Freedom Foundation President Ronald Nate offers his Opinion
Podcast Notes by Bob Neugebauer
In a landmark development for Idaho education policy, Governor Brad Little signed into law the state’s first significant school choice legislation last week, marking what many conservatives are calling a historic achievement for education freedom in the Gem State. Meanwhile, controversy continues to brew over DEI programs in higher education and a package of bills that critics argue would severely restrict free speech in political campaigns.
School Choice Victory Years in the Making
After years of advocacy and legislative attempts, House Bill 93 finally crossed the finish line, providing a $5,000 tax credit for families who choose educational options outside the public school system. Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate called the bill’s passage “a historic day for Idaho” that will form a foundation for expanding education freedom.
“Public education doesn’t fit all children’s needs the best, and families should not have to pay double to educate their kids outside the public education system,” Nate explained during a recent interview.
The legislation represents a significant shift in Idaho’s approach to education funding. While some view the tax credit as a government handout, advocates point to the economics of the situation—each student who leaves the public system removes approximately $13,000 in costs from that system while receiving only $5,000 in tax credits, resulting in a net savings of $8,000 per student for Idaho taxpayers.
Research consistently shows that educational outcomes improve when parents have more options. Private schools and homeschooling environments typically outperform traditional public schools in academic achievement metrics, with charter schools also showing stronger results than standard district schools. According to national education freedom rankings, Idaho had previously slipped from 3rd to 17th place among states but is now poised to return to the top 10.
The bill is not without limitations, however. School choice advocates hope to eventually remove enrollment caps, eliminate means testing requirements, and reduce testing mandates on alternative education providers. There are also concerns about potential future attempts to regulate homeschooling, though current language in the bill does not affect homeschool families.
DEI Reform Faces Committee Roadblock
A significant battle is brewing over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in Idaho’s higher education institutions. Senate Bill 1048, which emerged from a special legislative committee that met four times during the interim to study DEI issues, has been effectively blocked by Senator Jim Guthrie, who chairs the relevant committee. In case you were wondering this is the same Senator who has presented previous bills which would allow illegals to acquire drivers’ licenses.
Rather than scheduling a hearing for SB 1048, Guthrie has introduced his own alternative legislation after reportedly consulting with Boise State University officials. Critics describe Guthrie’s bill as a “milquetoast” version with “no teeth” that would do little to address concerns about ideological bias in higher education.
“Last summer, leadership decided to convene a DEI committee,” Nate explained. “They met four times, came up with a DEI bill… but Senator Guthrie has taken it upon himself to say, ‘I don’t want to schedule a hearing for that.'” The ability of a committee chair to block such an important bill is becoming more of a problem than most citizens understand. This appears to be nothing more than Veto by Guthrie to block conservative legislation.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between conservative lawmakers concerned about perceived political bias in university programs and higher education administrators who defend DEI initiatives as necessary for creating inclusive campus environments. The issue gained additional attention following a recent $4 million judgment against Boise State University for discriminating against a coffee shop due to political viewpoints—a case that ultimately cost Idaho taxpayers, not university administrators.
According to financial analyses, Idaho currently spends approximately $3.8 million annually on DEI programs across its higher education institutions. The blocked legislation had garnered support from 20 senators—enough to pass—but remains stalled in committee. The big question is why it’s stalled with support from 20 senators?
Free Speech Concerns Arise with Controversial Bills
Two companion bills introduced by House Speaker Mike Moyle have raised significant First Amendment concerns among free speech advocates. House Bills 306 and 307 would establish criminal penalties for statements made about political candidates that are deemed false or “recklessly loose with the facts,” potentially resulting in $1,000 fines and up to five years in prison.
Constitutional scholars have long established that criminal libel laws face significant hurdles under First Amendment protections. Critics argue these bills represent an “Orwellian” approach to political speech, with one proposal creating what amounts to a “Ministry of Truth” by empowering the Secretary of State to investigate complaints and publish official determinations about the truthfulness of campaign statements.
“The answer to speech you don’t like is more speech, not curtailing speech,” noted Nate, characterizing the legislation as revealing “total ignorance for the constitution.”
Two additional bills, HB 308 and 309, would modify campaign finance rules in ways that critics argue would primarily benefit incumbents and special interests. These proposals would eliminate campaign contribution limits for candidates facing opponents who spend above certain thresholds.
“If somebody spends a lot of money against you, you’ll have no campaign limits, and if you have no campaign limits, you know what that becomes? That becomes special interest funded campaigns who will dump tons of money to get their speaker in office rather than the next guy,” explained Nate. “It’s an incumbency protection program.”
Budget Growth Concerns Remain
As the legislative session enters its final month, concerns about government spending continue to dominate conservative discussions. The state budget has grown by an astounding 55% over the past five years, from under $8 billion a decade ago to approximately $13.9 billion currently.
Some legislators have proposed a plan to halt growth by refusing to vote for any increases in employment, federal funding, or new programs beyond replacement items. If successful, this approach could save Idaho taxpayers approximately $1 billion compared to the governor’s proposed budget.
The state currently maintains 189 separate agencies and sub-agencies, a number that raises eyebrows considering that the federal government operates with 489 agencies while serving a population more than 200 times larger than Idaho’s.
“I’m just hoping that I live long enough to see the change take place,” remarked this writer, reflecting on three decades of observing Idaho governance.
Despite these challenges, advocates for limited government remain optimistic about Idaho’s potential to lead on freedom issues. “If we can’t do it in Idaho, we can’t do it anywhere in the U.S.,” Nate concluded. “So, we have to get it right here and set the example for the rest.”
The Idaho Freedom Foundation will publish its annual Freedom Index in April, providing voters with a tool to evaluate legislators’ voting records ahead of the upcoming primary election season—a time when, as Nate observed, “legislators behave differently when they have that election looming over them.”
