Idaho Governor’s Budget Battle: Who Wins?

The first few weeks of Idaho’s legislative session have shown a clear split between the governor and most lawmakers over how the state budget should look. The governor presented a modest plan that keeps spending low and avoids new taxes, while the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee has drafted bills that cut spending far more than he expected. Lawmakers are moving quickly to slash programs, and the governor’s team warns that these cuts could delay tax refunds, weaken emergency services, reduce firefighting staff and increase wildfire danger. They also say mental‑health courts, water‑quality monitoring and other services could suffer.The governor’s reply has been simple: the legislature controls the budget, so it is their job to decide. He has used vetoes in the past when he disagreed with legislation, most notably in 2021 when he blocked two bills that would have limited his emergency powers. Former governors have shown they can push back hard, too. For example, a former governor once vetoed eight bills in one session to force the legislature to adopt his budget priorities, and he was largely successful. The governor’s current stance seems calm, perhaps because of upcoming elections or a desire for party unity. He has promoted programs like LAUNCH, but those could be at risk if the legislature continues its aggressive cuts. The session is still ongoing, and the governor could either stay quiet or take a firmer stand. Whatever he chooses, critics may blame him for the outcomes, and that could be unavoidable.