Policy

Luma: Unpacking Another Failing System

By Fred Birnbaum

November 27, 2024

During the recent Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee fall review, a segment was devoted to a post-mortem of the troubled $200 million plus state Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, known as Luma. As it turns out, Luma is going to be a net loss for Idaho taxpayers. While a reasonably thorough report was issued by the Office […]

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What Happened with ISU and Bannock County Lab Money? — Anatomy of a Malfeasance?

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

November 26, 2024

By all appearances, officials of Bannock County and Idaho State University (ISU) colluded to keep control over $850,000 of state money and are using it like a slush fund, even though the law requires them to return unspent appropriated money to the state. The Idaho Legislature appropriated $900,000 for operating expenses for the East Idaho […]

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Voters Sent a Message to Politicians This November, But the Cronies Missed the Memo

By Niklas Kleinworth

November 20, 2024

Voters made their voices loud and clear. It won’t be business as usual in American politics next year, and that includes Idaho. But the special interests who controlled the political landscape in our state for so long appear to have missed the memo. Last week, virtually the entire Idaho Legislature gathered in North Idaho to […]

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How Idaho Can Be at the Forefront of an Educational Renaissance

By Samuel T. Lair

November 19, 2024

Among the biggest misconceptions concerning educational freedom is that it does nothing more than provide families with the choice between different vendors for the same product. This view tacitly accepts the parameters set by the education establishment and presumes that the competition between public, charter, and private schools is about which of these institutions is […]

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Idaho Health Board Ends State-Funded COVID Vaccine — Now It’s Time for Others to Follow Suit

By Niklas Kleinworth

November 14, 2024

The Southwest District Board of Health recently became the first in the nation to stop providing government-subsidized COVID-19 vaccinations. This move recognizes the extent of public distrust of the vaccine and saves hundreds of thousands in taxpayer funds as a bonus. Now, it is time for Idaho’s remaining health districts — and others across the […]

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Citizens' Committee Provides 22% Pay Raise to Legislators by Picking a Number from Thin Air

By Fred Birnbaum

November 11, 2024

When members of the Citizens’ Committee on Legislative Compensation got down to brass tacks, it took them just 17 minutes of discussion and votes to decide on a pay raise for legislators and legislative leaders. The decision, which seemed to come from nowhere, means the largest pay raise in several decades. The committee met early […]

TAGS: Legislator Pay Raise

Don’t Overthink or Overpay Idaho’s Citizen-Legislature

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

November 9, 2024

You can’t cut government by growing government, and you can’t save taxpayer money by spending more money on government employees. And yet that’s what some politicians want to impose on Idaho. They have taken their eyes off the ball. What Idaho truly needs now is budget restraint, grocery tax repeal, school choice, immigration reform, and […]

TAGS: Legislator Pay Raise

Group of Incoming Lawmakers, Led by Zito and Zuiderveld, Announce Plan to Kill Politician Pay Hike

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

November 8, 2024

A group of incoming legislators announced Friday they plan to kill a pay hike for lawmakers approved by the Citizens’ Committee on Legislative Compensation earlier this week. The group, led by Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld of Twin Falls and Sen.-elect Christy Zito, said they will advance a resolution to reject the proposed pay hike on the […]

TAGS: Legislator Pay Raise

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on the Failure of Proposition 1

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

November 6, 2024

On Wednesday, in light of Idaho's election results, Idaho Freedom Foundation and Idaho Freedom Action President Ronald M. Nate released the following statement: “The people of Idaho have spoken: Proposition 1, the attempt by out-of-state leftists to rig our elections, has failed. This initiative was initially placed on our ballot by organizations who deceived Idahoans […]

TAGS: RCV

Dishonest Prop 1 Backers Have Not Made Compelling Case

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

November 4, 2024

After the backers of Proposition 1 secured the initiative’s spot on the ballot earlier this year, the game changed. It became, at that moment, their job to sell a wholesale redrawing of Idaho’s tried-and-true election processes to hundreds of thousands of voters. They have largely failed to do so, even after raising millions of dollars […]

TAGS: RCV

Florida’s Much-Needed Reform of Gen Ed

By Scott Yenor

November 1, 2024

State legislatures have power over what should be accomplished in general education at state colleges and universities. Texas dictates that no person can receive an undergraduate degree without taking six credits in American history or government. Florida has an even more robust set of requirements, as I describe below, where they cull courses that are […]

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As Refugees Roll into Idaho, So Do the Handouts

By Niklas Kleinworth

October 30, 2024

What’s worse than creating a nanny state for Americans? Extending this nanny state to the world on the taxpayer’s dime. Idaho received more than $1.7 million in grant funding this fiscal year for refugee programs and services — some even more generous than those offered to citizens. Not only is this bad policy, but it […]

TAGS: Budget, immigration, Medicaid

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Policy

Luma: Unpacking Another Failing System

What Happened with ISU and Bannock County Lab Money? — Anatomy of a Malfeasance?

Voters Sent a Message to Politicians This November, But the Cronies Missed the Memo

How Idaho Can Be at the Forefront of an Educational Renaissance

Idaho Health Board Ends State-Funded COVID Vaccine — Now It’s Time for Others to Follow Suit

Citizens' Committee Provides 22% Pay Raise to Legislators by Picking a Number from Thin Air

Don’t Overthink or Overpay Idaho’s Citizen-Legislature

Group of Incoming Lawmakers, Led by Zito and Zuiderveld, Announce Plan to Kill Politician Pay Hike

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on the Failure of Proposition 1

Dishonest Prop 1 Backers Have Not Made Compelling Case

Florida’s Much-Needed Reform of Gen Ed

As Refugees Roll into Idaho, So Do the Handouts

Latest Research

Idaho Freedom Index

Policy

Luma: Unpacking Another Failing System

What Happened with ISU and Bannock County Lab Money? — Anatomy of a Malfeasance?

Voters Sent a Message to Politicians This November, But the Cronies Missed the Memo

How Idaho Can Be at the Forefront of an Educational Renaissance

Idaho Health Board Ends State-Funded COVID Vaccine — Now It’s Time for Others to Follow Suit

Citizens' Committee Provides 22% Pay Raise to Legislators by Picking a Number from Thin Air

Don’t Overthink or Overpay Idaho’s Citizen-Legislature

Group of Incoming Lawmakers, Led by Zito and Zuiderveld, Announce Plan to Kill Politician Pay Hike

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on the Failure of Proposition 1

Dishonest Prop 1 Backers Have Not Made Compelling Case

Florida’s Much-Needed Reform of Gen Ed

As Refugees Roll into Idaho, So Do the Handouts

Latest Research

Idaho Freedom Index

Request your printed copies of the Idaho Freedom Index mailed to you!