My U.S. Senate Platform For Border Security 

Idaho is about 2,000 miles from the southern border, but anyone who believes border security is only a Texas or Arizona issue hasn’t been paying attention. 

I’m running for the United States Senate as an outsider, a businessman, and an America First conservative because I see the consequences of Washington’s failures showing up in our communities, our schools, and our job sites. Border security is at the top of the list of those failures. It is an economic, cultural, and public safety issue that demands serious leadership with not only common sense solutions, but also creative solutions, which is what I want to offer to Idaho and the U.S. Senate.

For starters, two policies are essential: mandatory E-Verify and a responsible, humane remigration strategy rooted in global restabilization efforts which can only be achieved by an Anti-War candidate such as myself. 

Remigration is more than just deportations. It is also incentivizing migrants to return to their home countries voluntarily. Remigration is justice: For both Americans and for the migrants. 

It goes hand in hand with my Anti-War and Anti-Foreign Entanglement position. The Forever Wars and efforts to play God around the world have displaced millions around the world. These unnecessary humanitarian crises are a major factor causing the migration crises our nation faces. It is our job as conservatives to lead with remigration solutions that are more rooted in justice and compassion for both Americans and migrants than anyone else, and to demonstrate to all of America that there are remigration solutions that do provide true justice for everyone involved. 

For decades, career politicians promised to secure the border, yet each year the crisis worsened. Businesses like mine plan budgets carefully, measure risk, and hold people accountable. One of the biggest problems on the American Right is that we continue to get tricked into believing the establishment will give up its slave-labor force and grant us true mass deportations. Politicians have been dropping press releases, holding hearings, talking tough on TV, and then allowing the problem to grow. Meanwhile, Idaho families deal with rising housing costs, strained services, and unfair competition for wages. When the federal government refuses to enforce immigration law, it sends a message to American workers that they come second in their own country.

When illegal immigration accelerates, it places pressure on housing markets, hospitals, and schools. Small towns that planned responsibly suddenly face rapid population changes without the infrastructure to handle them. Taxpayers are left to cover the difference. That is not compassion. That is negligence.

I believe in an America First immigration policy that respects the law, protects American workers, and treats people with dignity. That starts with securing the border, but it cannot end there. If we want meaningful reform, we must also address what happens inside the country. 

Critics claim mandatory E-Verify would hurt the economy. I disagree. Idaho businesses succeed because of innovation, hard work, and fair competition. We should not depend on illegal labor to remain competitive. Instead, we should invest in workforce development, vocational training, and opportunities for Idaho workers. When we prioritize American labor, we strengthen communities and build long-term prosperity.

Mandatory E-Verify is simple. If you want to work in the United States, employers must confirm you are legally eligible. As a business owner, I followed E-Verify laws, and it angers me to see massive corporations ignoring the rules and hiring illegal labor. Law-abiding businesses are put at a disadvantage and American wages are undercut. Strong enforcement of E-Verify levels the playing field, protects wages, and removes the economic incentive that drives illegal immigration in the first place. Here in Idaho, I support the passing of Senate Bill 1247, which would require all state and local governments and large government contractors to use the E-Verify system and would create 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement and the federal government to enforce E-Verify. But that’s not enough, every business should be following E-Verify laws, just as I did, and I want to make it national policy.

Enforcement of E-Verify alone also is not enough. We must also confront the difficult question of how to address the millions of people who entered the country illegally. That conversation often becomes heated, but we can approach it with both firmness and humanity. I support remigration, and remigration means justice for all involved, not cruelty. Remigration is not about punishment. It is about restoring the rule of law.  It means encouraging and requiring individuals who entered illegally to return to their home countries through orderly, lawful processes.

We also need to ensure that our Border Patrol is maximizing its resources to the areas of concern that matter most. As a proud Republican who believes in strong borders, individual liberty, and respect for tribal sovereignty, I wholeheartedly endorse the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act. This is bipartisan bill, introduced by Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) in March 2024, to eliminate blood quantum requirements for Tribal members crossing our border. 

