Policy

Idaho, We Saved You Money! (Not)

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

May 23, 2025

The Idaho Legislature has adjourned, and lawmakers are returning to their districts, mostly with the exuberant message, “Guess what, Idaho? We saved you $292 million this year!” In response, you might ask, “Okay, but how much did you spend?” The jolting news for Idaho families is that the reported total government spending in Idaho is […]

What’s Next for Universal School Choice

By Samuel T. Lair

May 15, 2025

Among the most important triumphs of the 2025 legislative session were the steps taken to advance educational freedom. After years of stubborn resistance from the education establishment, Idaho joined the ranks of conservative states with a meaningful school choice initiative thanks to the leadership of several key lawmakers. In response, the Idaho Education Association christened […]

TAGS: Ambrose School Meridian Idaho, Analyzing Idaho education legislation, Boise Idaho education, Conservative states school choice, Education funding Idaho, Education policy Idaho, Education reform Idaho, Educational outcomes Idaho, Empowering Parents Program Idaho, Free market education Idaho, Government accountability Idaho education, Government spending Idaho, H93 Idaho, Holding legislators accountable education, Homeschool regulations Idaho, Idaho conservative education, Idaho education establishment resistance, Idaho education freedom, Idaho education news, Idaho education subsidy, Idaho homeschool families, Idaho House Bill 93, Idaho Launch program, Idaho legislative session 2025, Idaho literacy intervention program, Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit, Idaho parents school choice, Idaho private education funding, Idaho private school regulations, Idaho private school tax credit, Idaho school choice, Idaho school choice initiative, Idaho State Board of Education accreditation, Idaho Tax Commission education, Logos School Moscow Idaho, Meridian Idaho schools, Moscow Idaho schools, Parental rights education Idaho, Private school accreditation Idaho, Refundable tax credit Idaho, School choice advocacy Idaho, School choice funding, Universal school choice Idaho

Reining It In? Idaho's Budget Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story

By Fred Birnbaum

April 24, 2025

If it hasn’t occurred to you yet that reining in government spending is probably the single most important policy objective (after sealing our borders from invasion) for conservatives, it should. We all experienced how the excessive spending under the Biden Administration ignited inflation and drove the federal debt over $36 trillion. Is it just a […]

TAGS: Budget, Idaho, Legislative Services Office, Legislature

Idaho’s Medicaid Budget is Unfinished Business

By Fred Birnbaum

April 10, 2025

Idaho still has a budget problem. Despite significant progress on the spending front in the 2025 legislative session, the biggest government program with the biggest budget in Idaho’s history, Medicaid, went unscathed. Overall, the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Medicaid budget appropriation was $5.25 billion, 37% of the $14.1 billion state appropriation for all programs in […]

TAGS: H138, H345, House Bill 138, House Bill 345, Medicaid

Idaho Freedom Foundation Statement on the Signing of Senate Bill 1198, Eliminating DEI in Universities

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

April 4, 2025

Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate issued the following statement regarding Gov. Brad Little signing Senate Bill 1198, the Freedom of Inquiry in Higher Education Act: This evening Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1198, effectively eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and offices from the state's higher education system. This decision follows the […]

TAGS: DEI, diversity, equity, inclusion, SB 1198

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on Veto of Senate Bill 1023, The Medical Freedom Act

By Idaho Freedom Foundation staff

March 29, 2025

Today, Gov. Brad Little vetoed Senate Bill 1023, the Medical Freedom Act. The act would not only have ensured that Idahoans maintain autonomy over their healthcare decisions, free from government or corporate overreach, and enshrined vital medical rights, but would also have prohibited vaccine mandates from ever occurring again. This bill garnered significant support among […]

TAGS: health freedom, medical freedom, Medical Freedom Act, SB 1023

Wokeness in Rural Idaho Classrooms? What is Going On in Salmon School District No. 291?

By Rachel Hazelip, M.A.P.P.

