Precinct Committeeman TF14, Magic Valley Liberty Alliance Board Member, Magic Valley Republican Women 2nd Vice President, and 2026 Candidate for Twin Falls County Assessor
Greetings Liberty Lovers,
Leslie here, with another tantalizing tale from the Twin Falls County Republican Central Committee. October’s meeting was a packed house full of excitement and was even covered by the media. What was all the hubbub about? Grocery Tax Repeal.
It all started when a few liberty lovers had the Grocery Tax Repeal petition at the Republican booth at the Twin Falls County fair. Since the IDGOP had decided at the state level that, as Republicans, we would support repealing Grocery Tax, the liberty volunteers assumed it would be okay to gather signatures. As the story goes, we were told to stop collecting signatures until the Executive Board of the TFCRCC could render a decision. Once again, going off second and third hand information, I was told that the board voted and it was tied; causing our Chairman, Tom Wangerman, to cast the tiebreaker. It finally came down from on high that we could collect signatures as long as we presented both sides of the issue.
After the fair debacle, I put forth the resolution that was passed at the IDGOP summer 2025 meeting for the September TFCRCC. I received an email from the Chair asking if I would wait to present my resolution until after he was able to bring in a panel of experts on the subject to discuss the pros and cons of Grocery Tax Repeal in October.
Discussion or Debate? The Chairman gave the two speakers a few minutes to introduce themselves and their qualifications. The first speaker was Ron Nate, the President of Idaho Freedom Foundation and a former Idaho Representative. He has his PhD in economics, as well taught economics at BYU for many years. The second speaker was Scott Bedke, the lieutenant Governor of Idaho and one of his first statements was to let everyone know that he was there to have a discussion, not a debate, on repealing the Grocery Tax. He was there to give facts, not to take a position on one side or the other; and that there would be no GOTCHA moments for those in the audience who were filming.
Definitely a Debate It did not take long to figure out they were definitely debating. Bedke told us he was against the repeal and warned us that if Idaho repealed the tax, they would have to raise a different tax, as Idaho would need to make up $175M. When Nate suggested that Idaho cut spending, Bedke used scare tactics asking what we should cut: court, police, fire department, etc. Typical rhetoric, when a tax cut is brought up, those in power don’t try to come up with a solution, instead they use emotional terrorism to suggest cutting emergency services or the like. I’m pretty sure that there are a few non-essential programs that could be cut. Is there no waste or abuse that Idaho could slash out of the budget? Ron Nate and my friends in the Idaho legislature say that there are ways to find $175M without cutting essential services.
Blow by Blow I am not going to give a detailed account of the entire debate; you are able to watch it under the news section on repealidahogrocerytax.org. However, I will tell you that there is a clear division in the Republican party. “RINO”, “Establishment”, or whatever term you want to use, they want to keep the tax. I’m sorry, but the Republican party that I believe in fights for lower taxes.
T.D.S. and N.D.S. Look Alike! You have heard the term, Trump Derangement Syndrome, but I honestly think there is a N.D.S., Nate Derangement Syndrome, as well. The audience and some PCs were very vocal on where they stood on the subject. I am not going to say that the Establishment part of the GOP were the only ones doing it, but they were the loudest and most disrespectful. Every time Mr. Nate would make a statement, our newly appointed PC for TF8, Cherie Vollmer, had to verbally disagree. As the debate was winding down, but our meeting was not over yet, she even took it upon herself to stand up and start picking up the assigned seating placards from vacant chairs; it was extremely rude. I can’t imagine how she will behave in the Idaho House of Representatives if she wins her campaign in 2026 May Primary against incumbent Rep. David Leavitt, seat 25B.
Point of Privilege The people at the back of the room decided to get up and start talking while the meeting was still in session, acting as if the meeting was over. I was unable to hear the Chairman speak, so I called for a Point of Privilege. The Chair had to ask everyone to sit back down and be quiet. These were not individuals that have never been to our meetings in the past; these were elected officials, including Commissioners, the Assessor, city council members, and new candidates running for Idaho State Legislature.
Better Late Than Never My resolution should have been heard in September, but I understand why the Chair asked for me to hold it until after the “experts” addressed the topic. It was not heard in October because the Chair did not manage time appropriately and let the question-and-answer period for Ron Nate and Scott Bedke go too long. The resolution was finally heard at our November Central Committee meeting.
Back Assward Remember, the Resolution I brought forward in the days after the TFC fair was a resolution that had already passed the Idaho GOP State Central Committee so bringing it was futile, it was just to gauge the TFCRCC on where they stood on the subject, as our Executive Board was split on it. The IDGOP already stands with repealing the grocery tax. TFC Commissioner, Precinct Committeeman, and quite possibly the Governor’s pick to replace State Representative Lance Clow, Don Hall, distributed an “amended” resolution. It removed quite a bit of the original language and added to it, as well. Although the vote to amend the resolution passed, ultimately the vote on the amended resolution failed. If you would like to know how your PC voted, feel free to reach out, as I called for a roll call vote to be taken.
Calling All Liberty Lovers
Wednesday, December 10th at 6:30p
TFCRCC at County West
