And the Winners Are….
Guest Editorial by Jerry & Carrie Scheid
Jerry: Now that the Idaho Legislature has adjourned, it’s time to announce our 13th annual “B.I.L.E.” and “F.L.U.B” awards.
Carrie: B.I.L.E. stands for “Bad Idaho Legislative Efforts,” the session’s worst pieces of legislation.
Jerry: And F.L.U.B. is “Foolish Legislator Utterances or Blunders.”
Carrie: In the “We Don’t Need No Education” category, the B.I.L.E. goes to North Idaho Republican Representative Dale Hawkins and New Plymouth Republican Senator Brandon Shippy for their proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution allowing parents to educate their children any way they wish, without adhering to educational standards or government requirements.
Jerry: Well, somebody needs to fill those unskilled jobs in the agricultural and hospitality industries once the feds deport all our migrant workers.
Carrie: In the “We Don’t Need No Science” category, the B.I.L.E. goes to North Idaho Republican Rep. Jordan Redman and, once again, New Plymouth Republican Senator Brandon Shippy for Senate Bill 1036 which would have outlawed all COVID vaccines in Idaho over the next ten years.
Jerry: They are so paranoid about COVID vaccines, another bill was introduced requiring the labeling of all blood donations by anyone who had a COVID vaccine. That would have choked off Idaho’s blood supply.
Carrie: And for the “Best in Show” category, the B.I.L.E. goes to Republican Representatives Jeff Cornilles (Nampa), Josh Tanner (Eagle) and Senator Brian Lenney (Nampa) for House Bill 270 which bans the public display of artificial enhanced male breasts and toys or products designed to resemble genitalia.
Jerry: Apparently that’s because a transgender person displayed their artificial breasts last year at a PRIDE celebration in a Nampa park. With the new law in place, I’ll bet you’ll see some pretty provocative t-shirts at next year’s event.
Carrie: The testosterone crowd won’t be happy about outlawing “truck nuts.” Google “truck nuts” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I was driving on Yellowstone Highway last summer and wondered why somebody would hang something looking like male scrotum from their truck’s rear bumper.
Jerry: Let’s move onto our F.L.U.B. awards.
Carrie: In the “Save Our Souls” category, the F.L.U.B. goes to Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Barb Ehardt. On an Idaho Falls town hall meeting zoom call, she informed the audience “We need more laws to control us, because we are so wicked.”
Jerry: At 88 years old, I’ve reached a point in my life where I can’t be as wicked as I’d like to be!
Carrie: Perhaps that’s why the Idaho Legislature passed almost 800 pieces of legislation this session? That’s a new record.
Jerry: Next, in the “Shoot First, Ask Questions Later” category, the F.L.U.B. goes to Republican Rep. Ted Hill (Eagle.) While introducing a bill to arm public school teachers and staff, he said “If you drive down the streets of Texas, you don’t flip everyone off. Why? Because everyone is armed.”
Carrie: Last year he got our F.L.U.B award for saying “You must fight violence with violence.”
Jerry: Finally, in the “Best of Show” category, we have a F.L.U.B tie. During the debate on the Senate Floor about allowing Ivermectin to be sold in pharmacies without a prescription, Republican Senator Tammy Nichols (Middleton) said “Ivermectin…has earned its place as one of the most impactful medications in history….Some people use it like taking vitamins.”
Carrie: Isn’t Ivermectin used mainly in the U.S. to kill worms and parasites in farm animals? It’s my understanding it paralyzes the parasite’s nervous system.
Jerry: Yes, I used it to kill botflies which infected my cattle. I always wore heavy gloves to protect myself while pouring it on their backs.
Carrie: Yuck! Let’s not forget the other F.L.U.B. tie winner, Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld (Twin Falls,) who told the Senate “A lot of cancers they are finding are parasite driven….Ivermectin is a cure….If I get a cold, I take Ivermectin.
Jerry: Perhaps our legislators are ingesting too much of that stuff?
About the Authors
Jerry Scheid is a retired sheep and cattle rancher. Carrie Scheid is a retired nonprofit executive. They live in Idaho Falls.
Editorial & Guest Post Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in guest editorials and submitted articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Political Potatoes or its creator. Publishing these articles does not imply endorsement. We believe in elevating thoughtful perspectives from credible individuals across the political spectrum—because good ideas aren’t partisan.
The following is intended to convey an opinion on newsworthy events of public concern regarding public figures and/or public officials in exercising their official duties. No implications or inferences—beyond those explicitly stated in the preceding— are intended to be conveyed or endorsed by the Author. Wherever available, hyperlinks have been provided to allow readers to directly access any underlying assertions of fact upon which this opinion is based.
Want to share your voice?
We welcome submissions for guest editorials and op-eds. If you have something worth saying, contact Political Potatoes for details on how to contribute. All submissions are subject to editorial review and curation.
Thank you for this. It must have been challenging to whittle down the possibilities to these. I'm glad you included. Sen. Zuiderveld's comment about cancer being caused by parasites. I thought for sure that would cause the Governor to veto the bill. But nope.
You have no idea how many times I yelled four-letter expletives at the TV this past legislative session so reading this piece made me laugh about all the fools we have elected in Idaho. I had an idea that Idaho would be a better home for all of us if elected representatives had to wait two terms before submitting legislation so they could actually learn about Idaho’s needs, how the budget works, and how to defer to those who had been around a bit longer. A pipe dream, I know, but so many lives are carelessly impacted when newbies come in with ready-made legislation.