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Age: 53 Occupation: Small business owner Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering Town of residence: Sagle Q:Are you Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? Bonner General no longer offers childbirth services because health care providers left for fear of prosecution. How should the state address the exodus of doctors who are leaving Idaho because of abortion bans?
A: I am Pro-Life as evidenced by my voting record in the four years I served in the Idaho State Senate. However, I recognize that we have a problem with our existing law and we are driving our doctors out of the state because of a potential felony conviction and loss of medical license for taking care of people in the tough situations that arise during pregnancies with complications. We must also look closer at the treatment criteria wording “Life of the Mother” versus “Health of the Mother” to ensure we aren’t endangering the life of a mother who already has children at home to take care of.
Q: In 2024, the state approved a bare bones budget and then supplemental “trailers” to pay for additional items. Do you agree with the manner in which the legislature set the state budget this year? Why or why not?
A: I do not agree with the changes to our budget process in the 2024 legislative session. It was pure politics. The budget process normally takes more than two months to approve the $14 billion Idaho state budget. In 2024, under the guise of “a deep dive into the budget process”, the bare bones budgets were approved on Day 7 of the 2024 session. In just three hours, $12 billion of the $14 billion budget was spent. Omnibus style budgeting is not something I am interested in for Idaho. Approving 85% of the budget just one week into the session and in just three hours is not being responsible to the taxpayers of Idaho.
Q: Do you believe Idaho spends too much on veterans? Not enough?
A: I served twenty-one years in the Navy without any injuries. Some are not as fortunate. We owe it to our Veterans to take care of those who have served, those who were wounded, or those dealing with a disability from service.
I certainly support the Idaho Division of Veterans Services and the funding of their role. My opponent voted against their budget.
Q: What should the Legislature do to better support Idaho Public Schools?
A: I see two items right at the top of the list. One, we should continue to move school funding off of the local property taxpayer and onto the state budget. This effort provides more stability for the schools while also helping the taxpayer. Number two on my list is a renewed emphasis on the fundamentals in our school curriculum. There are lots of topics we can teach, but I believe by focusing on the fundamentals we provide a solid foundation that allows a person to teach themselves throughout life.
Woodward
