Voter Guide: Kamber Weninger (D)
Party:
Democrat
- Website: https://www.kamberforidaho.com/
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Q: Tell us about your background, including your education, career experience, public service, and any previous political involvement. What experiences have best prepared you to serve in the Legislature?
I was born and lived in Idaho Falls most of my life. I have a Master’s of Training and Development in HRTD, and Bachelor of Arts in Art with a minor in Political Science. I have worked in public service industries since I was 15 years including; food service, retail, education, nonprofit operations, caregiver, and government. I worked as a Field Representative (not to be confused with an Enumerator) for the US Census for nearly 11 years before DOGE made their cuts in 2025. I have no political (Census is non-partisan) involvement other than the civic duty of voting and the summoning for jury duty, prior to this election. I believe what has best prepared me for the legislature is navigating through difficult situations and experiences in life. I understand what it means to make the best of difficult situations, how to address adversity, and my interests in a myriad of subjects that contribute to new and fresh ideas.
Q. If elected, what would be your highest legislative priority, and what specific policies or actions would you pursue to address it?
My highest priority would be to protect the rights and liberties of people. I believe there are several actions in policies as of recent that contributed to an imbalance of power in government. First, I would like to go back to fair taxation, and consumer protection with limiting corporations' pull in politics and propaganda. The working class families and individuals need more of an edge currently and should not be stripped of every nickel and dime while lining the pockets of the wealthiest. Fair policy, that involves public education, healthcare, public lands, jobs, water, and resources does more for a communities workforce and economy than does tax breaks for the wealthiest. Although it will be more difficult as a junior representative in a minority party, I will be accountable for voting on policies as a representative to ensure progress and better stability for the working class and vulnerable population.
Q: Many families are concerned about rising costs of fuel, housing, groceries, health care, and other essentials. What role should government play in addressing inflation and improving economic opportunities, and what specific steps would you support?
The first role the government should address in inflation is to assist in stabilizing markets rather than contribute to the destabilization with partisan politics whiplash in the economic policy. Creating economic policy requires time in analyzing the features that strongly contribute to ROI and progression. Rather than work together on common ground, it quickly ramps up to politicians in blame game and frenzy of who benefits from the supply and demand. We all want the same at the very foundations to have a home, be able to afford food and healthcare visits for our families, gas to get to and from work, school, and other obligations. I would like to say I have all the answers, but I do not. I believe there are different strategies that are worthy of further research and experimentation such as land value taxation that may create a more stabilized housing market.
I personally feel that many large corporations should not automatically raise prices allowing for the adjustments to neutralize and settle. Whereas CEO’s or CFO’s annual bonuses take a hit versus the consumers wallet, but I know that doesn’t go over well for them, and the free market capitulates greed. Although active participation and recognition among consumers questioning huge corporations raising their prices in the name of inflation, offering little in return for those services or not lowering their prices after stability occurs, and even offering less value than before; I do people should question it. They should also question the evidence that suggests tax breaks to the wealthiest means that they will invest back into their communities. However, I do know that cutting funding for public services such as education and healthcare does not help the economy, rather it creates less stability, as opposed to having the wealthiest and corporations paying their fair share of taxes as the rest of the population.
Q: Immigration remains a major issue at both the state and federal levels. What is your position on immigration policy, and what role, if any, should state government play in addressing immigration-related concerns?
I believe there is a lot of misunderstanding people have about immigration. This country was established by immigrants and somewhere along the lines people became convinced that all immigrants are criminals taking jobs, resources, because all of them are here illegally. I would like everyone to take a big deep breath. Most immigrants work, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities the same as anyone else. Yes, immigrants should be here legally and be able to become citizens through proper vetting process whether with a green card, or through the process of citizenship. Reform and resources to courts are needed on a federal level to expedite this lengthy problem. There are very few things states may be able to do other than provide information towards the vetting process and correct action towards lawful citizenship. However I do not believe that there are any means for indecency or inhumane methods used by ICE by means of violence or exploiting children and families, or that the state should cooperate with agents who were not properly vetted into that position to ensure humane practices and due process. Although the state probably does not have a say in any of it and my opinions are only that.
Q: Access, affordability, and workforce shortages continue to challenge the health care system. What do you see as the biggest health care issues facing residents, and what solutions would you advocate for?
Affordability is a huge concern across the board for everything! For health and medical care though, quite literally no one can afford to get sick! Although preventative care; regularly scheduled doctors and dentists visits cost less in the long run. Medicaid is on the chopping block in budget cuts, and has been under attack since the people voted for its expansion. This alone affects the number of patients who receive even preventative care treatments but also the number of physicians who will remain in the area.
