The Ever Onward podcast recently featured Kelley Packer, a prominent figure in Idaho politics and advocacy. With her extensive background as a former legislator, lieutenant governor candidate, and current Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Cities, Packer brings valuable insights into the challenges facing local governments and women’s healthcare in Idaho.
One of the most pressing issues discussed was the devastating impact of House Bill 389 on Idaho’s cities. This property tax legislation, passed in 2021, has already led to the dissolution of three historical Idaho cities: Atomic City, Hamer, and Oxford. With three more municipalities currently considering unincorporation, the situation has reached crisis levels. The bill, which caps property tax increases at 8% (including the base 3% plus growth factors), has particularly harmed rapidly growing communities like Star, which has experienced approximately 20% annual growth. When cities can only capture a fraction of the revenue needed to support new infrastructure and service demands, they face impossible choices.
Packer explained how the legislation fundamentally undermines the principle of “growth paying for growth” while simultaneously forcing cities to cut essential services like police and fire protection. Despite repeated warnings from municipal leaders and experts, legislators have been unwilling to address the damage this policy is causing. As Packer poignantly noted, “If our infrastructure deteriorates and defaults completely, who pays? The state’s going to ultimately pay, because commerce doesn’t travel on gravel roads.” She advises citizens concerned about this issue to reach out to their mayors, examine city budgets firsthand, and contact the Idaho Association of Cities (idahocities.org) to learn more about these critical challenges.
The conversation then shifted to Packer’s newest initiative, the Idaho Contraceptive Education Network (ICEN). Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Packer and two other Republican women formed this organization to protect access to contraception in Idaho. Contrary to what some might expect from her pro-life stance, Packer sees contraceptive access as completely aligned with reducing unwanted pregnancies and, consequently, abortions. She emphasized that contraception should not be conflated with abortion and stressed its importance for women’s health beyond family planning, including treating conditions like endometriosis, painful menstruation, and ovarian cysts.
What makes ICEN particularly effective is its leadership – three Republican women with strong pro-life values who recognize the essential role contraception plays in healthcare. The network provides factual, medical information about different contraceptive options on their website (IdahoCEN.com) and advocates for policies that protect and expand access to these vital healthcare tools. Their efforts have already helped pass legislation allowing 12-month contraceptive prescriptions, which is especially beneficial for women in rural areas who face challenges accessing regular healthcare.
Throughout the conversation, Packer demonstrated how reasonable, evidence-based policies can transcend partisan divisions when it comes to women’s healthcare. Her work reminds us that effective advocacy often comes from building bridges and finding common ground on issues that affect people’s daily lives. As cities struggle with budget constraints and women face potential restrictions on healthcare options, Packer’s leadership provides a model for practical problem-solving in these challenging times.
