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Bill Description: House Bill 645 would create special rules for school board recall elections, providing no time for the board or the member subject to recall to challenge the results or process of the election. Rating: -2 Does it in any way restrict public access to information related to government activity or otherwise compromise government transparency, […]

Bill Description: House Bill 608 would require counties to create agricultural protection areas, along with commissions to oversee them, and to accept applications from landowners who would want their property to be designated an agricultural protection area. Rating: 0 NOTE: House Bill 608 is similar to House Bill 473, introduced earlier this session.  NOTE: The Senate […]

You’re the customer and this is your experience: poor results, higher costs, hidden agendas, and the product is nothing close to what you wanted.   What do you do?  Go somewhere else, right?   Wrong again, because we aren’t talking about burgers or blenders, we are talking about public education.    Too often we’re told how education is […]

Bill Description: Senate Bill 1325 is an anti-SLAPP law, which would make it easier for defendants to quickly get lawsuits alleging defamation and other such charges dismissed.  Rating: +1 NOTE: The constitutional arguments in favor of anti-SLAPP laws — designed to prevent lawsuits started with the intent to harass the defendant — likely outweigh the arguments […]

Bill Description: House Bill 519 would establish overreaching and unnecessary new crimes of "impeding critical infrastructure" and "critical infrastructure trespass," which could infringe on constitutional rights.  Rating: -5 NOTE: House Bill 519 is a toxic combination of House Bills 147 and 148, both introduced during the 2023 legislative session.  Does it directly or indirectly create or […]

Bill Description: House Bill 473 would require counties to create agricultural protection area commissions and accept applications from landowners to designate agricultural protection areas. Rating: 0 Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government? House Bill 473 […]

Bill Description: House Bill 419 would require the effective repeal of Medicaid expansion in Idaho unless certain cost-saving measures are implemented and reform benchmarks are met.  Rating: +5 Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government? Medicaid […]

“School choice” in Idaho is a myth. Elected officials and educators talk about all the options parents may choose from to get the best education for their children, but the reality is they only get to choose limited public options (other public schools or charter schools). Two weeks ago, the governor proposed his “choice” plan […]

Remember last year when education choice was the front-burner issue in the Idaho legislature?  Remember when the education establishment was petrified about Idaho possibly creating a true school choice paradigm to help students and families find the best education without having to pay even more for tuition on top of their taxes?  Remember when the […]

When I was a 13-year-old suburban kid, I wanted to earn money. I went to grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations to apply for jobs. None of my applications panned out. Sure, I did the occasional lawn mowing and yard clean-up jobs, but I wasn’t the entrepreneurial type, so the work and money were spotty […]

Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask me my opinion about legalizing marijuana, and I haven’t wanted to address the question because it’s not something the Idaho Freedom Foundation spends its time on. I’ve also thought it wasn’t necessary, since our organization’s record is clear. But alas, a couple of weeks ago, as […]

Welcome to Pride in America Month. Every day in the month of June and through Independence Day, we will be highlighting a figure who has demonstrated and defended American values. Consider it a healthy alternative to the Left's June celebration that has taken over the media and corporate America. The top athletes in America work […]