The Statesman’s endorsement of my opponent does not reflect the values of the citizens of District 10. I am proud of my record since I was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Butch Otter. My first vote as a senator was to cut a wasteful, duplicate program. We are already seeing benefits from the tax cut I supported. As a result of the tax cut, our Department of Commerce has seen improvements in recruiting businesses to come to Idaho. More business means more jobs. I stood up for education and voted to restore teacher pay and to increase education funding. I also voted to strengthen the ethics rules of the Senate.
My record in the Senate is in line with the majority of Idaho citizens and especially the citizens of District 10. My commitment to improving the economy and job creation jobs has won me the support of citizens, business leaders and elected officials. This is why Gov. Otter said of me, “I was happy to appoint Sen. Rice, and I was pleased by his work in the Idaho Senate this year. Jim stayed true to his conservative principles by helping to enact tax relief and promote economic growth and job creation. We need to keep him at work addressing the challenges we face while helping to keep government growth in check.”
My opponent is a tax-and-spend liberal who has proposed the largest tax increase in the history of the state. It includes taxing Idaho citizens for going to the doctor or hospital, as well as a host of other activities. He supports increasing government in ways that have been proven to prevent economic growth and that hurt Idahoans. My opponent is simply out of touch with the needs of the citizens of District 10.
We have already begun to see improvements resulting from my work in the Idaho Senate, but we are not done. We need more jobs to get people back to work. I am committed to working hard to improve our economy, bring business and jobs to Idaho, improving education for our children and protecting our private property and Second Amendment rights.
Jim Rice, a Caldwell Republican, is the incumbent senator in legislative District 10.
