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The Common Interest already has proven itself to be a valuable resource on issues of public policy. There is an important place in any public policy discussion for a well-researched, facts-based voice of reason. We may not always agree, but the essence of sound public policy is open discussion and constructive disagreement that leads to better ways of empowering individuals and communities to succeed.
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--Governor Butch Otter (Republican—Star)
I appreciate The Common Interest. I like the non-partisan, research based approach and analysis of issues that you do. I have studied your work. It’s very thorough and well done, and helped inform my debate and votes.
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--Representative George Sayler, Assistant Minority Leader (Democrat--Coeur d’Alene)
Legislators continually require three things. Creative new ideas, a sense of what our constituents either desire or detest, and good information; The Common Interest has been a good source of all three.
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--Senator Brad Little, Majority Caucus Chairman, Idaho Senate (Republican--Emmett)
As Idaho's Senate Majority Leader I have found that various lobbying groups take a narrow focus to solving Idaho's complex problems. Often their solution is the solution from a singular point of view. The "Common Interest," however, focuses on the issue, studies the various points of view, then reflects back to the legislature a reasoned opinion of Idahoans. I have found this approach to be more helpful to the legislative process.
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--Senator Bart Davis, Majority Leader, Idaho Senate (Republican--Idaho Falls)
The analysis that the Common Interest presents to us is complete and informative and offers us in many cases data and opinion in opposition to what is presented and often biased to one side in committee. Idaho Legislators are citizen legislators which means that we must do our own research, try to obtain information on issues in a very short time at the Idaho Legislature. The Common Interest is a wonderful addition to the mix!
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--Representative Wendy Jaquet, Minority Leader, Idaho House of Representatives (Democrat--Ketchum)
How refreshing it is to work with an organization that is truly nonpartisan and reaches out to educate and involve all citizens in the Idaho political process! The Common Interest has become a trusted source of information, public opinion, and balanced reporting for the members of the Idaho Legislature.
The Common Interest focuses on important bills, providing pros and cons of each issue. Our lives in Idaho are greatly affected by The Common Interest and its members. I, for one, am very grateful that the effect has been such a positive one!
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--Senator Brent Hill, Chairman, Local Government and Taxation Committee (Republican--Rexburg)
As I have watched the organization evolve I have become impressed with the work that is done, the quality of the analysis, and the dedication of the participants in the organization to take time to research, understand all sides of an issue and then come to a decision on a position on some very complex issues that we face in Idaho . . .
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--Senator Shawn Keough, (Republican—Sandpoint)
. . . I have come to look on The Common Interest as one of the credible resources I utilize to measure how Idahoans are thinking about our important issues and what they think are the resolutions to those issues. I would encourage anyone to become involved in The Common Interest for the in-depth analysis on complex issues of the moment and the opportunity to become involved in a process in which the outcomes are seriously considered by lawmakers and policy leaders.
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--Senator Shawn Keough, (Republican—Sandpoint)
As legislators we are asked to vote on bills covering a wide range of complicated issues. Many of us hold down a more traditional job the rest of the year when we aren’t in session. Any collection of materials we can access to objectively explain the issues before us and help inform our decision-making are welcome. The Common Interest issues briefings and members’ analyses have proven useful in that regard.
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--Senator Kate Kelly, Minority Caucus Chair (Democrat--Boise)
As your homeowners’ exemption climbs and shields you from property tax increases in years to come, credit a fledgling group of independents who have swiftly become players at the Legislature.
If you’re an independent voter looking for an alternative, check out TheCommonInterest.org. I think you’ll be impressed.
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--Dan Popkey, columnist, Idaho Statesman, May 7, 2006
[The bill to retain independents’ ability to vote in primary elections] is a contribution of Keith Allred and The Common Interest. Last year The Common Interest proposed the housing price index for the homeowners’ exemption. This year they’re coming in and perhaps providing a solution that really needs to be addressed. Hopefully, [the Legislature] will bow to the independents which are about 30% of the electorate in Idaho and give them an opportunity to participate.
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--Jim Weatherby, BSU professor emeritus and KTVB political analyst
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State Legislative Offices
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election is Tuesday, November 4. You can access the information on
candidates in your legislative district by clicking on the appropriate
link to the right.
