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How to Spot a Revenue-First Republican in the Idaho Capitol

While many Republicans in Idaho run as limited-government conservatives, a closer look inside the Capitol reveals a different breed: the Revenue-First Republican. These politicians wear red ties and quote Reagan, but behind closed doors, they prioritize government coffers over individual freedom. 

Here are some common activities of a Revenue-First Republican:

  • They defend the “three-legged stool” of tax policy.
    This tired metaphor is code for preserving all major taxes—income, sales, and property—rather than reducing the overall burden.
  • They obsess over government “investments” and vague future savings.
    They’ll promise long-term returns from today’s spending—yet year after year, the benefits never materialize, but the spending always does.
  • They justify federal handouts by warning “other states will get the money.”
    Never mind that Idaho already receives more from D.C. than it pays in; they’ll insist it’s patriotic or wise to deepen our dependence on Washington.
  • They label every big-government idea as “for the children.”
    From subsidized preschools to bloated education bureaucracies, they’ll wrap every new spending package in moral superiority and toddler pictures.
  • They say we have a “moral obligation” to fund their pet programs.
    Limited government is no longer the standard. Revenue-first Republicans elevate state spending to a moral imperative, twisting compassion into coercion.
  • They praise how hard JFAC worked on the budget.
    Rather than defend taxpayers, they defend the process—telling you to appreciate the effort, not question the outcome.
  • They use the word “pragmatic” like a shield.
    It sounds statesmanlike, but in practice, it means surrendering conservative principles for political convenience.
  • They want to soak tourists before cutting taxes for Idahoans.
    They’ll celebrate taxes on non-residents while leaving working Idaho families overtaxed and underappreciated.
  • They pretend they’re not spending us into oblivion. A few years ago, Gov. Brad Little said this in his State of the State address: “We took a lot of heat from some who could not wrap their heads around this basic conservative principle: the time to prepare for the bad times is in the good times.”

    Yet, Little and the Legislature have grown spending by more than 55% over the past five years, preparing the state for some really rough times if revenue doesn’t meet their out-of-control budgets. 

Revenue-First Republicans are polite, polished, and dangerous to your paycheck. Keep your ears open—and your wallet closed.

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