The Idaho Freedom Foundation's War on Women

Idaho’s Far-Right Legislators Are Failing Women – And We See It

I’m a lifelong Republican. But here in Idaho, that word has been misused by far-right extremist groups who have tried to redefine what a Republican means. I am the type of Republican who learned from my grandfather, a Major General in the Air Force, “A man’s horse is a man’s horse, and you don’t ask to ride a man’s horse.” Instead of asking the neighbors to share what belonged to them, he taught me to weed a large garden, drive a tractor, cook from scratch, and cherish my family.

My father, a Top Gun pilot, taught me to save money, consider the hidden costs of every purchase, throw a football, and shoot a gun—even in defense of my younger siblings and myself if necessary. He taught me that not all men are safe and my sisters and I are worth protecting.

The Republican men in my life weren’t afraid of getting bloody knuckles as they helped me change the alternator in my car. The Republican men in my life respected and protected women and I loved and respected them back.

With that background, imagine my surprise and disgust at how some of our current “Republican” legislators vote in a manner that harms women.

Let's start with House Bill 88, which sought to ensure that men who solicit sex—thereby fueling the dark underbelly of trafficking and exploitation—face the same penalties as the women they pay. Contrary to the popular vote, every legislator controlled by the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) voted against it.

I know women in Idaho who are the victims of trafficking. It’s not only horrifying, it is a very real and growing problem. Why do the legislators controlled by the IFF refuse to hold men accountable for exploiting women? Perhaps their Freedom Index score, which is merely an IFF loyalty score, is more important than protecting women.

Unfortunately, there is more. House Bill 134, which would have expanded access to breast cancer screenings for women in Idaho, met the same fate. The IFF and their legislators opposed it. These virtue-signaling Christian men knew the breast cancer bill was brought by their colleague, Rep. Brooke Green, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and they voted no anyway. Apparently, they are pro-birth, but not pro-life.

These same legislators are the ones pushing a radical abortion abolitionist agenda: proposing legislation to classify abortion as first-degree murder. They claim their hardline Christian Nationalist beliefs should dictate every woman's healthcare decisions. They view women not as individuals with wisdom and agency, but as property—subordinates in their vision of a theocratic Idaho.

On a positive note, our votes can make a difference. Former legislator Chad Christensen, an IFF-backed politician, once threatened to defund Boise State University over the provision of feminine hygiene products in gender-neutral restrooms. He was outraged that tampons and pads were available in these restrooms, calling it "immoral garbage." This shows just how out of touch these authoritarian legislators really are. Women took note, and Christensen lost his re-election bid as they refused to vote for him again.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation (including its Magic Valley counterpart: the MVLA) and its network of far-right politicians are not about protecting women. They're about controlling us while protecting men from consequences.

Ladies, and Republican men who love them, take note. If Clint Hostetler, David Leavitt, Lucas Cayler, and Kent Marmon continue to prioritize their Idaho Freedom Index score over our safety and health, we must remember this when it's time to vote – and ensure they never get re-elected. Remember, not all men are safe and my Idaho sisters are worth protecting.

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About the Author

Allison Welch is a wife and mother of four with a passion for growth and development. She holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and works as a counselor in the Magic Valley. She is the Idaho State Advocacy Coordinator for MWEG, serves on the Women’s Giving Connection grant committee in the Magic Valley, and volunteers as the treasurer for Magic Valley Lacrosse. While earning her bachelor’s degree in history from Brigham Young University, she traveled to South Africa for an international field study, where she researched post-apartheid education. After graduation, Allison worked as a communications specialist for the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. She also taught elementary orchestra and private violin lessons.