This story was first published by Idaho Reports on June 15, 2024.
The Idaho Republican Party adopted platform changes for the next two years at its state convention in Coeur d'Alene, including broadening its anti-abortion stance, calling for an end to no-excuse absentee voting and advocating for an end to all abortions. Government funding and programs not required by the Constitution.
Idaho Report We obtained the committee report, which was emailed to convention attendees by party staff early Saturday morning.
Delegates voted to expand the anti-abortion “right to life” to include euthanasia, assisted suicide, and embryo destruction, a practice associated with in vitro fertilization.
Another successful proposal expresses opposition to “using taxpayer funds for post-high school programs.” The amendment appears aimed at launching the Idaho Workforce Training Grant Program, but some representatives expressed concern that it could be interpreted as opposing all higher education funding.
The party voted to add a “state sovereignty” provision that said, “Idaho has the right and obligation to remove from our state any person living illegally within our borders.” The party also amended its “National Defense” platform to call on the governor to deploy the Idaho National Guard to repel an “overwhelming invasion of illegal aliens” permitted by the federal government.
Another platform add-on supports in-person voting and requires absentee-only voting.
The Platform Committee did not submit six of its proposals to the convention floor.
For example, the committee did not advance an amendment from Bonneville County Representative William Athay, who proposed softening or eliminating several planks of the platform, including calls to repeal the 16th and 17th Amendments and abolish the Federal Reserve. It wasn't.
News media is not permitted to participate in any contest proceedings as of Saturday afternoon. Professional journalists had to rely on second-hand accounts from contestants.
Several people said Idaho Report No substantive changes have been made to the platform report. To read the full Platform Committee report, click here.
“There is a shared sense of purpose here,” said GOP Region II Chairman Bjorn Handeen, who chairs the platform committee.
Justice Minister Raúl Labrador said this year's content was not significantly different from previous conventions. He said it would be helpful for the event to use professional lawmakers who are not affiliated with any particular wing of the party.
“It’s good to have someone independent to make sure the rules are followed,” Labrador said. “I think everyone who has ever been there has done a really good job of going to their legislators when they have doubts about what to do and saying, ‘What is the right thing to do here?’”
However, not all participants were enthusiastic about the direction of the platform.
“You’re going to see more lawmakers ignoring this,” said Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, a Bonneville County representative. She said, “You will see the real difference between the party and its elected representatives.”
The convention reconvened in the afternoon to consider resolutions and elect party officers.