Our information includes how often incumbents voted with our positions.
We also sent incumbents a questionnaire inviting them to tell us where
they stand on issues that have not yet been voted on by both the full
House and Senate but on which we've taken positions. Similarly, we
report the positions of challengers who responded to our questionnaire.
We believe it is valuable to know how candidates voted, or would
have voted, on the issues on which we took positions. Those positions
reflect a strong consensus among typically more than 100 common citizens
who took an hour or more to study out the issue in question. The briefing
materials for each issue can be accessed on the left hand side of
the homepage.
However, no numeric score can fully capture a candidate. We encourage
your thoughtful consideration of each candidate as a whole. We have
invited candidates to explain their votes where they voted against
our position if they wished. The explanations of those who accepted
our invitation are also provided. To help evaluate candidates beyond
what our scorecard can tell you about them, we also invited candidates
to provide supplementary information.
Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully exercise the privilege
of voting in this extraordinary system of government by the people.
Be sure to vote on November 4. And encourage your friends and neighbors
to do the same. They are also free to review this voter information.
No membership is required to access this information. One effective
way for you to make a difference is to e-mail your family and friends
to encourage them to vote and to include a link to this page. If you're
reading this page and are not a member, we hope you'll join us! All
registered Idaho voters can sign up as members by clicking
here.
If you have suggestions for other information we should post, including links to other voter information sites, please e-mail us at: info@TheCommonInterest.org
Other Voter Information
Idaho Public Television
has excellent voter information. In addition to information about
candidates and links to lots of other relevant websites (including
ours!), their website has information about the debates they're hosting.
You can even view the past debates online.
The Idaho Statesman
has a handy, high-tech voter guide that allows you to compare various
candidates and prepare and print out how you want to complete your
ballot. For those in the Treasure Valley, you can even put in your
address and it will bring up the relevant legislative and county races.
But even if you don't live in the Statesman's coverage area, they
provide useful information on statewide and congressional races.
The
Spokesman-Review provides a helpful page on the website that lists
all their election related articles and candidate profiles.
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Federal Offices
State Legislative Offices
District
1 (Bonner & Boundary Counties)
District
2 (Benewah, Bonner, Kootenai & Shoshone Counties)
District
3 (Kootenai County)
District
4 (Kootenai County)
District
5 (Kootenai County)
District
6 (Latah County)
District
7 (Nez Perce County)
District
8 (Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis & Valley Counties)
District
9 (Adams, Canyon, Payette & Washington Counties)
District
10 (Canyon County)
District
11 (Canyon & Gem Counties)
District
12 (Canyon County)
District
13 (Canyon County)
District
14 (Ada County)
District
15 (Ada County)
District
16 (Ada County)
District
17 (Ada County)
District
18 (Ada County)
District
19 (Ada County)
District
20 (Ada County)
District
21 (Ada County)
District
22 (Boise & Elmore Counties)
District
23 (Owyhee & Twin Falls Counties)
District
24 (Twin Falls County)
District
25 (Blaine, Camas, Gooding & Lincoln Counties)
District
26 (Jerome & Minidoka Counties)
District
27 (Bingham, Cassia, Oneida & Power Counties)
District
28 (Bingham County)
District
29 (Bannock County)
District
30 (Bannock County)
District
31 (Bear Lake, Bonneville, Caribou, Franklin & Teton Counties)
District
32 (Bonneville County)
District
33 (Bonneville County)
District
34 (Fremont & Madison Counties)
District
35 (Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson & Lemhi Counties
The Secretary of State has a useful web page with general information about voting in Idaho: www.idahovotes.gov
They have a particularly handy page now that will help you find your polling place and even get directions there from your home. Go to this page on the Secretary of State's website.
Finding out which Congressional District and Legislative District you live in is much more cumbersome. As you can see next to our links for each legislative district above, legislative district numbering starts at the Canadian border, with District 1 for Boundary and Bonner Counties, and goes south to the Nevada border, and then goes east to the Wyoming border. The 1st Congressionl District runs from the Canadian border all the way to the Nevada border. The eastern boundary splits Boise in two. The 2nd Congressional District runs east from that boundary to Wyoming. For detailed maps, go to this page on the Secretary of State's website.
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