Policy

Idaho's new flat tax came at great cost to freedom

By Wayne Hoffman, IFF’s former President

September 6, 2022

The maximum marginal tax rate was 4% when Idaho’s Democrat-controlled government first implemented the income tax in 1931. So forgive me if I don’t jump for joy as the Republican-controlled government hails the passage of a reduced income tax from 6% to 5.8%, which is still 45% higher than when the state only had the […]

TAGS:

Legislators, governor, got owned by far-left lobbyists in special session

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

September 6, 2022

In sports or gaming, “getting owned” is never good. It means you were outplayed and soundly defeated. In politics, getting owned is even worse, because it leads to bad policy: power brokers benefit, but citizens get hurt. The special session of the Legislature that took place on Sept. 1 saw both the governor and legislators […]

TAGS:

Idaho school districts have millions of dollars on hand. Are they really underfunded?

By Kaitlyn Shepherd

September 2, 2022

Data show that the median public school district in Idaho has more than $3.2 million saved for a rainy day. With this much cash in reserve, increasing spending on the public school system is unwise and unnecessary. Earlier this month, the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Center for American Education (CAE) released the Idaho K-12 LEAD Map, […]

TAGS:

Why public school kids still can’t read

By Anna Miller

September 2, 2022

For decades, government officials have spent millions of tax dollars on literacy programs, but too many kids still can’t read at grade level. Only 37% of fourth grade students test at or above the “proficient” level in reading, according to the Nation's Report Card. Another 57% of high school students fail to meet the reading […]

TAGS:

Idaho’s $330 million increase in K-12 education spending should fund students, not systems

By Anna Miller

September 2, 2022

Yesterday, Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 1, allocating an additional $330 million every year to K-12 public education. All kids deserve access to these funds so that they can attend the school where their unique needs are met. Idaho’s education landscape is changing rapidly. More students are homeschooling than ever before. Learning pods and […]

TAGS:

Idaho Freedom statement on passage of House Bill 1

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

September 1, 2022

Gov. Brad Little and Idaho lawmakers had an opportunity to deliver something bold for taxpayers struggling with record-high inflation. They didn’t. And Idahoans are worse off for it. The governor, along with House and Senate leadership, again locked down the legislative process to deliver meager ongoing income tax relief. Little did nothing to address the […]

TAGS:

Idaho Freedom Index analysis: RS29902

By Parrish Miller

August 31, 2022

Rating: -2 Bill description: RS29902, Gov. Brad Little's proposed legislation for the September 2022 special legislative session, would replace Idaho's graduated income tax, which has a top rate of 6%, with a flat rate of 5.8%. It would also reduce the corporate income tax from 6% to 5.8%. It would dedicate $410 million to government-run […]

TAGS:

Fear and anger drive media messaging

By Bryan Hyde

August 29, 2022

Does the media need us to be angry or afraid in order to do its job? Before answering that question, take a look at this headline from the Idaho Press: “Far-right group endorses Boise School Board candidates, including one incumbent, who declines to disavow endorsement…” It’s a headline that reads like a manifesto. The story […]

TAGS:

Boise State discriminates in scholarships, but quietly pretends not to

By Anna Miller

August 29, 2022

Though the United States Office of Civil Rights (OCR) continues to investigate Boise State University for its discriminatory scholarship programs, Boise State will allow men to apply for the “Women in STEM, Medicine and Law Scholarship.” As we explained in April, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits any discrimination on the basis […]

TAGS:

Ybarra celebrates dismal SAT scores

By Kaitlyn Shepherd

August 28, 2022

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra touted students’ dismal 2022 SAT scores as a success, but the data show that the scores are nothing to celebrate. Nearly half of test takers failed to meet the reading benchmark, and 69% failed to meet the math benchmark. A July 26 press release by Ybarra and the […]

TAGS:

How much does Idaho actually spend per public school student? More than private schools.

By Anna Miller

August 26, 2022

Teachers unions regularly claim that Idaho is last in per-student spending. The National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, says Idaho only spends $8,376 per pupil, which is 42% less than the national average. Parroting these numbers, the media and fellow activists build the easy but misleading narrative that it’s reasonable for taxpayers to […]

TAGS:

The high cost of affordable housing in McLean's Boise

By Brian Almon

August 25, 2022

With house prices at record highs in the Boise metro area, there are many voices demanding that city government do something. Usually, government solutions to housing involve spending taxpayer dollars to subsidize mortgages and rents for certain groups of people. But on the other end of the ideological spectrum is the free market solution, which […]

TAGS:

« Previous 1 … 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 … 62 Next »

Policy

Idaho's new flat tax came at great cost to freedom

Legislators, governor, got owned by far-left lobbyists in special session

Idaho school districts have millions of dollars on hand. Are they really underfunded?

Why public school kids still can’t read

Idaho’s $330 million increase in K-12 education spending should fund students, not systems

Idaho Freedom statement on passage of House Bill 1

Idaho Freedom Index analysis: RS29902

Fear and anger drive media messaging

Boise State discriminates in scholarships, but quietly pretends not to

Ybarra celebrates dismal SAT scores

How much does Idaho actually spend per public school student? More than private schools.

The high cost of affordable housing in McLean's Boise

Latest Research

Idaho Freedom Index

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