Moderates Leave Idaho House To Conservatives

Moderate Republicans are retiring in droves from the House, likely resulting in a further rightward tilt during the November 2012 elections.

The departures include Reps. Mack Shirley, Bert Stevenson, Sharon Block, Carlos Bilbao and Leon Smith.

Though hardly liberals, these Republicans have provided a moderating influence on the increasingly conservative House in recent years.

Bilbao says moderates are out of business in Idaho, while Shirley calls it awkward and frustrating.

Smith, who lost his Transportation Committee chairmanship last year after Speaker Lawerence Denney targeted him for disloyalty, called the environment toxic for middle-of-the-road Republicans.

Denney told the Idaho Statesman everybody can speak his or her mind.

But clearly, there’s some fear.

Rep. Tom Trail, who is leaving his seat in Moscow, declined to comment, saying he’s got legislation pending.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com