This bill actually strengthens our Northern border by enabling Border Patrol to quickly process legitimate tribal crossings and devote far more resources to detecting and preventing illegal crossings by non-tribal individuals attempting to exploit the system. Not only that, but the passage of this bill would mark the beginning of a partnership between our federal government and Tribal governments along the northern border to strengthen our border. 

On the surface, this bill looks like a small reallocation of resources for our border security, but the long-term impact of strengthening the relationships between Tribal governments along our border, and the federal government, could be astronomical. As Senator, I will be looking for every possible way to maximize our border security. 

Washington insiders often dismiss the concerns discussed in this article, but they do not live with the results. They do not run small businesses trying to compete fairly. They do not see the pressure on rural hospitals. They do not hear from parents worried about overcrowded classrooms. As an outsider candidate, I am running precisely because these voices are ignored.

Idaho deserves a senator who understands business realities and respects the rule of law. We need leadership that puts American workers first, secures the border, and restores accountability. Mandatory E-Verify and humane remigration are not radical ideas. They are practical solutions grounded in fairness, compassion, and common sense, and there are creative ways to make a reality. I truly believe a nation that cannot enforce its immigration system loses control of its future, and I will fight to secure a future for Idaho’s children and grandchildren. 

Denny LaVé is a candidate for U.S. Senate here in Idaho. To learn more about Denny and his platform, visit DennyForSenate.com 

WATCH:

By a Concerned Citizen:

Last Spring, my family gave up on gardening. Having been blocked from opting out of Dibrom – the pesticide released via airplanes contracted by the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District – we realized our efforts to grow clean, affordable produce had become futile. My son took down the stakes for our beans and my daughter ripped out spent plants that had been so beautiful in the previous season.

But what about Idaho Title 39? It states that property owners can “be excluded from treatment” and that “the abatement district shall refrain” when an individual has opted out. If we maintain this lawful option, why does the annual opt-out form allow relief from ground spraying but not from aerial adulticides? Instead, it states, “Due to the nature of the aircraft, those located within the treatment block may NOT be excluded from these treatments.” GCMAD Manager Cody Johns has echoed the sentiment: “aerials can not be opted out of.”

Concerned residents have been unable to get answers. Commissioner Bill Butticci instructed us to contact the GCMAD Board, stating the commissioners “have no authority over them.” (Emphasis added.) Yet emails to the GCMAD Board went unanswered and efforts to speak to them in person were stonewalled.

We were not without progress last year, however. GCMAD finally released more product and safety data sheets on their website. The nine different products listed (at time of publishing) – including active ingredient Naled – may have been previously unknown to some residents. (I remember when I thought they “only” sprayed Permethrin and consequently welcomed treatment myself.)

But after studying the patterns on our land post-application, something seemed off. We’d notice a slight reduction in mosquitos for a few hours but what struck us was the wider ecological impact: dead dragonflies, dead aquatic insects, dead frogs, dead birds, dead bees. And the “fittest” mosquitos, it seemed, would be back in full force the next day to keep breeding. In his report, “Impact of Naled (Dibrom 14)…” – a long-term study tracking the use of this pesticide – JJ Howard relayed his findings that the total mosquito population increased 15 fold after 11 years!

The safety data sheet for Dibrom notes it is “very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects…toxic to fish, birds and other wildlife” and “highly toxic to bees.” Perhaps we should be asking whether this strategy isn’t counterproductive to its stated goal—at least in the long term? Knocking down mosquitoes for a half day, sure, but potentially taking all of God’s natural, free and non-toxic predators with them.

What if instead of spraying questionable products purchased from mega corporations like American Vanguard – which conceal the vast majority of their ingredients as proprietary – GCMAD considered cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable alternatives? Trialing bat boxes, garlic products and wider community education about best practices. In fact in private meetings, Johns himself confirmed that “bats work” and his own employee reported that one large landowner who opts out of treatment has had great success employing garlic as a deterrent. Instead of threatening land owners as “harborers,” perhaps officials should focus their attention on rampant overgrown vegetation found widely on neglected County land.

