News and Information
Redistricting Commissioners
REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONERS
Boise, ID – Idaho Republicans made their appointments to the Idaho Redistricting Commission today. House Speaker Lawerence Denney has appointed Lou Esposito of Boise, Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill has appointed Evan Frasure of Pocatello, and State Chairman Norm Semanko has appointed Dr. Lorna Finman of Rathdrum,
The Commission will convene on June 7th at the Idaho Capitol building and as required by the Idaho Constitution will have 90 days to redraw all of the district boundaries for Idaho’s two Congressional districts and the state legislature.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the appointments of Dr. Finman, Evan Frasure and Lou Esposito to the redistricting commission,” Stated Chairman Norm Semanko. House Speaker Lawerence Denney added, “I am grateful that such quality candidates with diverse talents have stepped forward to serve the people of Idaho.” “I am confident in the abilities of the three commissioners to be fair and to draw the district lines with a common sense approach,” stated Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill.
“I would also like to thank the members of the Idaho Republican Party redistricting task force co-chaired by Steve Cory and Wayne Hurst that began meeting in June 2010,” stated Chairman Semanko. One of the primary responsibilities of the Task Force that was appointed by State Chairman Semanko with two members from each region of the state was to recommend potential appointments to the Commission.
Below are short bios of the Commissioners:
Dr. Lorna Finman is the President of LCF Enterprises, a high tech engineering and manufacturing firm based out of Post Falls. Dr. Finman is also the Founder of North Idaho Discovery Association, a non-profit organization that provides training and experience to Idaho youth in the fields of science and technology. Dr. Finman received her PhD in physics from Stanford University and currently resides in Rathdrum with her husband where they are both active in local Republican politics.
Lou Esposito is an independent consultant who manages and conducts national and international activities in marketing, strategic planning, communications, issues and campaign management. In addition, Lou Esposito has helped numerous small to medium-sized businesses and non-profits get started and stay healthy financially. He has also handled media interface for issue oriented elections. Lou Esposito and his wife reside in Boise.
Evan Frasure is a former member of the Idaho House of Representatives and State Senate where he represented Pocatello from 1990 to 2002. In 1991, he was the primary architect of the Idaho State reapportionment plan, and in 2001 served as advisor for the Idaho Republican Party for the 1st Re-apportionment commission. Evan Frasure graduated from Idaho State University in 1977 with a bachelors of Science degree in secondary education. Currently, Evan Frasure is a teacher at Century High School in Pocatello, as well as a realtor with Satterfield Realty.
Redistricting Commission
The Idaho State Legislature is providing a web page for information regarding the changes that could be occurring.
Proposed Resolution,
WHEREAS, Republicans, who stand for smaller government should also uphold and protect the civil rights and liberties of its citizens against the strong arm of government; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution prohibits legislative action which restricts humanity’s God-given-rights including freedom of religion, speech, assembly and privacy, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, due process and equal protection, equality before the law, the presumption of innocence, access to counsel in judicial proceedings, and the right to a fair, speedy and public trial; and
WHEREAS, all governments have a responsibility to protect these constitutional rights as well as to protect the public from terrorism; and
WHEREAS, provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56) and related executive orders, regulations and actions, as well as proposed legislation entitled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act (DSEA) threaten fundamental constitutional rights and civil liberties; and
WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act expands the authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to secure access to many types of records, including paper records, stored electronic data, electronic communications and library records without having to show evidence of a crime and without a court order; and
WHEREAS, the USA PATRIOT Act expands the government’s ability to conduct secret searches, limits judicial supervision of telephone and internet surveillance, risks alienating immigrant communities from the police that protect them by encouraging involvement of state and local police in enforcement of federal immigration law; and
WHEREAS, federal, state and local governments, in their efforts to protect residents from terrorist attacks, should do so in a rational and deliberative fashion to ensure that any new security measures enhance public safety without impairing constitutional rights or infringing on civil liberties; and
WHEREAS, our nation has taken its strength from the freedoms guaranteed of all citizens and should set the example throughout the world in of how to protect itself without undue coercion of its citizens or resorting to government secrecy, violation of due process or invasion of privacy; and
WHEREAS, the Twin Falls Republicans believe there is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty and maintains that it is possible to be both safe and free.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE TWIN FALLS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY:
1. Affirms its strong support for fundamental constitutional rights as well as for the responsible exercise of governmental authority used to protect national security, and opposes Federal measures that infringe upon these rights; and
2. Affirms its strong support for the rights of immigrants and opposes measures that single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, ethnicity or religion; and
3. Recognizes and will continue to advocate and support the importance of basic civil rights including the right to a trial by jury for all people, the right to counsel in all criminal matters, the right to a speedy and fair trial, the right to protection against illegal searches and seizures and the right for full and unfettered exercise of all Constitutional Rights especially those enumerated in the First Amendment; and
4. Requests that Idaho’s congressional delegates support and enact legislation to modify the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other federal regulations, that threaten to undermine the fundamental rights of our citizens guaranteed by the United States Constitution and requests that Mike Simpson, Raul Labrador, Mike Crapo and James Risch oppose all measures that contain overly broad and unnecessary infringements of civil rights; and
5. Directs that copies of this resolution be sent to Idaho Republican congressional delegates Mike Simpson, Raul Labrador, Mike Crapo and James Risch.
Constitution Minute with Brian Johns
United States Constitution
Article VII – Ratification
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
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Patrick Henry was a powerful speaker and a fierce supporter of the Revolution. He influenced Virginia’s willingness to fight the British during the speech where he uttered the now famous phrase, “give me liberty or give me death!”
After the Revolution came the Constitution. During the summer of 1787, a miraculous mix of good men united, merged ideas, and made compromises—particularly about representation in congress and how much power the new federal government would have—in order to create the inspired Constitution.
Once signed, the Constitution moved to the state ratifying conventions. Delaware was the first to ratify. In some states, though, the battle was ferocious. For instance, after heated debate, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution only by a vote of 187-168.
Some revolutionaries like Henry were very concerned that the Constitution would give too much power to the central government, thus undoing the freedoms for which America had so recently shed so much blood. During the Virginia state ratifying convention, Henry was a staunch opponent of the Constitution. During one speech he pleaded, “Whither is the spirit of American gone? Whither is the genius of America fled? … We drew the spirit of liberty from our British ancestors. But now, Sir, the American spirit, assisted by the ropes and chains of consolidation, is about to convert this country into a powerful and mighty empire….”
After the days of debate in Virginia, (in the words of Catherine Drinker Bowen) “The Constitution was now put to a vote…. By eighty-nine to seventy-nine the Constitution won. It had been close, very close indeed. That night angry Antifederalists, determined to create measures for resisting the new system, held a mass meeting in Richmond, with Patrick Henry presiding. But Henry told his wrathful colleagues that he had done his best against the Constitution ‘in the proper place [the Convention ].’ The question, said Henry, was now settled; ‘as true and faithful republicans you had all better go home.’”
The grace by which such a fierce opponent accepted defeat and showed willingness to participate in the new system of government is an inspiring act of a true patriot. As it turned out, the Constitution was a miracle and a blessing, which for more than a century appropriately balanced power between federal and state or local governments, and which has influenced the entire world.
I wonder what Patrick Henry would think now—now that the federal government has the kind of power he feared it would, and now that it no longer seems to pay much attention to that marvelous Constitution. We probably need some firebrands like Patrick Henry, to keep the rest of us thinking and inspired. All of us, though, need to return to the Constitution, to restore its meaning and values in America today.
Bowen, Catherine Drinker; Miracle at Philadelphia; Little Brown and Company, 1966; pages 297-8, 304-5.