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How two lame duck lawmakers blocked a massive property tax relief plan during the special session

By Fred Birnbaum
September 7, 2022
The special legislative session came and went in a single day with seemingly one option, House Bill 1. State lawmakers passed the measure, which provided a small $161 million tax cut, a larger $500 million tax rebate, and an unnecessary addition of $410 million for education funding.  We deem the tax cut as small because […]
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Idaho tax dollars fund Boise’s drag show for kids

By Brian Almon
September 7, 2022
As a celebration of the new official religion of our country, this upcoming weekend’s 2022 Boise Pride Festival has attracted many corporate and government sponsors who want to signal their fealty to the LGBTQ+ community.  Local grocery chain Albertson’s serves as the premier sponsor this year, dusting off its June Pride Month logo once again. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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