Bill Description: Senate Bill 1077 would create a new grant fund for crisis pregnancy centers.

Rating: -2

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?

Senate Bill 1077 would create Chapter 62, Title 39, Idaho Code, to establish the "Idaho Crisis Pregnancy Center Grant Program."

Among other provisions, the bill would create the "crisis pregnancy center grant fund" in the state treasury to provide "grants for crisis pregnancy centers." 

These grants would be a minimum of $25,000 for a new center. Grants for established centers would be based on the number of clients served. 

Crisis pregnancy centers perform a valuable service, but the creation of a new government program to subsidize them is still an expansion of government. 

(-1)

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?

The fiscal note for Senate Bill 1077 says the bill requires an "ongoing grant appropriation" of $1 million from the state general fund.

Perhaps, instead of taking money from the people through taxes and redistributing it to charitable endeavors, government should reduce taxes so people have more money to donate voluntarily.

Taxes deprive people of money they could use for private donations. But they also harm charitable activity by causing some donors to conclude that taxpayer-subsidized charities have less need.

(-1)