March 28, 2025

Kids should not have to be subjected to sexually and politically charged flags and banners in their junior and senior high school classrooms. They should not be punished for expressing support for traditional family values in school assignments, and they certainly should not have their trauma-induced gender dysphoria “affirmed” by teachers and school administrators. As […]

TAGS: critical race theory, DEI, diversity, equity, Government Schools, homeschooling, human flag, Idaho, inclusion, Parental Rights, political bias, pride flag, public school, salmon, salmon school district, school, School Indoctrination, transgender flag, woke

Conservatives Are Correct to DOGE and Vote Down Enhancement Budgets

By Fred Birnbaum

March 20, 2025

Conservatives in the Idaho Legislature have a rare opportunity to flex their muscles and cut years of bloat out of government budgets. Many Idahoans love how the Trump administration employs a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and want to see the overspending stopped and reversed here at home, too. After a tense standoff last session, […]

TAGS: Budget, DOGE, Idaho, JFAC, tax

The Biggest Tax Cut in History! And More?

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

March 14, 2025

One way to say “freedom” is to cut taxes. And there they were — Speaker Moyle, Representative Monks, and Senator Anthon — all grouped around Governor Little as he signed (use a loudspeaker voice here) “the biggest tax cut in Idaho history!” The tax cut, House Bill 40, lowers Idaho’s income tax rate from 5.695% […]

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Public Sector Union Reform is Needed in Idaho

By Fred Birnbaum

March 12, 2025

Before starting with the Idaho Freedom Foundation in 2014, I had a long career in industry. A significant part of that time was as a factory manager. I worked in both union and non-union facilities, and I saw first-hand that there is a big difference between how unions operate in the private sector versus unions […]

TAGS: House Bill 340, House Bill 98, public union, teachers' union, Union

Three “Very Icky” Education Bills

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

March 11, 2025

The education establishment is hard at work in the legislative process this year. As usual, they want to preserve their already huge K-12 education budget of $3.3 billion. Also, as usual, they want to expand their enterprise and add new spending that will “feed the beast” for years and decades to come. Last week, we […]

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Accountability Means Something Different to Leftists

By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D.

March 8, 2025

It was an amazing display two weeks ago in the Idaho Capitol. Simultaneously, two bills were being debated in the House and Senate. In the House was the Medicaid expansion reinforcement bill, House Bill 138. In the Senate was the school choice tax credit bill, House Bill 93. Hold on for the amazing part. Let’s […]

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Policy

Idaho, We Saved You Money! (Not)

What’s Next for Universal School Choice

Reining It In? Idaho's Budget Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story

Idaho’s Medicaid Budget is Unfinished Business

Idaho Freedom Foundation Statement on the Signing of Senate Bill 1198, Eliminating DEI in Universities

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on Veto of Senate Bill 1023, The Medical Freedom Act

Wokeness in Rural Idaho Classrooms? What is Going On in Salmon School District No. 291?

Conservatives Are Correct to DOGE and Vote Down Enhancement Budgets

The Biggest Tax Cut in History! And More?

Public Sector Union Reform is Needed in Idaho

Three “Very Icky” Education Bills

Accountability Means Something Different to Leftists

Latest Research

Idaho Freedom Index

Policy

Idaho, We Saved You Money! (Not)

What’s Next for Universal School Choice

Reining It In? Idaho's Budget Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story

Idaho’s Medicaid Budget is Unfinished Business

Idaho Freedom Foundation Statement on the Signing of Senate Bill 1198, Eliminating DEI in Universities

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Action Joint Statement on Veto of Senate Bill 1023, The Medical Freedom Act

Wokeness in Rural Idaho Classrooms? What is Going On in Salmon School District No. 291?

Conservatives Are Correct to DOGE and Vote Down Enhancement Budgets

The Biggest Tax Cut in History! And More?

Public Sector Union Reform is Needed in Idaho

Three “Very Icky” Education Bills

Accountability Means Something Different to Leftists

Latest Research

Idaho Freedom Index

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