Laurie Lickley for Idaho Senate District 26

Laurie Lickley

State Senator Legislative District 26

Biography and Background

Laurie Lickley is a native of Salmon, ID and a 1990 graduate of the University of Idaho with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics. She and her husband raised their two children on the family’s century farm and ranch in Jerome. Along with the day-to-day ranch and farm operations in Idaho and Nevada, Laurie served Idaho’s beef industry from the local to the national level. She is midway through her second term in the Idaho House of Representatives and serves on the Health and Welfare Committee and as Vice Chair of the Resources and Conservation Committee.
Director National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) from 2009-2011 and again from 2014-2016
Idaho Foodbank Food Resources Coordinator
Lifetime affiliate member and former board member of Leadership Idaho Agriculture.
Past President Idaho Cattle Association and Chairman Idaho CattleWomen Council
Idaho’s Behavioral Health Council 2020-Present
Northwest Pacific Fisheries Task Force
Idaho Power’s Integrated Resource Plan Advisory Council (IRPAC)
Past President Jerome Rotary
Lifetime NRA Member

Proven Leadership, Common Sense, and Integrity

I will not compromise my fundamental values in making decisions on your behalf. YOU deserve to have your voice heard at the state level. Like YOU, I am a parent, a business owner, and a passionate advocate for creating an Idaho our children and grandchildren will be proud to inherit.

Stronger Roots, Stronger Families, Stronger Communities
Together, we can make Idaho stronger.

Top 3 Issues

Issue 1

Stronger Roots: Protect and Preserve Idaho Agriculture Support Idaho’s Natural Resources Water Storage, Quality, and Conservation

Issue 2

Stronger Families: Pro-life and Pro-family Early Childhood Development; K-12 and Higher Education Mental and Behavioral Health Advocate

Issue 3

Stronger Communities: Responsible Tax Policy Fiscal Accountability Balanced Growth and Economic Development Infrastructure Needs Pro-business

Integrity in Affiliation

Submission: Yes

“I have read the Idaho Constitution and the Idaho Republican Party Platform. Except for the provisions specifically noted below, I support the Idaho Republican Party Platform and accept it as the standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an officeholder should be evaluated. I certify that I am not a candidate, officer, delegate or position holder in any party other than the Republican Party.”

It is my hope that the platform is not used to suppress ideas and opinions. There is room in our party for conservatives who may disagree with interpretations and some of our Republican Party Platform. We must work collectively and cooperatively to further Idaho’s GOP and work to bring up the next generation of good solid Republicans. I have read the Idaho and US Constitution and the Republican Party Platform and find the Preamble to be most valuable. It is succinct and direct, easy to understand and follow.

Idaho’s Republican Party Platform gets lost in its attempt to define freedoms and the rights of individuals, states, and political subdivisions. It also demonstrates an inconsistent application and imbedded opinions of the moment. The “Oath” implies there is no room or freedom to disagree. As we look back on the 2022 Idaho Legislative Session, I followed over 85% of the Republican Party Platform. My votes and actions reflect Idaho’s conservative values.

The Platform, in many areas, is too prescriptive, detailed, yet vague and subject to interpretation in other areas. Unlike the United States and Idaho Constitutions it includes too many contradictory statements, encouragements, and opinions. It places too many good Idaho conservatives at odds over these statements and leaves too much to interpretation. The platform planks were not developed without dissension. The US Constitution has served us well and, excluding amendments, is only 4,543 words, including signatures. Our GOP platform is 5,290 words and 69 pages of rules. However, the platform has many opinions and less than mandatory references, like, “we encourage.”

The Idaho Constitution, Article I, Section 3, clearly states that “The state of Idaho is an inseparable part of the American Union, and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land.” The Idaho Constitution concludes with Article XXI, Section 20 “That in behalf of the people of Idaho, we, in convention, assembled, do adopt the Constitution of the United States.”

Some of our planks ignore the U.S. Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land. Our platform should absolutely and unequivocally provide for disagreement over federal laws and courts, but not conflict with the U.S. or Idaho Constitutions. The Idaho GOP Platform is embedded with the assumption that Idaho can ignore or nullify the U.S. Constitution, the Federal Courts and Federal Laws. While there are arguments to be made that the Federal Government has overreached its authority, we must respect that the U.S. Constitution provides the legal recourse to challenge federal law. Idaho’s Constitution confirms this.

The Idaho GOP preamble states, “We believe the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.” The State retains virtually all the powers necessary for local governments to truly manage their affairs. Idaho limits local government under the “Dillon” doctrine, while most states provide home rule under what is referred to as the “Cooley” doctrine. Current state authority, flies in the face of the preamble statement. I am proud to be an Idaho Republican.