Economy | Idaho

Liberty Legislators Expose Boise Swamp’s Tax-and-Spend Politicians

By Kirstin Mitzel | Apr 7, 2025

In Boise, liberty-minded legislators faced incredible resistance when trying to introduce a straightforward bill to fully repeal Idaho’s grocery tax.

Committee chairs, wielding disproportionate power, refused even to print or discuss the bill—effectively silencing debate before it began. This backward practice denies citizens transparency and accountability from their elected officials. Specifically, Rep. David Cannon as Chairman of the House Revenue & Taxation Committee and Sen. Doug Ricks as Chairman of the Senate Local Government & Taxation Committee REFUSED to hear or print grocery tax repeal legislation.

But Idaho’s liberty legislators didn’t surrender. When establishment politicians proposed a weak, ineffective grocery tax credit bill, liberty champions Rep. Kent Marmon and Sen. Christy Zito fought back. They strategically forced roll-call votes in both the House and Senate, clearly exposing exactly where each politician stands on grocery tax repeal.

The results were eye-opening:

In the House, 61 politicians voted AGAINST advancing the full grocery tax repeal.
In the Senate, only five courageous members voted FOR the repeal.

Facing immense grassroots pressure for meaningful tax relief, legislators did pass modest property tax and income tax cuts in response. While these measures were a reaction to the intense public demand for grocery tax repeal, they fell short of addressing Idahoans’ most pressing needs.

This might feel like a setback, but it’s actually a critical step forward. Now Idahoans can clearly see who’s fighting for liberty and who’s playing political games with their money.

American Action Fund mobilized grassroots citizens to demand change, bombarding Boise politicians with thousands of letters and countless phone calls, texts, emails, and social media outreach. Boots-on-the-ground efforts included targeted door-knocking campaigns in Blackfoot and Boise. Citizens overwhelmingly demanded full repeal—only to be ignored by establishment lawmakers.

Although full grocery tax repeal didn’t pass this session, there’s good news: These politicians are now on record. They can no longer hide behind empty promises. Idahoans know exactly who’s standing in their way.

With grassroots pressure building for the next legislative session, accountability is coming. The fight isn’t over. Stay engaged, stay vocal, and let’s ensure full repeal finally becomes reality.

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