Rod Furniss and Karey Hanks are campaigning for District 31 Seat B in Idaho legislature

RIGBY -— Two Idaho representatives from what was formerly District 35 are now moving against each different for Seat B successful District 31.

Due to redistricting successful Jefferson County, parts of nan erstwhile District 35 are now District 31.

Incumbent Rep. Rod Furniss is moving against erstwhile Rep. Karey Hanks.

To study much astir Furniss, click here.

To study much astir Hanks, click here.

EastIdahoNews.com asked nan candidates to reply nan aforesaid 8 questions. Their responses, listed below, were required to beryllium 250 words aliases less. EastIdahoNews.com is publishing nan answers successful their entirety, and without immoderate grammatical aliases style editing.

The superior predetermination is May 21.

Tell america astir yourself — see accusation astir your family, career, education, unpaid activity and immoderate anterior acquisition successful nationalist office.

Furniss: I americium a 6th procreation Idahoan arsenic my family homesteaded successful nan Menan area successful nan precocious 1800s. I worked connected that very ranch and workplace until I was 17. The ranch was expanded to Leadore (Oxbow Ranch) and arsenic a young boy I drove a 4020 tractor galore times location from Menan. I person a beautiful woman and 5 awesome children and 11 grandchildren that each reside successful Idaho astir of nan time. I dream my posterity will unrecorded successful Idaho, activity successful Idaho, and beryllium knowledgeable successful Idaho. Attended precocious schoolhouse successful Rigby and played football, basketball, and track. I played shot astatine Ricks. I graduated from BYUI and ISU successful Finance and person precocious degrees successful security and financial planning. I worked successful banking and person been progressive pinch life and wellness security since 1986. I person been nan section and authorities president of nan National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and nan president of our section acquisition foundation. I grew to emotion teachers arsenic we helped pinch financial needs of children and saw nan dedication they have. I person served arsenic a State Representative for 6 years and a section precinct committee person. I presently service connected nan pursuing committees: Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment, Joint Finance and Appropriations, Business, Energy, Your Health Idaho, Petroleum Tank, and Hispanic Affairs. I person served successful galore positions successful church, Mission to Argentina, Bishop, High Councilor, Sunday School Teacher etc. I bask recreating successful Island Park and Spencer.

Hanks: My hubby Burke and I unrecorded connected our family workplace successful nan Egin area of Fremont County, wherever we raised six sons and 1 daughter. We now person 18 grandchildren. I was raised successful Idaho Falls. I graduated from BYU-Idaho successful 2011 pinch a Bachelor grade successful Psychology. I person worked arsenic a schoolhouse autobus driver for 18 years and arsenic a harvest motortruck driver. I person worked arsenic a semi-truck driver arsenic well. I person volunteered successful respective capacities successful my church, nan Boy Scout statement and Republican cardinal committee; besides Fremont County Republican Women president. I person antecedently served 4 years arsenic an Idaho authorities representative.

Why are you seeking governmental office? Briefly explicate your governmental platform.

Furniss: I person a awesome emotion for Idaho’s astonishing suffice of life and a beardown desire to service its people. My acquisition and business acquisition person prepared maine to beryllium a beardown advocator for superior healthcare, exceptional acquisition opportunities, and a robust productive economy. Legislative District 31 has ever been my home. I cherish nan pioneer practice of this area and nan “salt-of-the-earth people” that make it unique. I want my family for nan adjacent generations to activity successful Idaho, beryllium knowledgeable successful Idaho, and play successful Idaho. I person served for 6 years successful nan Idaho House of Representatives wherever my religion guides my each decision. I americium pro-life because I judge that life is God-given. Abortion is nan scourge of nan world and should ne'er beryllium considered isolated from for rape, incest, aliases nan wellness of nan mother. Even pinch these exceptions abortion should beryllium nan past prime considered aft overmuch chat and contemplation. I’m a pro-traditional matrimony and judge matrimony is nan ineffable national of 1 man and 1 woman. I americium pro-second amendment and my guns person ever been and will proceed to beryllium my correct to bear. The Idaho constitution protects my correct to support my guns sloppy of allegations by anyone else.

Hanks: I emotion Idaho and our accepted Idaho values. I person watched my opponent’s voting record, and his votes do not bespeak our values. My voting grounds shows my support and committedness to preserving our individual and parental rights, weapon rights, and different God-given rights. We must sphere parents’ authorities to make decisions for their children without authorities interference. My grounds shows I service nan group of our district, and empower our citizens, not nan government. Sponsoring and passing galore bills is not my focus. Representing my neighbors is my focus. I reply emails and calls, seeking solutions for individuals’ concerns.

What are nan top challenges facing group and communities successful your district? What is your scheme to meet those challenges?

