He has double-crossed both Idaho conservatives and America’s veterans
(Boise, Idaho) — Today BringOurTroopsHome.US, an organization composed of veterans of the Global War on Terror and their civilian allies, condemns the underhanded and malicious parliamentary tactics performed by Idaho State Representative Joe Palmer (R-Meridan) against the safety of Idaho National Guardsmen and the interests of veterans nationwide.
On Friday afternoon, “Defend the Guard” legislation was introduced for a print hearing in front of the Idaho House Transportation & Defense Committee. It was sponsored by Rep. Ben Adams (R-Nampa), a former Marine who served two tours of combat in Afghanistan. “Defend the Guard” would prohibit Idaho National Guard units from being deployed into active combat overseas without an official declaration of war by the U.S. Congress.
“Defend the Guard” is broadly popular and in accordance with the views of most veterans and most conservatives. A January 2021 poll conducted by Concerned Veterans of America concluded that at least 67% of veterans supported full military withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan. Two polls in 2019, from Rasmussen Reports and Politico, found 69% and 81% of Republicans favored ending our endless wars in the Middle East and withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Despite having two-thirds support of the fifteen-person committee, following a voice vote Chairman Joe Palmer declared that the measure had failed. When Rep. Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) requested a roll call vote—realizing the deceit taking place—Palmer refused to grant it and adjourned.
“Last year Chairman Palmer objected to who sponsored the bill but agreed in principle with the purpose and intent,” says Dan McKnight, Chairman of BringOurTroopsHome.US and veteran of the War in Afghanistan. “It’s clear to me that Chairman Palmer’s obstruction and parliamentary games are being directed by those he pays fealty to and that he isn’t acting in the best interests of his true constituents.”
Our organization is supremely disappointed to see any elected representative willing to casually toss away the lives of our soldiers in defense of endless war. We are disgusted more to see it done through mendacity and cowardice.
Rep. Palmer’s constituents are already voicing their indignation. The Republican Party of Ida County, the most populous in Idaho has censured Palmer for his “arrogant, arbitrary, dictatorial, and dishonest abuse of the power” in service of “the financial special interests of moneyed elites and lobbyists who financially benefit from keeping U.S. forces mired in endless, undeclared wars at the expense of taxpayers and our brave men and women in uniform.”
BringOurTroopsHome.US will continue advocating for soldiers and veterans in all fifty states against figures like Rep. Joe Palmer, whose antipathy towards our military has been made evident.
# # #
