scenario.

Zuiderveld’s comparison of IACI to Goliath is not far off. It is perhaps the most powerful lobby in the state. IACI represents the interests of national and state business concerns. It is well funded and very influential. Like most lobbies, it has a “scorecard” system where it rates state lawmakers. Zuiderveld ranks very low on the list while the targets in her editorial rate pretty high. I would never characterize IACI as “of the people” but they have had their moments in the past.

However, while lobbying for big business interests doesn’t exactly scream “grass-roots,” the “Freedom Caucus” and its handlers at the dark-money Idaho “Freedom” Foundation could not be any further from representing the interests of the people of Idaho.

Let’s not forget, the IFF is all for repealing Medicaid Expansion — a program which garnered the support of 61-percent of Idaho voters back in 2018. Since its inception, nearly 150,000 Idahoans (most of which reside in Southern Idaho) have gained access to quality healthcare. Incidentally, IACI endorsed Medicaid Expansion. Like I said, it’s had its moments.

The IFF has also worked to take away your Constitutional right to bring ballot initiatives. Judging from the recent past, the people of Idaho really seem to like their initiative rights. Aside from Medicaid Expansion, the Quality Education Initiative drew 100,000 signatures last year before Governor Little was forced to actually invest in our public schools.

And speaking of schools, the IFF and its allies are basically against them. They’ve almost managed to destroy an entire college (North Idaho College) and they rail against public school investments at every turn. If it were up to them, we’d all be home-schooling our kids or else sending them to publicly-funded religious institutions where, presumably, instruction in math, science, English and business would be prohibited.

Whether Zuiderveld believes in some, or all, of those actions, I don’t know. However, she does have one of the highest IFF scores in the state. Surprise, surprise.

I am perfectly fine with Zuiderveld no longer being second-in-command of the committee that deals with Idaho healthcare issues, even if I think the punishment may be a bit harsh given the “crime.”

However, to claim she and her IFF allies are “of the people” of Idaho is perhaps the bigger offense. IACI’s goals may not be altruistic, but to claim the IFF and its lackeys are working for the people of Idaho is a joke.