Idaho conservatives just scored a massive win in the fight to stop taxpayer-funded teacher unions. House Bill 98 cleared its first major hurdle, moving forward despite fierce opposition from union-backed lawmakers, out-of-state special interest groups, and professional lobbyists sent to protect the NEA’s cash pipeline.
This is a critical step toward breaking the grip of radical unions on Idaho’s education system and putting control back where it belongs—with parents, teachers, and taxpayers.
Unions and Their Political Allies Exposed
The battle over HB98 pulled back the curtain on just how deep the teachers’ union influence runs in Idaho politics.Every major education special interest group came out in full force to fight this bill, proving exactly why it needs to pass. These organizations aren’t about “helping teachers”—they’re about protecting their power, keeping union dues flowing, and using taxpayer money to fund their political agenda.
Fortunately, Republicans like Rep. Judy Boyle, Rep. Shawn Dygert, and Rep. Clint Hostetler stood firm, refusing to cave to the unions. They understood exactly what was happening—this wasn’t about teacher contracts or administrative details. This was about stopping the NEA and its allies from using Idaho’s education system as a political war chest.
Rep. Theodore B. Achilles, on the other hand, showed his true colors. While he whined about “out-of-state special interests,” he was actively defending the most powerful, liberal special interest group in America—the NEA. Idaho taxpayers are being forced to fund a national teachers’ union that supports Kamala Harris, fights school choice, and pushes leftist gender ideology into classrooms.
If Achilles were truly fighting for Idahoans, he’d be backing HB98—not the radical activists bankrolling his opposition.
HB98 Cuts Off the NEA’s Influence in Idaho Schools
This bill is a direct threat to the unions’ power for one reason—it takes away their state-run money collection system.Right now, Idaho automatically deducts union dues from teachers’ paychecks, making it effortless for unions to collect millions that they turn around and use for political activism. If HB98 passes, unions will actually have to convince teachers to write a check and donate voluntarily. And they know exactly what that means—their membership will plummet almost overnight.
Idaho just passed school choice, and the unions fought it tooth and nail. No Republican can claim to support school choice while also defending these same unions. Every one of the lobbyists and union representatives who packed the hearing room was down at the statehouse last year fighting against school choice. They do not represent Idaho values.
The Union Playbook is Failing
The hearing also exposed the desperation and dishonesty of union-backed operatives. Rather than defending what the NEA actually stands for—gender ideology, DEI, critical race theory, and far-left politics—they tried to bury lawmakers in technical contract details. That’s because they lose the moment this debate turns to what the unions actually push in classrooms.
Rep. Boyle and Rep. Dygert cut through the noise and made it clear—this isn’t about “teacher support” or “local control.” It’s about stopping Idaho taxpayer dollars from funding the very groups that oppose everything Idaho voters stand for.
And then there was the moment that truly sealed the deal—the Idaho Education Association’s representative was forced to admit that the union botched its tax filings by nearly $2 million. This is the group that claims to be responsible enough to handle taxpayer money? If they can’t even balance their own books, why should the state be collecting dues on their behalf?
Meanwhile, the so-called “conservative” law enforcement and firefighter unions caved to the pressure and lined up next to leftist activists to oppose the bill. They need to be called out—public spaces and administrative complaints are minor issues compared to the radical agenda the NEA is pushing into Idaho classrooms.
A Choice for Every Lawmaker: Idaho or the Unions?
HB98 is about stopping Idaho tax dollars from funding radical leftist agendas. The unions and their allies in the legislature are doing everything they can to mislead, distract, and intimidate conservatives into backing down. But the GOP members who support this bill understood exactly what’s at stake.
Every lawmaker in Idaho now faces a choice:
- Stand with Idaho parents, teachers, and taxpayers.
- Or side with the unions that oppose school choice, push leftist indoctrination, and funneled millions into Kamala Harris’ campaign.
The fight isn’t over—but patriots in Idaho are watching. HB98 must pass.
