The 2012 legislative session is now history. Next on the docket for many of the 70 House members are the 2012 elections. There will be a number of new faces in the House, since 26 members of the House are either retiring or attempting to move across the rotunda into the Senate. Ten House members will be attempting to make the switch from the House to the Senate for the 2013 session and another 16 have opted not to seek re-election. Republicans outnumbered Democrats 57-13 this year in the House.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) has finalized its Freedom Index for legislators. IFF, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a “non-profit, nonpartisan educational and government watchdog” dedicated to “free market solutions, private property rights, individual responsibility and transparent, limited government.”
So, how did those legislators running for House fair in the final tally? The index rates bills based on two tiers.
The first tier criteria includes legislation “that creates or eliminates a new agency, program, or function, creates new regulatory burdens or is hostile to constitutional principles.”
The second tier ranking includes legislation “that interacts with the free market or expands or contracts existing government functions (without creating new ones).”
A positive score indicates the lawmaker received a favorable index rating, a negative score pointing to a lawmaker falling short in the two-tier scoring grid.
For the bills given an index score this year, the scale total ranged from +179 to -179 in the House. The Senate total range was +132 to -132.
The primary election is May 15, the general election is Nov. 6.
Legislative District No. 1
State Representative, Position A
Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake. Freedom Index score of +19.
State Representative, Position B
George E. Eskridge, R-Dover. Freedom Index score of +16.
Legislative District No. 2
State Representative, Position A
Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens. Freedom Index score of +95.
State Representative, Position B
Phil Hart, R-Athol. Freedom Index score of +99.
Legislative District No. 3
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Frank N. Henderson, R-Post Falls. Freedom Index score of +30.
Legislative District No. 4
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Kathleen Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene. Freedom Index score of +79.
Legislative District No. 5
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Shirley Gene Ringo, D-Moscow. Freedom Index score of -125.
Legislative District No. 6
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
John Rusche, D-Lewiston. Freedom Index score of -111.
Legislative District No. 7
State Representative, Position A
Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton. Freedom Index score of +93.
State Representative, Position B
Paul E. Shepherd, R-Riggins. Freedom Index score of +92.
Legislative District No. 8
State Representative, Position A
Ken A. Roberts, R-Donnelly. Freedom Index score of +41.
State Representative, Position B
Lenore Hardy Barrett, R-Challis. Freedom Index score of +93.
Legislative District No. 9
State Representative, Position A
Lawerence E. Denney, R-Midvale. Freedom Index score of +78.
State Representative, Position B
Judy Boyle, R-Midvale. Freedom Index score of +106.
Legislative District No. 10
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell. Freedom Index score of -11.
Legislative District No. 11
State Representative, Position A
Gayle L. Batt, R-Huston. Freedom Index score of +62.
State Representative, Position B
Christy Perry, R-Nampa. Freedom Index score of -9.
Legislative District No. 12
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 13
State Representative, Position A
Brent J. Crane, R-Nampa. Freedom Index score of +93.
State Representative, Position B
Gary E. Collins, R-Nampa. Freedom Index score of +21.
Legislative District No. 14
State Representative, Position A
Mike Moyle, R-Star. Freedom Index score of +95.
State Representative, Position B
Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle. Freedom Index score of +69.
Legislative District No. 15
State Representative, Position A
Lynn M. Luker, R-Boise. Freedom Index score of +45.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 16
State Representative, Position A
Grant Burgoyne, R-Boise. Freedom Index score of -99.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 17
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Sue Chew, D-Boise. Freedom Index score of -109.
Legislative District No. 18
State Representative, Position A
Julie Ellsworth, R-Boise. Freedom Index score of -15.
State Representative, Position B
Phylis K. King, D-Boise. Freedom Index score of -109.
Legislative District No. 19
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 20
State Representative, Position A
Joe A. Palmer, R-Meridian. Freedom Index score of +84.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 21
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 22
State Representative, Position A
John Vander Woude, R-Nampa. Freedom Index score of +79.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 23
State Representative, Position A
Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry. Freedom Index score of -23.
State Representative, Position B
Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home. Freedom Index score of +67.
Legislative District No. 24
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls. Freedom Index score of +17.
Legislative District No. 25
State Representative, Position A
Maxine T. Bell, R-Jerome. Freedom Index score of -7.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 26
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Donna Pence, D-Gooding. Freedom Index score of -92.
Legislative District # 27
State Representative, Position A
Scott Bedke, R-Oakley. Freedom Index score of +15.
State Representative, Position B
Fred Wood, R-Burley. Freedom Index score of -29.
Legislative District No. 28
State Representative, Position A
Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs. Freedom Index score of +37.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 29
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello. Freedom Index score of -113.
Legislative District No. 30
State Representative, Position A
Jeff D. Thompson, R-Idaho Falls. Freedom Index score of +42.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
Legislative District No. 31
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Jim Marriott, R-Blackfoot. Freedom Index score of +45.
Legislative District No. 32
State Representative, Position A
Marc Gibbs, R-Grace. Freedom Index score of -17.
State Representative, Position B
Tom Loertscher, R-Iona. Freedom Index score of +46.
Legislative District No. 33
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Linden B. Bateman, R-Idaho Falls. Freedom Index score of +6.
Legislative District No. 34
State Representative, Position A
No returning candidates.
State Representative, Position B
Dell Raybould, R-Rexburg. Freedom Index score of +3.
Legislative District No. 35
State Representative, Position A
Jo An E. Wood, R-Rigby. Freedom Index score of +50.
State Representative, Position B
No returning candidates.
For a complete look the Freedom Index, click here.
Note: IdahoReporter.com is published by the Idaho Freedom Foundation.