Inquiries to Johns about the inability to fully opt-out weren’t countered by legal merits but instead with the threat of West Nile virus. Serious for people? You bet. Horrible for horses? Definitely. But prolific in Gem County or even in Idaho? Nope. According to the CDC, Idaho only recorded six human cases statewide – and zero deaths – in 2024.

Shouldn’t we focus on the prevalent threats when seeking to allocate our precious tax dollars in a way that does the most good? The “Gem County Cancer Profile,” indicates we averaged a higher cancer rate than the state and the state averaged higher than the country from 2018 to 2022! While valid concerns about contagions should not be dismissed, we must recognize that the elephant in the room is suffering from chronic disease, not West Nile.

As noted by the Environmental Working Group, EPA approvals often lag behind research, failing to remain up-to-date with science or recognize correlations between environmental toxins and chronic disease. If DDT were approved today – who would use it? Trading our own due diligence for the assurances of government bureaucrats is a grave mistake though often we don’t realize the consequences until it’s too late.

Efficacy and potential hazards aside, fundamental property rights hang in the balance. The legislature has codified law mandating our right to opt out. “Shall refrain” stands without qualification and therefore means no quads, no trucks, no drones, no airplanes and no trespassing! If those of us living in abatement districts across the state don’t actually stand for our rights now, then the Gadsden flags and gun clutching were all for show.

Cited Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html
https://idcancer.org//ContentFiles/special/CountyProfiles/Gem.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/cancer_mortality/cancer.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9474556/

(Kootenai Journal) — I’m going to fill you in on the current situation at NIC. I’m doing this as a concerned citizen and not representing the Board of Trustees.

Right now, NIC is doing very well. It has turned the corner in a number of areas and the future looks bright.

However, this is recent. I’m sure you have all heard about the problems with accreditation and enrollment. So, let’s talk about these topics.

First, a little background. I am sharing these insights based on my experience in Fortune 100 company management, where for many years I was responsible for overhauling groups that were in need of change. For example, another man and I redesigned a company of 24,500 employees and its annual report stated the changes helped them survive. This is the big picture approach I am using to explain the current situation.

From my perspective, our beloved North Idaho College, being over 90 years old, needed big changes. This situation is typical for organizations this old. Most organizations don’t even last this long, and major changes are always messy and unpopular since people generally do not like change.

Three years ago, there was turmoil on the NIC Board of Trustees:

• A conservative majority of new trustees had been elected, including Greg McKenzie and Michael Barnes.

• For about 12 years, NIC had suffered enrollment declines, an average of 3-6% per year.

• The enrollment decline continued under the college’s management at that time, so the conservative majority made changes.

Two years ago, a conservative majority was again elected by the voters, and Board Chairs were selected from the conservative majority. The results show good progress.

Accreditation:

Accreditation concerns are being diligently resolved and the situation is continually improving. There were about 20 issues for the Board and the Administration to address, and they are all being addressed.

Please see the image below which shows accreditation review data for governance. Green means progress. Note the various status dates and how most measurements are now close to three, which is average. Note how they have been improving over time. These are issues that the accreditation organization has identified, and we have worked hard and done all we can at this point to address them.

Also, the Board and the college are updating many of its processes, some of which were 20 years old. Currently, we are waiting for the accreditation organization to re-evaluate us on October 14-15.

Enrollment:

Enrollment is up from last year by about 15%, a stark contrast to the declines during the previous 12 years.

Enrollment in 2020 was 4,801, in 2023 it was 3,981. Now it is back up to 4,537.

• Dual Enrollment for high school students at NIC is up.

• Enrollment is up in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Parker Center in Rathdrum.

• Other student enrollment categories are up as well.

Finances:

NIC’s finances are in good shape, and the NIC Foundation has increased its endowment to $45 million.

Summary:

• The conservative majority changed the original management of the college.

• The whole Board, the new President, the Staff, and the Faculty have worked very hard to turn NIC around.

