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Senator James Ruchti and SB 1245— Two-Part Series Part 1

Conner Coutts, 208 Strategies
Senator James Ruchti in his office

In this two-episode series, Jodie Schwicht speaks with District 29 Senator James Ruchti (D) on his experience debating Senate Bill 1245— a bill proposed by pharmaceutical manufacturing company Bayer which would provide legal protections to all pesticide manufacturers in Idaho.

This is a two-part series, with the first episode focusing on Sen. Ruchti’s firsthand account of the Senate hearing of Bill 1245, as well as the legal background of this legislation.

The second episode in this series handles topics related to House Bill 653; the second attempt at passage of Senate Bill 1245 with minor rewordings and alterations, as well as details of the legal risks and the environmental relevance of these legislative attempts.

Senator Ruchti was born and raised in Pocatello and is a graduate of West Point. He served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army from 1993-1998, and graduated from the University of Idaho law school in 2001.

Senator Ruchti was elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022, is presently the Assistant Minority Leader, and serves on the Commerce and Human Resources Committee, Judiciary and Rules Committee, and State Affairs Committee. He is also on the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board, the Your Health Idaho Board, and the Leadership in Nuclear Energy Commission.

Sources:

https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/roundup-lawsuit.html

https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/bill-that-would-provide-protections-to-pesticide-manufacturers-dies-in-idaho-senate/article_3fca90c4-cc57-11ee-a364-af53311d647b.html

https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/membership/2023/id52/

https://www.bayer.com/en/

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/s1245/

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-science-and-assessing-pesticide-risks/human-health-issues-related-pesticides

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/h0653/

https://www.reuters.com/legal/bayer-notches-more-wins-roundup-weedkiller-cancer-trials-2024-03-06/

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/who-iarc-glyphosate/

Jodie Schwicht is a Communications graduate and Music Performance major at Idaho State University. Outside of academics, you are likely to find her performing with the ISU Choirs and Music department, reading at various Pocatello coffee houses, and multitasking on a number of personal craft projects.
EPISODES PRIOR TO JUNE 2021