This issue features our first two contributions from other authors.  Let me know if you or someone you know would like to contribute.  One of our missions is to share information from across the country.  Each state is different, but yet we are working through many of the same challenges.

BRIDGING IDAHO’s DIVIDE

by Rep. Chris Mathias, Idaho

Bridging Idaho’s political divides is one of the most pressing yet challenging issues facing Idaho today. In an era marked by increasing polarization, fostering understanding and cooperation between opposing political perspectives is essential for the state’s progress. Idaho’s political landscape, dominated by one, fractured political party and characterized by deep-rooted conservatism alongside pockets of emerging liberalism, mirrors the broader national trends of ideological entrenchment. This makes the task of bridging divides not only crucial for fostering a sense of shared purpose but also fraught with obstacles.

Collaboration, Competency, and Nuance: Lessons for Modern Lawmaking
The Importance of Collaboration, Competency, and Nuance in Lawmaking
The United States has long been a nation built on the principles of compromise, collaboration, and collective effort. From its earliest days, the Founding Fathers recognized the dangers of factionalism and the need for governance that prioritizes the common good over narrow, partisan interests. James Madison, in Federalist No. 10, warned of the divisive potential of factions, which he described as groups of citizens united by a common interest that might sometimes conflict with the rights of others or the overall interests of the community. His words remain profoundly relevant today, especially as we consider the critical role of professional competency and collaboration in our state legislatures.

The National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonprofit organization that performs policy research and technical assistance for state lawmakers and staff members, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The organization, which has a staff of nearly 200 people in Denver and Washington, D.C., is designed as a bipartisan support network for state legislatures. It is led in alternating years by Republican and Democratic elected officials.

This year the organization is led by Wayne Harper, the Utah Senate president pro tempore.

An edited transcript of Governing’s conversation with Harper is below.

Many voters are willing to accept misinformation from political leaders – even when they know it’s factually inaccurate. According to our research, voters often recognize when their parties’ claims are not based on objective evidence. Yet they still respond positively, if they believe these inaccurate statements evoke a deeper, more important “truth.”

Our team conducted a series of online surveys from 2018 to 2023 with over 3,900 American voters. These surveys were designed to elicit responses about how they evaluated political statements from several politicians, even when they recognized those statements as factually inaccurate.

Consider former President Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Even among supporters who recognized that his claims about fraud were not grounded in objective evidence, we found that they were more likely to see these allegations as important for “American priorities”: for example, they believe the political system is illegitimate and stacked against their interests.