The Grocery Tax Debate
By Karen Schumacher
Stand Up For Idaho is a non-profit organization that holds weekly town hall meetings to inform and educate the public. It also has both a YouTube and Rumble site where video recorded meetings can be viewed.
At a recent town hall meeting, hosted by Jolyn Thomas from KID Newsradio, a discussion was held on the grocery tax debate. Included in the discussion were Howard Rynearson, Payette County Republican Central Committee Chairman, who has launched a ballot initiative to remove the grocery tax; Ron Nate, Idaho Freedom Foundation President; and District 31 Representative Rod Furniss. Both the grocery tax benefits and disadvantages were discussed, and how repealing that tax might impact Idaho citizens.
The discussion begins at the 12:53″ mark. It is suggested that the video is viewed before accessing the links below it.
As promised in the video, both Rep. Furniss and Ron Nate provided the documentation to the information they referenced during the discussion. This documentation can be found here in an email exchange with Stand Up for Idaho Founder and President, Doug Toomer. It should be read from the bottom up starting with the email from Rep. Furniss.
Links Ron Nate provided:
https://commerce.idaho.gov/content/uploads/2024/11/2023p_ID_Travel-Impact-Report_11.13.24.pdf
https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/
Links Rep Furniss provided:
www.facebook.com/voterodfurniss
https://twitter.com/RodFurniss1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_JWpqLF-pg
Legislature.idaho.gov
https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/on-a-journey-to-understand-the-changing-financial-landscape
https://www.facebook.com/rodfurniss31/
Document links provided by both Rep. Furniss and Ron Nate to Doug Toomer:
This is the flyer passed out to the audience by Rep. Furniss
2026 Session Grocery Tax Analysis
A letter from Rep. Furniss to Doug Toomer
Letter from Representative Furniss to Doug Toomer
Notes made by Ron Nate on a Fact Sheet and an Idaho Freedom Foundation handout.
Fact Sheet – Idaho Senate Majority Caucus
Idaho Freedom Foundation Repeal Grocery Tax handout