A Conversation with Ron Nate, IFF President, & Tea Party Bob
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Budget Expansion once again Signals Shift from Conservative Principles
An in-depth analysis of Governor Brad Little’s recent State of the State address and proposed budget reveals concerning trends in government growth and spending that appear to contradict Idaho’s conservative values and fiscal principles.
The Governor’s proposed budget includes a 16.9% increase in state government spending, building upon a 54% expansion over the previous five years. While the proposal includes $100 million for tax relief and $50 million for school choice initiatives, the spending components significantly outweigh tax reduction measures.
Dr. Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, notes that the proposed spending increases reflect a troubling pattern in state governance. “When you’re a government official and you’ve been around long enough, you start to view tax cuts as a cost you need to bear,” Nate explains. “But you don’t pay for tax cuts – you pay for government spending.”
Taxpayer Burden Continues to Grow Through Legal Settlements and Reserve Funds
The state’s fiscal management raises concerns regarding several key areas:
Recent legal settlements, such as the Big City Coffee lawsuit against Boise State University, are expected to cost taxpayers over $5 million due to what Nate characterizes as “woke” administrative decisions. Rather than holding institutions accountable, these costs are passed on to Idaho taxpayers.
The state also maintains multiple “stabilization funds” that are approaching $2 billion in total – money collected from taxpayers and held in reserve. While presented as fiscal prudence, these funds effectively prevent necessary government reductions during economic downturns when natural constraints on spending would otherwise occur.
State Employee Growth and Compensation Raises Critical Questions
State employee compensation continues to expand, with proposed raises of 5% annually – higher than the governor’s team’s 4% recommendation. This follows a pattern of election-year raises that impact a significant voting bloc, as the state remains Idaho’s largest employer.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s recent 44-page report on government waste highlights numerous examples of questionable spending, from high-performance police vehicles justified for “PR value” to municipal poet positions. These expenditures reflect broader concerns about government expansion beyond core services.
Education and Immigration Spending Challenge Conservative Values
Education funding and policy present particular challenges. Despite tripling the education budget over 15 years, student achievement measures remain stagnant at approximately 50%. While the governor speaks of school choice, current options remain limited to choosing between public institutions rather than true educational alternatives.
Immigration costs are also mounting, with an estimated $405 million being spent on services for illegal immigrants and their families in Idaho. New legislation is being developed to prevent public benefits from going to individuals in the country illegally.
Conservative Identity at Crossroads
Idaho’s fundamental question is whether it remains truly conservative in governance rather than merely in rhetoric. While recent elections have shown growing support for fiscal conservatives, particularly in the Magic Valley region, the state government continues to expand in size, scope, and spending.
As Idaho continues to attract residents seeking refuge from more liberal states, the disconnect between conservative citizen expectations and government growth becomes increasingly apparent. The challenge will be whether Idaho can maintain its conservative principles despite persistent government expansion and spending increases.
Without significant changes in approach, Idaho risks following the path of other Western states where government growth has fundamentally altered the relationship between citizens and state institutions. The coming legislative session will test whether Idaho’s elected officials are prepared to address these challenges or will continue the pattern of government expansion.
For those who want to read Governor Littles speech in its entirety which is full of promises and pandering here is a link to the Idaho Capital Sun article: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/01/06/read-the-text-idaho-gov-brad-littles-2025-state-of-the-state-address/
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