If you pay attention to local and state politics, you already know that Idaho State Representative Joe Alfieri has been a staunch defender of conservative values for District 4A, which covers the City of Coeur d’Alene. You can depend on him to be on the right side of most issues, but Joe believes that three key issues require special attention going into 2024:
- Safeguarding election integrity
- Reducing the financial burden on Idahoans through tax relief
- Championing the cause of family preservation
Joe remains committed to these principles, which he believes are essential for upholding the conservative and traditional values cherished by the people of North Idaho.
Election Integrity
Why election integrity? If you have been paying attention, you already know the answer. 2020 was a year when many states utilized the excuse of the pandemic to play fast and loose with voting methods, particularly mail-in voting, which opened the door for opportunities to commit voter fraud. Indeed, a recent poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports, a well-respected polling company, indicates voter fraud was fairly widespread. The poll results are significant in that this was not based on unsubstantiated claims of fraud or irregularity. 20% of those polled admitted to committing some form of voter fraud, and 8% of the poll respondents even acknowledged that they were offered a monetary or other reward for voting or casting their votes in a certain way.
Election integrity takes precedence on Joe’s agenda because he knows it is the bedrock of a functioning representative republic. The poll findings underscore the urgency of addressing the vulnerabilities in our electoral system. While Idaho takes pride in its commitment to secure elections by requiring voter ID and other security measures, Joe believes Idaho must make a comprehensive review of the current voting procedures to ensure the utmost confidence in our state’s electoral process.
Fiscal Responsibility
The proper allocation of financial resources plays a crucial role in shaping the well-being of any state, and Idaho is no exception. But unlike companies or individuals, states don’t earn money; instead, they have the power to take it from their citizens through taxes approved by the state legislature. That is an awesome power, and state officials must recognize that offering its citizens valuable and necessary services efficiently and well is the only way to justify using this power.
Idaho’s taxes are not as high as in some other states; the Tax Foundation rates Idaho 15th out of the 50 states when it comes to favorable tax climates for businesses. However, Joe believes that Idaho can do better at reducing the tax burden on its citizens. In particular, Joe cites the accumulated $2 billion surplus Idaho has experienced in the last few years as evidence that Idaho citizens are overtaxed. In particular, he draws a comparison with Wyoming’s tax structure, which entails a 4% sales tax and no income tax, suggesting that Idaho should entertain employing a similar scheme. He also opposes the imposition of Idaho’s general sales tax on groceries, noting that it disproportionately impacts Idaho’s poorest citizens. In other words, Joe Alfieri is not content with the status quo if it doesn’t adequately serve the citizens of Idaho, and he believes that Idaho’s tax policy demands reexamination.
Preserving the Family Unit
The foundation of Joe’s conservative political philosophy lies in recognizing the sanctity of the family unit. A strong and stable family is the bedrock of an ordered society, essential for preserving our culture and continuing our civilization. Attacks on the family come from all quarters, from efforts to redefine the meaning of words to introducing inappropriate language, content, and graphics into schools, children’s television, and other spaces that used to be safe and wholesome.
One example he highlights is the ready availability of explicit materials, like pornography, in schools and public libraries that are accessible to minors. Joe co-sponsored H314 in the previous legislative session, a bill aimed at preventing the distribution of such materials to minors. Despite the bill passing the legislature, it faced a gubernatorial veto that fell one vote short of being overturned. Undeterred, Joe remains committed to reintroducing family protection bills in the upcoming session, emphasizing the imperative of shielding Idaho’s families from people who actively push these harmful influences on young people. These efforts are designed to undermine wholesome values and to subvert the whole idea of the traditional family unit – a social structure that has proven itself to be critical for a healthy and well-functioning society.
As Joe Alfieri seeks re-election in 2024, these fundamental values motivate him to continue fighting for the families of Coeur d’Alene. Join Joe Alfieri to preserve the principles that reflect North Idaho’s way of life. In 2024, vote for Joe Alfieri to represent District 4A in the Idaho House of Representatives.