Phenneger based information used in the ad campaign on a variety of sources, including an updated April 14, 2008 report prepared by the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho utilizing data from the Idaho Tax Commission. “What Gov. Risch keeps failing to acknowledge is that for hundreds of thousands of Idahoans there was no ‘tax relief,’” Phenneger said. “There was a tax increase.”

This political deception falls right into the category of government accountability, a platform of Phenneger’s campaign for U.S. Senate. “It is one thing to talk about tax relief, but don’t tell all Idahoans you saved them money, if you actually didn’t.

“Homeowners who don’t itemize their federal and state income tax returns and thousands upon thousands of renters in the state, paid millions of dollars more in increased sales tax,” Phenneger added. “It wasn’t tax relief, it was a tax shift…and these citizens of our state are paying the price.”

Phenneger vehemently opposes political deception and is seeking the U.S. Senate seat to restore credibility and integrity to the position. “I have an obligation to our citizens to identify hypocrisy by a politician when I see it and hold those politicians accountable,” he said. Phenneger cites a recent Robinson Research poll he commissioned that shows 87% Idahoans want more accountability in Washington, D.C.

“It takes straight talk to tackle tough issues,” said Phenneger. His business experience will make him an effective Senator for Idaho. Phenneger has spent the past 25 years negotiating with business leaders, management and employees to help thousands of working families keep their jobs and secure their future. His programs have resulted in strengthening businesses and local economies. “The key to bringing these diverse groups of people together and forging solutions is to develop trust. And you do that through honesty.”

All veterans, armed service members, their families and the general public are encouraged to attend. The American Legion Post 113 is located at 22 West Broadway Street, Meridian, ID. Meeting will go from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. For more information call 208.773.0960.

 As your next Senator, Richard Phenneger seeks to eliminate Ear Marks/Pork Barrel and add a line item veto to curb wasteful government spending. He recognizes the need to create more opportunities for education and living-wage jobs to help stimulate our economy. He wants to put our efforts toward re-building and revitalizing the manufacturing industries within the United States. Social Security is not our government’s petty cash box and our leaders should be held accountable for the mishandling of Social Security.

When our Idaho National Guard is called up, they leave their jobs and family, report to duty and are integrated into the regular army or marine fighting units in which they will serve while in Iraq.

When the regular army or marines return home they return to their bases to waiting families and a huge support group. They are still on the government payroll with medical benefits.

When our Idaho National Guard returns from the war they are discharged. They return home to their family and to frequently find that the job they left is no longer available to them. So they are without a job, have no income, have no health benefits and have a family to take care of. Many of them have war related injuries. When they go to the Veterans Administration for help it takes up to 6 months to get an appointment. Then it can take up to two years before they actually get the medical attention they need and deserve. In the meantime the returning Guard member and his family fall into deep despair. This is not just in one area of Idaho, it is over the entire state. The suicide rate for National Guard Veterans is the highest of all military units.

How our National Guard is currently being treated is a national tragedy and a betrayal of trust. Why has our leadership, federal and state, allowed this to happen? You, the citizens of Idaho, must demand that this problem be immediately fixed and fixed now. I promise our Vets and their families that I will not rest until this betrayal of trust is reversed. This cannot be allowed to continue.

If we are going to send them to war, then we must take care of them when they return or do not send them at all.

 If we keep electing career politicians to represent us, government will stay paralyzed and continue to be ineffective. I bring not only new ideas, but solutions. I bring a New Era of Reason.

 This places Idaho in a lead position to move our country away from the dependence on foreign countries and build self reliance. Idaho can help lead the nation in solving our current energy crisis while creating jobs for Idahoans resulting in strong economic growth. We can either do something about this now, or we can bury our heads in the sand like congress has done with every other important issue our nation is facing.

Phenneger decided to run for Idaho Senator, following the results of an independent comprehensive study of the opinions of the people of Idaho, conducted by Robinson Research in December of 2007. The study identified that:

1. 80% were not satisfied with the ethical standards observed in DC.
2. 87% were not satisfied with the levels of accountability in DC.
3. Only 21% were happy with Jim Risch and Larry LaRocco being the major party candidates for the U.S. Senate.
4. Only 21% believed that the State Chapters of major political parties should pick and endorse candidates before the primary election takes place.
5. Honesty and Integrity were the two most important character traits Idahoans wanted in their Senate candidate. Ethical Conduct was third.
6. Regarding personality traits, Honesty, Integrity and Listening to Voters were the top three.
7. The top three concerns regarding the direction the U.S. is heading were: (a) Losing in Iraq, (b) Political corruption, and (c) The economy.
8. The most important issues for which Idaho’s Senators must take a strong stand are: (a) Water rights, (b) Illegal Aliens, (c) Water pollution and (d) Education. Health care costs and political corruption were next in line.

In 1990, Phenneger began mentoring young men of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity in the Northwest, emphasizing the fraternity’s core values of ethics and accountability. Phenneger also noticed that these same traits existed among the successful small-business owners he worked with. “They were always solid, ethical people,” Phenneger said.

“I kept looking at Washington DC and was seeing example after example of the lack of accountability and ethics … at least that I observed,” he said.

“That’s when it came to mind that if business people like myself aren’t willing to step forward and go to Washington DC, and aren’t willing to do something when we know something is wrong there, then we’re not using the talents the Lord has given us. That’s when I started thinking I should run,” Phenneger said.

“How can I sit here and teach ethics and accountability and not try to do something about what’s going on back there?” Phenneger said.

“Idaho needs a Senator who will first commit himself to re-establish and uphold the concepts of integrity and accountability before any of the many problems facing Idaho and the United States can be addressed and solved,” he said.

“Until now, not one candidate has taken the time to find out what Idahoans think and want going forward,” Phenneger said. Phenneger commissioned the recent poll.

If elected, Phenneger pledged to be guided by the following vision statement: [I envision] “That I will be a senator that operates with indisputable integrity, founded on morals that come from an unquenchable belief in God; A government that is fully accountable, that excites all citizens to be engaged rather than disengaged with our democratic process; A government that exalts the values of our forefathers.”

“The first task is to re-establish principles of integrity, ethics and accountability in government operations and eliminate the systemic corruption that currently exists,” Phenneger said. “Once this is done, ANY problem can be solved by men and women who espouse these principles. Without these principles being firmly in place, you will never get responsible solutions to the very difficult problems this Nation faces, such as immigration, social security and the war on terror,” Phenneger said.

“Currently, over half of the U.S. senators are attorneys,” he said. “This is an imbalance that needs to be corrected.” Phenneger said.

Phenneger is one of the Northwest’s most recognized leaders in helping to keep companies locally owned. For over 30 years, Phenneger has been in the business of bringing management, labor unions and employees together to solve difficult problems. “When there is trust you can solve any problem,” Phenneger said. For the last 17 years he has been mentoring young college students throughout the Northwest in ethics and accountability.