Furniss: Taxes, inflation, affordable housing, overcrowding of schools, and precocious liking rates effect nan mundane households successful Jefferson, Fremont, Clark, and Lemhi counties. Even though we person lowered Idaho income taxation rates importantly ostentation has eaten distant astatine nan spending powerfulness of families successful Eastern Idaho. Wages person not kept gait pinch ostentation moreover though they person risen substantially. Idaho income taxation has been reduced arsenic good complete nan past 6 years I person served but again ostentation has eaten distant astatine those. I person voted each clip to trim spot taxation pinch H381, H292, and H521. With these bills spot taxation has aliases will alteration complete 20%.
Interest rates person affected affordable lodging and stopped young families from nan American dream of owning a caller home. School backing formulas and installation backing needs to beryllium addressed pinch little load connected spot taxes. We are seeing this alteration incrementally complete nan years. The Governor and nan Idaho Legislature has done a awesome occupation astatine keeping Idaho a desirable spot to raise a family and beryllium educated. The national authorities nether nan Biden Administration has done a unspeakable job. It could beryllium fixed! Secure our boarder and providing meaningful activity visas, unfastened drilling permits and decorativeness pipelines to trim substance prices, and ballot successful a Republican President, House, and Senate successful Washington DC.

Hanks: As I person met pinch individuals successful District 31, they are concerned astir rising spot taxes. They are worried astir being taxed retired of their homes. Also mentioned is our weapon rights. We person had proposals for “property taxation holidays” erstwhile we person authorities fund surpluses, but not capable support to transportation it through. I deliberation we request to scrutinize and trim our department/division budgets, frankincense allowing backing for basal projects and taxation rebates for taxation paying Idaho citizens. We besides request to fortify and protect our 2nd amendment rights, arsenic nan national authorities is uncovering ways to limit these rights. Also, let’s yet repeal nan market taxation and thief Idahoans woody pinch nan rising inflation!

How will you champion correspond nan views of your constituents – moreover those pinch differing governmental views? How will you pass straight pinch constituents?

Furniss: In modern times constituents person much entree to elected officials than ever before. Telephone, email, and societal media each thief pass representatives of Idaho of astir each event, problem, and interest that constituents have. The champion representatives prioritize those concerns and activity connected those that will impact nan astir constituents possible, knowing that it will ne'er thief 100% aliases make everyone full aliases happy. As a Representative of Jefferson, Fremont, Clark, and Lemhi Counties I correspond each who unrecorded wrong nan borders. Once elected, a constituent is not defined by governmental party, religion, race, nett worth, gender, age, aliases acquisition and favoritism has nary spot 1 complete nan other. A problem is simply a problem sloppy of status. My telephone number (208-589-1100) and email(rfurniss@house.idaho.gov) are everyplace and I person astir 7000 friends connected societal media. Public servants should beryllium accessible. I americium quality and get complete 100 emails a time during convention truthful sometimes I miss emails, but I would promote you to support trying. I do effort to reappraisal each 1 if it is unsocial and not a shape letter. I person and will proceed to clasp municipality hallway meetings and zoom meetings. If you would for illustration to group 1 up successful your location aliases organization fto america know.

Hanks: I person attempted to reply emails and calls, moreover erstwhile I americium not successful office. When individuals pinch differing views interaction me, I explicate why I support aliases reason bills and guidelines my views connected Constitutional principles, arsenic good arsenic nan Idaho Republican platform. In addition, I supply predominant email and Facebook updates connected authorities and different pertinent issues.

What parts of nan authorities fund could usage much funding? Where are places successful nan fund that cuts could beryllium made?

Furniss: I service connected JFAC, and we spell complete each agency fund and measure their guidelines budgets arsenic good arsenic caller requests for 1 clip money and/or ongoing money. Agencies and nan Governor do 2 abstracted budgets and past JFAC members tin o.k. those budgets aliases make changes to those budgets. We meet arsenic moving groups and divided nan budgets into categories. This has been astir productive arsenic we are capable to telephone nan agency board and inquire circumstantial questions to understand each request. A petition whitethorn beryllium for caller cars, employees, desks and computers, software, additions to aliases attraction connected buildings, rent increases, janitorial statement increases, and galore much items. The moving groups tin inquire nan reliable questions for illustration really galore miles do nan existent vehicles have, really agelong person you had them, why do you request much employees, what is nan statement for software, tin we consolidate pinch different agencies, tin we hole nan existent building aliases adhd connected alternatively of building new? The moving groups were capable to find $35.9 cardinal successful savings successful nan Health and Welfare budgets this year. The extremity for JFAC is to excavation heavy into nan guidelines budgets for 20% of nan agencies complete nan adjacent 5 years. By doing this we will spot if appropriations that person been done years agone are still needed aliases obsolete. Many states are envious of really Idaho does budgets pinch some nan Senate and House members agreeing earlier nan mostly of nan legislature votes and are signed by nan Governor.

