Hard to believe, but the Primary election is on Tuesday. Back in January, we said our goal was to share more information in this space about the voting records, policy positions, and statements made by our region’s elected officials serving in the Idaho Legislature. We also wanted to motivate all voters to become part of the primary election process. A number of candidates are elected to public office during the Primary because they face no opposition in the November General election.

We hope you will agree that we have succeeded in the first goal — providing more information to North Idaho voters. As far as our second goal — motivating voters to participate in the May 17 primary — that is now up to you.

Since the “Great Recession” hit hard in 2008, many Idahoans have been hurting. As conservatives, we recognize that government is often the problem, not the solution, so we at Republican NIPAC look for leaders with problem-solving skills who can work with others. For too long, North Idaho has been represented by people who have no vision for Idaho beyond voting “No.” They cater to narrow groups of activists by pushing bills that have limited appeal and don’t solve problems facing everyday Idahoans.

Gov. Butch Otter and the rest of the Legislature have been focused on improving education and creating a highly-educated and skilled labor force, as well as attracting companies and industries that will put people to work and grow Idaho’s economy. Unfortunately, nearly every time a bill comes to the House or Senate floor promoting or improving Idaho’s education system or creating economic development tools, most North Idaho legislators vote to oppose it, plus they want to change the Idaho Constitution as to how we fund education in Idaho.

We have documented this pattern of opposition over the past five months in this space, and you can look at the voting scorecards we provided by visiting www.northidahopac.org, our Facebook page, or The Press archives.

We have also uncovered voting patterns in many of our North Idaho legislators that often favor doing nothing over facing the problem, and put ideology ahead of practical solutions. These legislators voted against a badly needed mental health crisis center, and against enforcement of interstate child support collection agreements, which could have turned Idaho into a haven for delinquent parents seeking to avoid payment. These child support collection agreements actually help reduce dependence on welfare and government programs, and were an important part of welfare reform that conservatives pushed through at the federal level in the mid-90s.

Other votes opposed funding the fire prevention budget before last summer’s tragic fire season and opposed highway infrastructure. Most of our local legislators advocate for the takeover of our federal lands, as if those lands once belonged to the state — which they didn’t. We acknowledge the need for better management of our public lands, but we don’t support selling them off to the highest bidder.

Many of our current legislators have moved to North Idaho to change our way of life. They say they don’t want government intrusion yet they are often the first to introduce bills that would affect your rights. When given the chance to support private property rights, they voted against them because of their own agenda. Many of these same legislators who don’t want to fund government programs are OK with receiving access to health care they deny others. They are drawing from a government-funded pension system and are the recipient of a taxpayer funded retirement. Now that they’ve gotten theirs, these same officials turn around and vote against responsible budgets affecting the majority of Idahoans and vote FOR bills that make them look conservative. We argue that is irresponsible, not conservative.

Republican North Idaho PAC is comprised of lifelong, active Republicans who have lived in Idaho the majority of our lives. We believe in limited government, but we aren’t anti-government. We are not Constitutionalists running as Republicans, we are not the Liberty Caucus, American Redoubt or any other extreme group who came to Idaho to change your way of life or escape people they don’t like. We are citizens who believe in responsible government that is accountable to you.

Republican NIPAC supports conservative, honest, problem-solving candidates who will represent you in public office with integrity and honesty, so we endorse Shawn Keough, Luke Malek, Peter Riggs, Paul Amador, Fritz Wiedenhoff and Ben Wolfinger. Additionally, we commend Bob Nonini and Mary Souza who face no opposition in the Primary. This election is too important.

Time to vote — you can’t afford to sit this one out! Vote Tuesday!

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Sandy Patano is a member of Republican North Idaho Political Action Committee (Republican NIPAC or NIPAC): “Protecting Individual Freedom, Promoting Individual Responsibility: Our mission is to help rational, dedicated, problem-solving people get elected to public office — by motivating citizens to register, affiliate, and vote in the upcoming primary elections.”