BREAKING NEWS: Winder Removes Lenney as Vice Chair
The tantrum from Boss Winder continues
I know I already posted today, but I just had to share this breaking news. After removing Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld from her position as Vice Chair of Health & Welfare, and threatening her and Sen. Scott Herndon with ethics complaints, it turns out that Boss Winder, the Senate President Pro Tempore, has also removed Sen. Brian Lenney from his own position as Vice Chair of Commerce & Human Resources.
Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Winder doubled down on his authoritarian stance by abruptly removing Senator Brian Lenney from his Vice Chair position on the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. The decision, delivered via email, lacked clear justification or prior dialogue, casting doubt on the fairness and openness of the process.
This is the third instance where Senator Winder has targeted the speech of Idaho Freedom Caucus members with little reason or evidence. It appears that Winder’s continued harassment is based on our members' more conservative political perspectives. He seems to be attacking any legislator who resists his intimidation and bullying tactics.
Winder's latest actions reveal a troubling pattern—unilaterally disciplining Senators critical of Idaho's spending increases and reliance on federal debt. Timed at the onset of an election season with numerous contested races, his behavior raises concerns about his attempts to influence the electoral process.
It’s now clear that Sen. Winder is targeting members of the Idaho Freedom Caucus who are too outspoken about fiscal conservatism and political transparency. Zuiderveld, Herndon, and Lenney have all called attention to the way in which old guard Republicans, often with support from the Democrats, continue to grow government and funnel taxpayer money to the big corporations that donate to their campaigns and PACs.
It is time for Chuck Winder to do the right thing and resign. He has weaponized his position as Pro Tem to punish fellow senators who do not toe the IACI line. He seems to think that he is the boss, and they are the employees, rather than all of them serving the people of Idaho. Lenney said it well: “Senator Winder is neither my boss nor my dad. I serve the people.”
Perhaps someone should remind Boss Winder that his authority is confined to the Senate chamber, not the whole of Idaho:
Senator Winder's behavior is unworthy of an Idaho State Senator! He should apologize to the freedom caucus members, the entire senate, and every Idahoan. Then he should resign.
More information at https://eolson47.substack.com/p/tyranny-in-idaho-state-senate
Action items here: https://eolson47.substack.com/i/138844570/take-action