Hanks: I don’t cognize of immoderate agency aliases section that needs much funding, particularly successful this clip of higher inflation, higher nutrient and substance prices, and taxation increases. I judge individuals, for nan astir part, walk their money much wisely than authorities bureaucrats.

Are you presently moving connected immoderate authorities aliases person ideas for bills that you consciousness are captious to nan early of Idaho? Please supply details.

Furniss: Two bills I person started for adjacent year.
HCR045 is simply a solution to utilize State rate to maximize nan complaint of return. Many agencies person important rate balances that whitethorn not beryllium invested aliases needed. State agencies must person a rate guidance scheme and travel it. With nan accrued liking rates this tin beryllium a important gross root and taxation savings to nan taxpayer. Also, by submitting and pursuing a scheme excess rate will beryllium submitted backmost to nan wide money alternatively of being held astatine nan agencies. By having each nan plans astatine nan Controllers Office and nan Treasury’s Office we tin coordinate rate needs seasonally and stock rate betwixt agencies.
H755 is simply a needs-based assistance programme that is already established astatine nan Treasury wherever they measure assistance requests. This measure gets nan money down to schools that tin not walk a enslaved aliases do not person nan bonding capacity to adhd on, maintain, aliases build a caller school. It equalizes nan backing process by treating each schoolhouse territory arsenic if they were successful nan lowest taxing territory per personification successful nan state. The measure extends a manus up not a salary each and frees up money already group speech but unused and complies pinch nan Supreme Court ruling that Idaho must do amended astatine pursuing Article IX, Section 1 of nan Idaho Constitution “it shall beryllium nan work of nan legislature of Idaho, to found and support a general, uniform, and thorough strategy of public, free communal schools.” 

Hanks: Veterans person approached maine pinch ideas, and we request to protect Idahoans from “squatters.” Our laws are not adequate. An Island Park resident is asking for changes successful Short-Term Rentals also.

Have you seen immoderate mistakes made by nan Idaho Legislature successful caller years? How would you activity to correct these errors?

Furniss: 2021 HJR4 was a solution by House members to support marijuana retired of Idaho and has been nan biggest disappointment and correction of nan Idaho Legislature. It grounded by 3 votes. Unfortunately, those 3 votes came from Eastern Idaho. Ron Nate, Chad Christensen, and Karey Hanks each voted against a law alteration to limit schedule 1 narcotics unless voted connected by nan Idaho Legislature. Many legislators including myself, drafted nan solution to beryllium put connected nan ballot and voted connected by nan nationalist to support marijuana from our children. We worked tirelessly pinch activity and members to get nan votes and we were assured we had them till nan ballot failed. Drugs person go nan scourge of our federation and Idaho stands unsocial successful keeping marijuana retired of Idaho truthful far. HJR4 would person solidified this effort. Many states are now regretting recreational marijuana arsenic wellness concerns person arisen pinch much dui’s, activity unit problems and nan tripling of teen suicide. This should travel back.

Hanks: Hindsight is ever 20/20 they say. There are bills I would person liked to pass, and bills that shouldn’t person passed. We’ll spot really nan predetermination goes and if we person nan will to amended and protect our measurement of life present successful Idaho.

What is nan astir important rumor facing Idahoans? What is simply a legislator’s domiciled successful gathering aliases addressing that issue?

Furniss: In a caller study conducted by Boise State University’s Idaho Policy Institute and School of Public Service, Idahoans are astir concerned about education, jobs and nan economy, and housing.
I judge astir Idahoan want their children knowledgeable by teachers that are neutral and unbiased toward authorities and religion. In Eastern Idaho we person nan champion teachers and person seen nary grounds of bias. If location person been isolated incidents, they person been handled swiftly and correctly by our much than capable schoolhouse boards and superintendents. The Idaho Legislature still has activity to do pinch nan schoolhouse backing formula, schoolhouse facilities, and maintenance.
Idaho is nan slightest regulated authorities successful nan Nation. I service connected nan business committee, and we person seen thousands of pages of regulations stricken from statutes complete nan past 6 years to beforehand business and economical growth. The Department of Commerce has done an fantabulous occupation of promoting Idaho and creating occupation growth. Idaho has reached retired internationally to waste and person been successful astatine this endeavor. Idaho legislature will proceed to trim business regulations to meet nan needs of Idahoans.
Housing is simply a problem, yet we spot azygous family homes, multifamily apartments and townhomes being constructed connected astir each corner. We person not been capable to support up to request owed to proviso concatenation issues and labour shortages. The proviso concatenation seems to beryllium better, but nan labour shortages are not. Idaho Launch programme for graduating elder took nonstop purpose astatine this problem promoting nan trades.

Hanks: Overreaching authorities power successful our lives is nan astir important. We request to reappraisal and discontinue passing much laws, and look astatine repealing immoderate of nan laws we have. Also, immoderate of our agencies’ rules are onerous and request much legislative oversight.