• It all started with the Board replacing the management. This was strongly resisted. But it has worked. We need to thank those members who made the original changes. They are Todd Banducci, Greg McKenzie, and Michael Barnes.

In short, the ship has been turned and is continuing to improve. I believe it will keep improving and the college will provide more and more benefit to the community as an educational organization and as an umbrella for a series of grants for social services such as Head Start, GED, elder career, and so on.

Thanks to everyone working hard, the future looks bright at NIC.

Be An Informed Voter!

Be sure tho check out the OFFICIAL Kootenai County Republican Party’s Sample Ballot, as well as their digital voter guide online. You’ll get to learn about the candidates they are recommending for local office, and it shares the process they use to recommend, or not recommend, candidates in the election.

In the upcoming race for North Idaho College Trustee, the KCRCC has recommended William Lyons, Michael Angiletta, and Greg McKenzie.

Learn more about their campaigns by visiting their website www.MakeNICGreatAgain.com

Read Past Articles About North Idaho College from the Idaho Tribune:

On October 1st, North Idaho democrats held a press conference in front of Senator Phil Hart’s Kellogg home claiming that the Senator doesn’t live there.

Their claim was not supported by any evidence that Senator Hart lived at another location. The crux of the democrat’s theory is that Hart is taking a long time to remodel his home, and therefore must be living somewhere else.

Hart, whose day job is working as a structural engineer, said to Tribune reporters:

“Carpentry is a hobby of mine, and the carpentry experience I am getting remodeling my home makes me a better engineer. When I get my current remodel project done, I am planning on building a concrete gazebo in the back yard with a concrete dome.”

The complaint filed with the Secretary of State’s office by liberal activist Deborah Rose, and Kootenai County Democratic Party Chair Evan Koch was not a verified complaint, as it was e-mailed and lacked a signature.

The complaint did not include any facts, only theories. The initial (now debunked complaint) reads as follows:

Dear Secretary McGrane,

We, the undersigned, are registered voters residing in Legislative District 2 of Idaho and are writing to respectfully request an investigation into the residency of Senator Phil Hart. Senator Hart is currently registered to vote at [REDACTED]. However, this address has been under construction for several years, and we have reason to believe that Senator Hart is not residing at this location as required by law.

As concerned citizens from both sides of the political aisle — one a registered Democrat and the other a registered Republican — we are united in our desire to ensure that our elected officials are adhering to the residency requirements set forth by Idaho law. We believe that transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining the integrity of our electoral system.

Given the extended construction on the property and concerns raised by residents within our community, we ask that your office investigate whether Senator Hart is in fact residing within Legislative District 2 or whether he is residing outside the district, which would be a violation of Idaho’s residency requirements for state legislators.

This is a bipartisan request motivated purely by our shared commitment to the rule of law and the democratic process. We trust that your office will thoroughly review this matter and take appropriate action to ensure compliance with Idaho’s election laws.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Debra Rose
Registered Voter, Legislative District 2

Bruce (Evan) Koch
Registered Voter, Legislative District 2

Rose and Koch’s “complaint” ignored the elements needed to be proven in a court to have a successful outcome. There is plenty of case law that can be relied on for guidance. On top of that, the entire complaint was constitutionally misdirected as it is the Senate that has jurisdiction to judge the “qualifications… of its own members” according to the Idaho Constitution, Article 3, Section 9.

On Tuesday, October 8, the Secretary of State’s office issued a letter stating that their office concluded that Senator Hart meets the residency requirements to be the Senator representing Legislative District 2.

Consequently, Senator Hart remains on the November ballot, and is endorsed by the Kootenai County Republican Central committee.

Hart’s opponent looks like he should spend more time reading Idaho’s Constitution, instead of creating wild Conspiracy Theories.

(Hayden, Idaho) — North Idaho College President Nick Swayne has come out as a proud, Trump-Hating LIBERAL.

