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Idaho Legislature —The Green Book Advisors or Influencers? Inside Idaho’s Lobbyist Machine. By Sen. Christy Zito (02/17/26)
DO NOT MISS THIS ARTICLE and reader comments if you want to know how the sausage is really made in Boise. It’s NOT pretty. In fact, you’ll turn greener than the Green Book after reading 🤮.
Sen. Zito writes:
At the beginning of the Idaho Legislative session, legislators are issued a small green spiral-bound book. When I first served, it was simply titled “Idaho Legislative Lobbyists.”
Today, it’s been rebranded as Idaho Legislative Advisors.
I’ll still call them what they are: lobbyists.
Summary (ai assisted, edited; images from article)
Sen. Zito discusses the extraordinary influence of lobbyists in Idaho's legislature through a green book directory titled “Idaho Legislative Advisors”. She highlights the lobbyists’ numbers, roles, and connections to events and campaign funding.
The Green Book
The Idaho Legislative session provides legislators with a small green spiral-bound book. Formerly titled “Idaho Legislative Lobbyists,” the green book has been misleadingly rebranded as “Idaho Legislative Advisors.”
The 2026 edition lists about 400 lobbyists representing 392 in-state and 300 out-of-state organizations, totaling nearly 700 entities. Lobbyists outnumber legislators roughly 4-to-1.
Role of Lobbyists
While many lobbyists offer useful information on complex bills, technical impacts, and unintended consequences, the simple fact is that they are paid (often handsomely) by clients with specific agendas. Lobbyists sway votes, block bills, amend language, or secure funding.
Evening Events and Networking
During the session, lobbyist groups host dinners, receptions, and events almost every evening, sometimes multiple per night. Legislators attend these to build relationships and goodwill.
Campaign Contributions and PACs
Senator Glenneda Zuiderveld details campaign contributions via PACs tied to corporate interests, leadership funds, and out-of-state groups, which channel funds from lobbyists, corporations, and wealthy interests. Examples:
Friends of Brad Little
Idaho Leadership Fund PAC
Idaho Rising
Gem State Legacy PAC
Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI)
IACI’s Idaho Prosperity Fund PAC
Policy Influence
Daily access, events, and campaign dollars lead policy to favor well-organized, funded interests over everyday Idahoans. The rebranding to “Advisors” is cosmetic; the system operates out of public view.
What Idahoans Need
Idahoans need legislators as true representatives not swayed by influence. The green book symbolizes legislation occurring in back rooms, dinners, and through checkbooks.
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Our Take
So grateful to Sen. Zito (and the rest of the Gang of 8). This is eye popping information.
As Tom Munds wrote (tinyurl.com/bdzkhntd)
...the only advisors that Legislator should have are the citizens that they represent.
💯🎯
How can citizens possibly compete with lobbies full of lobbyists? And how can legislators render themselves immune to the sweet nothings the lobbyists whisper in their ears while wining and dining them?
Here's the problem for us wee citizens at the grassroots:
Too many bills!
We've read at least the SOP and weighed in on many bills; but the hundreds of bills printed and voted on are too much for an individual citizen, much less an individual legislator.
Citizens have too little influence. No money. Limited time. We cannot compete with lobbyists!
Do legislators really read the emails or listen to the calls? We're told they want citizen input, but our experience is that only a few really do. Legislators simply don't have time!
We've written countless emails and kept track of our thoughts on Substack Notes and a Bills to Support or Oppose page (tinyurl.com/yc2jpkeh).
We don't want an email reply from all the legislators, but we do hope the massive amounts of time we spend reading, researching, summarizing, and sharing ideas on each bill are not in vain. Of course, we likely miss or are wrong about some things, but at least we're trying.
But is anyone reading? We don’t know. Seems like a fools errand to stay engaged. It's no wonder most people bury their heads in the sand, give up trying to influence their legislators, and simply hope for the best.
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Related
Idaho Secretary of State Lobbyist Reporting database: sunshine.voteidaho.gov/…
Idaho Legislature 2026 Bills to Support or Oppose: tinyurl.com/yc2jpkeh
