What do you do when hired hands won’t do the job? You fire them

By Jim Jones
Reader Contributor

The framers of the U.S. Constitution would be saddened to see the constitutional scofflaws who are occupying space in Idaho’s congressional offices. Republican Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher gave their sworn oath that they would support the Constitution and faithfully perform their duties under that revered document. Yet, they have failed and refused to do so. It is time for voters to fire them and hire representatives who will set war, trade, tariff, spending and other policies, which are their constitutionally mandated duties. Our congressional layabouts are making life hard and unaffordable for many Idahoans.

Simpson used to have an independent streak on natural resource issues, but he now follows each and every order issued by President Donald Trump. Whatever happened to the concept of checks and balances? Simpson asked for my support in 1984 to start his political career. As Idaho attorney general, I was glad to support him because he showed promise. That promise has faded and disappeared in recent years. 

I miss the old Mike Simpson. That Mike would not have crowed about joining the Sharia-Free America Caucus. He is obviously unaware that Sharia is not a set of laws, but the pathway that many Muslims follow in serving God. It is a religious doctrine. Simpson is essentially spouting religious bigotry in violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom. Perhaps he should provide a scrap of proof that Sharia beliefs have violated state or national laws.

Simpson brought to mind the provisions written into Idaho’s 1890 Constitution attacking the religious doctrine of a major faith in the Gem State. It was shameful lawmaking, designed to deprive Mormon settlers of the right to vote and hold public office. The outright religious discrimination was reprehensible then, and it is reprehensible now.

If Mike is so desperate to garner votes that he would play with violating the religious freedom of many who live peacefully in Idaho and across the nation, it is time for him to retire. That, plus his refusal to perform his duties under the Constitution, has convinced me to vote for Ellie Gilbreath. She will breathe new life into constitutional governing.

Ellie Gilbreath is a truly remarkable woman. It has been impressive to watch her campaign in every corner of the Second Congressional District. She is concerned about the desperate plight of our agricultural industry, resulting from the unconstitutional war in Iran, as well as the dramatic funding cuts that Simpson supported in the Big Beautiful Billionaire Bill last year. Those cuts will devastate modest income Idahoans when they fully kick in next year. Ellie listens to people and offers reasonable solutions to address their legitimate concerns. She will be a courageous, problem-solving U.S. representative.

Fulcher has never distinguished himself in Congress. He has been a back-bencher, supporting practically everything the president requires of him. Notably, he is a founding member of the Sharia-Free American Caucus. At the same time he has played footsie with Christian nationalists.

Sarah Zabel, a retired Air Force major general, is running against Fulcher as an Independent. She retired after 32 years of service, including senior leadership roles at the Defense Information Systems Agency, U.S. Cyber Command and the Pentagon.

Zabel has been endorsed by Veterans for Idaho Voters, a cross-partisan veterans group that supports constitutional government — the kind of government that veterans put themselves at risk to serve and protect. Her top issues are fixing Social Security so that all Americans can count on it, bringing down health care costs, getting the national debt under control, protecting Idaho’s public lands, making life affordable for Idahoans and properly funding veterans programs.

Fulcher has two viable opponents, Zabel and Kaylee Peterson. I admire Peterson for her two previous runs against Fulcher. I supported her both times. She is tenacious and correct on the issues. Drawing on my own experience in running against an entrenched incumbent (I ran for Congress against ultra-conservative Congressman George Hansen twice, first in 1978 and again in 1980, losing both times). I decided twice was enough. In my estimation, Zabel has the better chance of replacing Fulcher.

Both Fulcher and Simpson sit on their hands, saying nothing, as the president spends taxpayer money on propaganda ads on TV, enriches himself and his family with all sorts of corruption and continues a useless war that has jacked up prices for gas, diesel and every other essential for American families. 

It is definitely time to throw the do-nothings out and replace them with people who are anxious to support our sacred Constitution.

Jim Jones is a Vietnam combat veteran who served eight years as Idaho attorney general (1983-1991) and 12 years as justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2005-2017). He also publishes at substack.com/@jjcommontater.