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Opinions

Op-Ed: Taxpayers Should Not Have to Subsidize the Teachers’ Union

Imagine there was an organization that donated almost exclusively to left-wing candidates, promoted radical racial and gender ideologies, and constantly attacked America’s Christian heritage. Now imagine that your tax dollars subsidized this organization. Well, you don’t have to imagine, because it’s sadly true. Idaho tax dollars are currently being used to support the teachers’ union—and […]

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John Livingston

The Coverup in Plain Sight

Over the past few days, I’ve found myself bewildered—though not surprised—by the hypocrisy, naïveté, and lack of self-awareness exhibited by many of our legislators and those inside the Governor’s Office. As the state’s budget shortfall dominates attention and agency funding requests come under scrutiny, the same old games are being played while the public remains […]

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Bob's Words

Idaho’s Grocery Tax is a Regressive Burden on Those Who can Least Afford It

For years I have been writing about why the Grocery Tax must be repealed because it hurts those Idahoans who are on the lowest rungs of the economic scale. Our staff has taken the time and effort to do the research on how this regressive tax came about and have turned it into a book […]

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Podcast

PODCAST: Idaho’s 2026 Session: Record Bills, Budget Battles

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, for a wide-ranging breakdown of the 2026 Idaho legislative session. Nate reveals that 884 bills have been prepared—the highest in five years—yet only nine have passed both the House and Senate, raising sharp questions about what lawmakers are actually accomplishing during a primary election […]

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Podcast

PODCAST: Idaho Budget Crisis and School Choice

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to the Idaho Pulse for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of Idaho’s legislative session. Nate opens with a detailed breakdown of the state’s budget crisis, explaining how six years of spending growth—fueled significantly by federal COVID-era funding—has now pushed Idaho into a budget […]

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Podcast

PODCAST: Idaho Legislature Blocks Key Bills While Passing Trivial Ones

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, back to the Idaho Pulse for a weekly legislative update that paints a troubling picture of Idaho’s current session. Nate details a growing list of serious bills being killed by committee chairs: CPS reform legislation that would inform parents of their rights, cloud seeding […]

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Bob's Words

Idaho’s Great Immigration Debate

Reconciling Economic Contributions with Fiscal Costs An Analysis of Competing Data and Perspectives on Unauthorized Workers The February 2026 release of an economic impact study by the Idaho Alliance for a Legal Workforce has reignited debates about unauthorized immigration’s role in Idaho’s economy. While the study projects devastating economic consequences if unauthorized workers are removed, […]

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Podcast

PODCAST: Convention of States & Idaho Policy Battles

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ron Nate to the Idaho Pulse for a sweeping discussion of the battles shaping the 2026 Idaho legislative session. The conversation opens with the historic and controversial Convention of States vote, which passed the Idaho House 36 to 34 for the first time in state history. Nate details […]

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Opinions

Op-Ed: Flags and Bathrooms, Oh My!

Nearly two decades ago, I stood with millions of American taxpayers in demanding an end to bailouts, crony capitalism, and endless government spending. The Tea Party movement was a wake-up call to the political class that the working people of America were fed up. How simple it seems looking back. If you had told me […]

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Podcast

Article 5 Convention Risks and Idaho Legislative Budget Wars

Bob Neugebauer and Ron Nate examine the Article 5 convention resolution that passed House State Affairs Committee 9-4, with chief sponsor John Schertz leading the charge to make Idaho the 29th state calling for a constitutional convention. Nate systematically dismantles three fatal flaws: conventions cannot be restricted to balanced budget amendments despite assurances, Idaho would […]

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Opinions

Here We Go Again

In 2024, the Convention of States (COS) was actively urging Idaho to pass resolutions advancing its agenda to call for a Constitutional Convention for amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Tanner, and others, supported a resolution for term limits, Sen. Ricks and Vander Woude supported a balanced budget resolution, while Sen. Lakey, and others, supported […]

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John Livingston

Grace and Corruption

As I sit in my “home away from home” on Whidbey Island, I’ve been following the legislative sessions in both Idaho and Washington State. The contrast between the two has been striking. I find myself impressed by how consistently conservative the few Republicans in the Washington Legislature remain, while so many Republicans in the Idaho […]

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