Outside of the Hayden home of Nick and Nikki Swayne is a sign that reads “I’m a veteran. Not a sucker or a loser,” a reference to an anti-Trump liberal trope that has been bandied about by the supporters of Kamala Harris, and Neo-Conservative McCain Republicans.

The sign is sold by a website called Vote Vets, a Democrat Political Action Committee.

Vote Vets has donated exclusively to Democrat causes/pacs according to OpenSecrets.org

For those of you who are unaware, Nick Swayne was not hired as NIC’s President by an elected board of trustees, instead, he was appointed by hand-picked trustees who were themselves appointed by an unelected cabal of liberal activists.

A recent report from the accreditation agency, the North West Commission of Colleges and Universities, slammed President Swaynes “Ineffective Leadership” and even alleged “Conspiracy” and “Unethical Behavior” on the part of the “Save NIC” Trustees.

According to new data from the ACCT, an accreditation consulting and compliance agency, the board has been trending in a positive direction, in all categories except one: “The Board and the President have a cooperative relationship.”

The board and the president, do not, in fact, have a cooperative relationship, because Nick Swayne HATES everything that Conservatives in Kootenai County stand for.

In spite of Swaynes stonewalling and sidelining of trustees, and Radical Leftists disrupting board meetings, thanks to the conservative trustees on the board, we have seen enrollment EXPLODE over the past year.

The Trustees have, until now, been unable to get rid of Swayne (and his deep-state puppet masters) due to technicalities in his contract, but that all changes in June of 2025 when his contract runs out and does not automatically renew. Which means that whoever wins this election on November 5th will have the future of North Idaho College in their hands.

Do the residents want the college to be in the hands of the so-called “Anti-Racist” NGO that started the accreditation crisis, targeted conservatives for “hardcore measures,” and led to physical violence against one of the trustees?

Or, do we want to elect conservative trustees that will keep local control of our community college in the hands of “We the People?”

The Kootenai County Republican Party has recommended three candidates for the upcoming November 5th election that will restore the values of Faith, Family and Freedom to the College Board, and Make NIC Great Again!

The conservative candidates for North Idaho College Board are Michael Angiletta, Greg McKenzie and Bill Lyons.

As documented here, over the last few years, we have seen the encroachment on Americans’ civil liberties by those who either hate the Constitution and the idea of a constitutional republic or are inept and not educated on the concept of God-given, un-a-lien-able rights.

The City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is no exception.

On July 2, 2024, the City Council of Coeur d’Alene passed a hate crime ordinance. It’s essentially a mirror of the malicious harassment law in Idaho but laced with additional penalties to malign constitutionally minded citizens. It’s a simple way to put political opposition in a box that disagrees with socialists and the LGBTQ agenda, a method to chill free speech.

A cadre of citizens spoke in favor of the hate crime ordinance at the recent city council meeting; in fact, a majority have vested interests in a larger agenda: a conspiracy to garner social prestige in the community, play the victim to access more state and federal grant monies, and wage lawfare on their opposition.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) had all hands on deck in support of the hate crime ordinance, which they helped create in tandem with the Human Rights Education Institute (HREI) and other nefarious Godless organizations that promote the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Agenda 21 (Agenda 2030).

Tony Stewart, secretary of the KCTFHR, led the public comments on July 2, 2024. The Director of the HREI, Jeanette Laster, spoke shortly after that. Chief Allen, the Chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, lobbyist Eli Hancock followed her,

Jody Hiltenbrand, the new President of the KCTFHR, also Principal at Dalton Elementary School, Ryan Nipp of Parkwood Business Properties, spoke in favor of the ordinance along with Tyrell Stevenson, legislative director for the CdA Tribe, Emily Peterson, Nephrologist at Kootenai Medical Center, Cecil Kelly III, former therapist at Heritage Health and arsonist Clark Richman, Artist Blair Williams, Susan and Jeff Crowe of Bunkhouse Media also voiced support the for recently adopted hate crime ordinance.

A who’s who of social engineers promoting a globalist agenda to destroy the United States and specifically North Idaho.

