The Idaho Spending Index serves to provide a fiscally conservative perspective on state budgeting while providing an unbiased measurement of how Idaho lawmakers apply these values to their voting behavior on appropriations bills. Each bill is analyzed within the context of the metrics below. They receive one (+1) point for each metric that is satisfied by freedom-focused policymaking and lose one (-1) point for each instance in which the inverse is true. The sum of these points composes the score for the bill.
Rating: (-3)
Bill Description: House Bill 333 appropriates $29,804,000 and 48.65 full-time positions to the State Board of Education, Health Education Programs for fiscal year 2026.
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
The WWAMI program is a joint medical education program between the University of Idaho and the University of Washington School of Medicine. The University of Idaho administers the first two years of medical school for all Idaho medical students, who may then do their clinical rotations in the Gem State or in Seattle.
The University of Washington School of Medicine has been in hot water because of its students and faculty staffing Planned Parenthood clinics in Washington state. These individuals encourage women who plan to get abortions to donate their unborn children to the school for research purposes. Then the school sells the body parts of those deceased children to other institutions across the country. At present, these activities are illegal in Idaho. However, House Bill 333 does not prevent funds appropriated by the Idaho Legislature from supporting students as they participate in these programs or learn how to perform abortions on the Moscow campus.
The idea that the government should take an active role in abortion, especially in the way promoted by the WWAMI program, is counter to that of the state of Idaho. Idaho’s most innocent have a right to life as recognized in Title 18 of the Idaho Code. It is improper for the state of Idaho to fund efforts to subvert this fundamental right.
The WWAMI program is also guilty of promoting LGBTQ, Critical Race Theory, and transgender-based medicine. Going beyond teaching students how to render care to these communities, these courses opt to promote these lifestyles and denigrate traditional, western values. These concepts are found in both basic courses that all students have to take in the “Foundations Phase” of their medical studies and can take as electives that they take later on when they specialize. By giving money to the WWAMI program, Idaho is importing woke ideology into our healthcare system. This focus on social justice distracts from the competent practice of medicine.
(-1)
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation funds ongoing spending for Health Education Programs at $29,804,000, growing from the base by 26.7% in the last three years. This rate is just under fourteen points faster than what would be prescribed by inflationary pressures and growth.
This growth is largely due to the implementation of the State Department of Education’s 10-year plan to expand the number of medical residencies throughout the state. The plan was extended to 13 years after the pandemic stalled its progress. We are currently budgeting for year eight of the expansion plan.
(-1)
Does the budget grow government through the addition of new permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded entitlement programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?
House Bill 333 adds two new full-time positions to serve as family medical residents in Pocatello. This request brings the total number of residency positions in the program to 31. These residents are the only members of the program that are considered state employees. Other medical residents added in this budget are not considered state employees even though they are funded.
This request is also larger than requests in previous years. In last year's budget request, the agency asked for $112,000 to add two new positions to the residency program, but the Legislature approved a $120,000 request. This year is approximately 7% higher than last year’s request to expand the residency program.
(-1)
