Sen. Cory Booker’s floor speech inspired me. I wish Idaho’s senators had principles | Opinion

Stand with Cory Booker

Like millions of Americans, I was moved by Sen. Cory Booker’s speech defending democracy.

What we are seeing is not Republican leadership — it is reckless governance. This is unexpected from a party championing fiscal responsibility, national security, and constitutional integrity. Being Republican does not mean firing veterans, exposing confidential military plans or setting power in the lap of the world’s richest man so he can gut and tank America like he did Twitter.

Our president disregards judicial orders, undermines free speech, and guts government agencies at the expense of farmers, veterans, and hard-working Americans.

Recent special elections show that Americans are taking note. Swing-state voters handed Susan Crawford a decisive victory. Florida’s Republican House seats — once won by margins of 30+ points — were retained by only 14.

Trump administration skepticism is snowballing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s scandal angered many with military backgrounds. Funding cuts frustrated farmers. Tariffs alienated hard-working Americans. Unless Republicans take a stand, Trump’s version of the party will define them.

Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, and Rep. Mike Simpson have long been advocates for national security, economic stability and rule of law. They can let Trump redefine conservatism. Or they can tell him: This is not what Americans stand for.

Haley Hinze, Boise

Only two branches of government

The United States has three branches of government: 1. The legislative branch writes and revises laws; 2. The executive branch approves or suggests re-writes to the laws; 3. The judicial branch determines if new laws meet Constitutional requirements.

It appears that today we have only two branches of government which are working — the executive and judicial branches. We never hear a peep out of the Senate or House of Representatives (the legislative branch), since President Donald Trump is making all the laws, whether legal or not. When a voter asks his senator or representative a question or offers a suggestion, their normal answer is “no comment.” Sadly, they are worried that no matter what decision they make, some voters will love and some will hate the decision, making it tougher for those representatives to win re-election.

It is very apparent to most voters who read the news that Trump is making all the decisions, whether legal or not, and he has only one advisor, Elon Musk who appears to do only what is best for himself and the president. And when seeing him on television, one would think he aspires to become a clown.

Does our near-term future look bleak?

Charles B. Bonner, Eagle

What happened to fiscal responsibility?

Senate Republicans’ plan to raise the debt ceiling by $4-5 trillion and extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts via a process known as reconciliation is a jaw-dropping betrayal of their balanced-budget legacy. Historically, they’ve preached fiscal restraint, yet this plan within the president’s agenda adds to a $36 trillion debt and $1.9 trillion in increased deficits, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio past 130% by 2035. Future interest on our nations’ debt would likely devour 27% of federal revenue, starving Idaho’s priorities. It’s so far beyond reason — this is embarrassing for our government, especially the Republican held Senate.

Idahoans deserve better from Sens. Crapo and Risch, once considered champions of fiscal responsibility.

Contact them:

• Senator Mike Crapo: (202) 224-6142

• Senator Jim Risch: (202) 224-2752

Tell them to reject this reckless spending and restore principled governance.

Richard Keller, Boise

Hold in-person town halls

Are our representatives going to have a town hall in Idaho? I would like to ask them a few questions like: Why haven’t any of you republicans submitted a bill that only allows a vote of the House and Senate to enact tariffs? Why are you letting Musk rant and rave about fraud and yet not producing an ounce of proof? Why are you so willing to watch your constituents have to suffer the burden of higher prices, unnecessary inflation due to the president you adore?

Seems to me that you, as a representative, are unqualified for your position. I know you got elected on hate, and it appears Idaho has a lot of that. But now that you have gotten to the point that people in Idaho are going to be without any health care, cuts to Medicaid, plus they will get to go hungry due to you cutting food stamp payments in a time of unprecedented inflation.

Who are going to be the next minority that you are going to unleash your racist venom on?

Jerry Johnson, Payette

What happened to live-and-let-live?

I’m deeply saddened and frustrated by what has been happening politically in my home state of Idaho these past few decades. Idaho used to be a live-and-let-live state; but the self-proclaimed political refugees migrating to Idaho from California, Washington, Oregon and elsewhere are working to create an extremist environment, one that infringes on personal freedoms and establishes a homogeneous far-right state of like-minded people.

When I read Dorothy Moon’s Idaho GOP platform, the hypocrisy is blatant. The party says it is committed to limited government, strong communities, independent families and freedom of the individual. True equality, the party states, is predicated on recognizing the dignity and liberty of every man and woman. Really?

Every year I watch the ultra-conservative, uncompromising Republicans in our state Legislature, on day one, start submitting bills to limit our freedom to access appropriate health care, to dictate what must be taught in our public schools, to punish individuals who don’t live life according to their tenets, to limit freedom of expression, and to constrict local control. Where’s the limited government, the independence of families to live as they choose, the respect for all individuals regardless of their beliefs? It doesn’t exist.

Shannon Page, Boise

West Ada has a way out of scandal

Recognize you were wrong in the recent past. Apologize sincerely now. Promise to be better in the future.

These are the corrective actions we teach our students. This is your teachable moment. Step up, stand tall and demonstrate courage. It is a fact, not an opinion, that people, including children, are each unique and diverse individuals. All are welcome to learn and grow in West Ada public schools.

West Ada is a public school district. As such, schools in West Ada welcome everyone without bias toward their ethnicity, gender, size, shape, ability, economic background nor political ideology. Students learn with visual, auditory, kinesthetic and read-write methods, and each method, like the students being taught, is valued. Students also learn from their role models — the adults in positions of influence. West Ada administration and school board, that would be you. You are the influencers here, and now is your opportunity to demonstrate integrity. The entire world is waiting.

Eileen Thornburgh (Meridian Teacher of the Year 2002), Boise