Conservatism More Than A State Of Mind Group Names Idaho Lawmakers Most Right-Wing

If you think Idaho’s conservative, imagine what the liberals think.

According to Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal advocacy group in Washington, D.C., Idaho’s congressional delegation voted more conservatively, more consistently than any state in the country.

The group, founded after World War II by Eleanor Roosevelt and Adlai Stevenson, compiles a congressional record of votes on domestic, foreign, economic, military, social and environmental policy.

“It should be no surprise,” said Florence Heffron, director of the University of Idaho’s bureau of public affairs. “I think our politicians make very clear that they’re conservative. That’s why voters vote for them.”

In fact, after 1994’s Republican landslide - which left Idaho with one statewide Democratic officeholder - out-going Gov. Cecil Andrus mused that the state didn’t have enough Democrats left “for a decent potluck.”

And Andrus was a conservative Democrat.

While ADA clearly considered Friday’s designation something shameful, Heffron said most Idahoans probably “will wear it as a badge of pride.”

“I’m sure it’ll make some people’s day,” she said.

Idaho bested Wyoming and Nevada and was a single blip more conservative than New Hampshire. The Gem State even out-conservatived Utah, long considered the right-wing of the West. It ranked 42nd.

“Even Utah senators occasionally vote in favor of some progressive social legislation,” Heffron said, laughing.

, DataTimes