Under this umbrella of health care there are more such issues on the ballot in jeopardy affecting accessibility and overall affordability and pertains to government overreach in regards to HIPPA and privacy in general.
Women's Health, and programs such as planned parenthood funding offered those with low income and uninsured to receive, education, treatment and diagnosis, this program was defunded because of the ban on abortions. Although planned parenthood provided access to medical treatment other than abortions the funding and the doctors left. I urge you to vote Yes on Proposition 1, before accessibility and other preventive (includes birth control not abortions) treatments and doctors just move away.
Mental and behavioral health is no joke and there are few psychiatrists (actually probably less than a handful) in the Idaho Falls area, to my knowledge at one point in time only 2 for adults and probably 2-3 for children. Many people can wait long periods of time getting into psychiatrists, doctors, therapists, and some go without relief or treatment, and could end in death or incarceration which cost taxpayers more.
Now, the legislature wants to cut out all lobbying and ballot initiatives from citizens and control all matters to put issues on the ballot. Fair warning this will not stop at cannabis alone, yet while we are on the issue of cannabis. The evidence suggests substantial benefits to cancer patient in treatment, zero fatalities in comparison to fentanyl, alcohol and other pharmaceutical grade pain relievers, all legal. (I urge you to vote No on HJR4.)
One other thing I would like to mention concerning the workforce. AI is also a contributing factor to the downsizing of the workforce and altering emergency dispatch systems, medical appointments, and many other such automation systems without having clear procedures in place for this transition.
Q: As lawmakers consider state budget priorities, what level of funding do you believe public schools should receive? What factors shape your position, and what outcomes would you hope to achieve?
I believe public schools should receive the level of priority (plus some) prior to the Parental Tax Credit and funding for private schools. I think public schools play a substantial role in the health and wealth of the economy. From the workforce in public schools to the minds they help shape, the growth and development including the newly built public schools, the taxpayers already bonded and levied, to create the next generation of workers. The factors that shape this position are abundant, but first start with the programs in public schools that have continually been slashed since I attended these public schools and never seemed to recover, such as art and music programs that serve students who learn differently and give them responsible means to express themselves and their emotions. Programs consisting of healthy and responsible practices for expressing emotions through arts, music, writing, and literature could help in providing therapeutic options and more well rounded thinkers. Which is honestly needed now more than ever, in my opinion.
My sibling at the age of 10 years old, knew that Idaho public schools ranked one of the lowest in the nation that was in the early 80’s and it hasn’t changed much since. Why is that the cost of one child in school per day (roughly equivalent to $2.65, according to Mountain States Policy luncheon I attended in 2025), too much for taxpayers? Although, the tax breaks for the wealthiest plus funding for private schools and tax credits for parents to home school will supposedly offset this cost substantially? There are no clear means of accountability in home schooling, or no precedents for private schools to take students who need additional support and are placed on IEP or 501 programs, going to strengthen our youth and economy? It’s not! Teachers and people who want the best for their children will move, jobs will dwindle and the economy will suffer because, like it or not, some people cannot afford to home school, Many need two income sources and still struggle. Poverty itself is a precursor to crime and low funds for public education does not help families or communities in this bracket. Public schools, where students are integrated and learn a level of social skills amongst various backgrounds are needed to solve tough problems throughout communities and cultures in the world.
Q: Looking at the most recent legislative session, what do you think lawmakers got right, what did they get wrong, and what changes would you advocate if elected?
UGH! I do not think they got much right if anything, honestly. I think so many lawmakers are so far removed from the issues that face many people and are just using fear based tactics, confusion and righteous blaming to take the focus off of the things that matter!
I will wholeheartedly advocate for public school funding, healthcare, and most importantly all those rights and liberties that are inadvertently escaping under the radar because of diversion tactics instead of taking responsibility and assessing their own accountability in being of service to the public.
Q: What is one issue that has not received enough attention during this campaign, and why do you believe voters should care about it?
Use it or lose it, your votes matter, and local elections are where it starts! Too many have become complacent, even nihilistic in the fact that they do not feel they can do anything about their basic rights and liberties being taken from them. Or they are simply too damn busy trying to make ends meet and don’t want to get involved with political strife because who holds the cards.
I’m not saying that lawmakers can fix everything, that is by far, the worst thing I could say. In fact, they could make things worse especially if given free reign of control. It starts with everyone taking a conscious look at what is going on around you and in your community that will make the biggest difference toward accountability to those in power and those who are supposed to be of service to you.
