Summary

In April, 2015, Better Idaho created a model to illustrate the political power of each

member of the Idaho Joint Appropriations and Finance Committee and, therefore, the

constituents residing in their home-counties. For the sake of this model, political power

is defined as the ability to influence legislation. The information below details the

methods utilized during the calculation process.

Methodology Within this model, levels of political power were categorized on a 1-2 scale, based on

each legislators assignment as either a JFAC Co-Chair or JFAC Member. Numeric

values of the scale reflect the standard low-high values of each number. The following

point system was implemented:

Leadership Position Point Value

Co-Chair 2 Member 1

Points were assigned to legislators in reflection of JFAC-related position currently held.

Lastly, points were totaled based on the counties from which each individual resides

and visually inserted on a map of Idaho that has been divided at the county level.

Appendix A: JFAC Co-Chairs and Members

Name Party Position County Points

Jason Monks R Member Ada 1

Phylis King D Member Ada 1

John Gannon D Member Ada 1

Jim Guthrie R Member Bannock 1

Roy Lacey R Member Bannock 1

Steve Bair R Member Bingham 1

Shawn Keough R Member Bonner 1

Dean Mortimer R Member Bonneville 1

Wendy Horman R Member Bonneville 1

Steven Miller R Member Camas 1

Rick Youngblood R Member Canyon 1

Marc Gibbs R Member Caribou 1

Steven Thayn R Member Gem 1

Sheryl Nuxoll R Member Idaho 1

Van Burtenshaw R Member Jefferson 1

Maxine Bell R Co-Chair Jerome 2

Luke Malek R Member Kootenai 1

Dan Schmidt R Member Latah 1

Dean Cameron R Co-Chair Minidoka 2

Dan Johnson R Member Nez Perce 1

Appendix B: County Totals

County Total Points

Ada 3

Bannock 2

Bonneville 2

Jerome 2

Minidoka 2

Bingham 1

Bonner 1

Camas 1

Canyon 1

Caribou 1

Gem 1

Idaho 1

Jefferson 1

Kootenai 1

Latah 1

Nez Perce 1