It should be noted Bunkhouse Media provides content and film events for the Human Rights Education Institute and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Read the hate crime ordinance here (PAGES 43 – 48) »»» https://www.cdaid.org/files/Council/Packets/Packet070224WEB.pdf

View the full Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting from July 2, 2024

Aspects of the hate crime ordinance are broken down into subsections that address intimidation, malicious injury to property, harassment, assault and battery, public nuisance, disorderly conduct, threat, and conspiracy, which are already current laws but are tailored to address perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability or national origin.

One of the interesting aspects of the new ordinance is the penalty section, which mentions that if someone is found guilty of violating this unlawful ordinance, they would be ineligible for any city license, permit, or activity for up to three years.

Additionally, the court may impose community service or participation in an educational program, aka re-education.

On July 4, 2024, I attended the Independence Day Parade to document the event and film the public’s reaction to the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s recent decision to allow religious symbols after threatening to ban such items. Of course, this enraged the community, and an intense backlash promoting liberty prevailed.

I decided to film our local city councilmen to boo and shame them as they made their way down Sherman Avenue while participating in the parade. Video here »»» https://x.com/casey_whalen/status/1809261413057314947

City Councilman Dan Gookin thought it would be funny to call Dave Reilly (delegate for the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee) and I white supremacists and racists as he slowly passed in the procession, probably not remotely thinking about the recently passed hate crime ordinance.

The next day, I contacted the US District Attorney’s office in Coeur d’Alene to report a hate crime by Dan Gookin. As reported here multiple times, the Department of Justice launched a program in 2022 called United Against Hate. On September 15, 2022, Attorney General of the Department of Justice Merrick Garland hosted an event at the White House entitled United We Stand.

 The program United Against Hate created a mechanism to report perceived hate crimes and fold in the community, as promoted by local Assistant US Attorney for the State of Idaho Traci Whelan. In conjunction with the FBI (along with Coeur d’Alene FBI Agent Bryant Gunnerson), Whelan has implored the community to report hate incidents/crimes to their respective offices.

The Jabara-Heyer No Hate Act of 2021 funded states to create hotlines for reporting hate. States have since passed laws that provide further funding for hotlines and reporting. Human Rights Networks nationwide provide forms to report hate, which are sent to the ADL, SPLC, etc., as well as law enforcement and fed to state fusion centers, which relay information to and from local police and sheriff departments.

I also contacted the Coeur d’Alene Police and spoke with Officer Rogers to inquire if Mr. Gookin violated the new ordinance.

As much as I dislike reporting anything of this nature and disagree with these hate crimes/incidences in general, something has to be done to put people on notice regarding how dangerous this is for freedom in America.

This breaking interview with Donna Brandenburg of Brandenburg News Network (BNN) was filmed on the evening of July 6, 2024.

Courtesy of Brandenburg News Network

Send a message to the City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

For regular updates, follow me on X »»» https://x.com/casey_whalen.

The 2024 legislative session ended with a lot of drama.  Two big private sector deals, both involving the State of Idaho and Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, fell apart.   Both deals, determined not to be in the best interest of Idaho tax payers, were undone by the legislature.  This was done over the antics and objections of Senator Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, who said “I will die on this hill” in his attempt to push these deals through. Why expend all your political capital on one deal? Is there a conflict of interest?

 One was the attempted purchase of the University of Phoenix (a bailout in reality) by the University of Idaho’s president Scott Green for $685 million.  Senator Winder tried to rescue this deal with Senate Bill 1450, which died on the Senate floor on a 14 to 19 vote. 

The other deal was the $51.75 million buyout of the Idaho Department of Transportation’s headquarters 44 acre property on State Street in Boise which was declared to be surplus by the Idaho Transportation Board at their August 5, 2022 meeting.  That action served to transfer the property to the Department of Administration for either disposal or sale to another state agency.  The opportunity for another state agency to buy the property was extended for only 7 days, which is not a reasonable timeframe. Could it be that insiders wanted to shop around a private deal?