'Take Back Idaho' formed to cull right wing extremists from legislature

December 14, 2021

Jennifer Ellis

A newly-formed committee of Idahoans is aiming to restore reason and responsibility to the Idaho Legislature. The Take Back Idaho Committee aims to hold lawmakers accountable and cull extremists from the law-making body in the 2022 primary election. Committee members include former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb (R, Burley), former Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, Wil Overgaard, a respected educator and former Superintendent of the Weiser School District, former Senate President Pro Tem Bob Geddes (R, Soda Springs) and former Attorney General Jim Jones.

Committee Chair Jennifer Ellis, a rancher and former President of the Idaho Cattle Association, said Monday that “the recent disruptive legislative sessions have pointed to the desperate need to replace dangerous extremists in the Legislature. Instead of putting forward positive ideas to improve the everyday lives of Idahoans, these politicians waste valuable time and taxpayer money. This vocal minority has replaced civility and common sense with conspiracy theories, fringe views and cheap political theater.”

“The Committee includes many ‘former’ officials of one sort or another,” Ellis said. “But that just means that we share decades of experience in governing, business, education and agriculture among us. We know how representative government should work and we can recognize when a Legislature has gone off the rails. It’s high time to get rid of the disruptive members and get back to responsible, accountable law making.”

Newcomb and Geddes agreed that recent Legislatures have simply gotten out of hand.

“The extremists have tried to strip local control, undermined our public education system and made our great state a laughingstock in the eyes of the nation.” Newcomb said.

“Too many of the GOP legislators have become ardent followers of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which thrives on creating discord and havoc," Geddes added. "They have lost sight of the fact that they were elected to represent the people, not a dark-money think tank.”

The Idaho Freedom Foundation is strongly opposed to Idaho’s public education system. The Foundation’s President, Wayne Hoffman, spelled out the group’s antipathy to public education in a February 2019 op-ed: “I don’t think government should be in the education business. It is the most virulent form of socialism (and indoctrination thereto) in America today.”

“The IFF has done tremendous damage to Idaho’s education system,” Overgaard said. “The organization has caused its legislative followers to chronically underfund public education at all levels and has tried to discredit our school system with false charges of student indoctrination. It is no wonder that talented teachers are leaving Idaho in droves.” Overgaard added: “If the Freedom Foundation were to realize its goal of eliminating public schools in Idaho, the very heart of every community would be hollowed out. So much of everyday community life revolves around our public schools. School sport activities, for instance, bring all parts of our communities together.”

“The Idaho Freedom Foundation has irresponsibly raised questions about Idaho’s election integrity and supported legislation to make it impossible for the people to make or repeal legislation through the initiative and referendum,” Ysursa said.

“Too many GOP legislators blindly carry out the dictates of this organization which does not have the best interests of Idahoans at heart," Jones added. "That needs to change.”

Ellis said the Committee will support a voter outreach program to inform the public of the disruptive actions of the IFF and its legislative followers. The group was formed to oppose candidates who refuse to act responsibly

“On the other hand, we will support individuals dedicated to educating our children, working together to solve our chronic problems and restoring a sense of community and common purpose in Idaho,” she said.

To learn more, visit the Take Back Idaho Political Action Committee website.