January 2010

High hopes that statism won't prevail at Idaho Legislature

January 25, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

Roller coasters scare me. I will not get on one.

They are less frightening than the Legislature, but it's hard to avoid that ride, especially if we want to protect our freedoms. So I'll climb on board and scream like a little girl the whole way until spring, when lawmakers head home.

It's unfortunate, but you could fill a garbage truck with all the bad, statist ideas that will be written into bill form this year. The good ideas — the ones that promote freedom and limited government — could fill a thimble. Thus, my anxiety is not misplaced.

Idahoans want tax relief, no health insurance mandate

January 17, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

Virtually every day, I get calls and e-mails from folks who remind me we're all a bunch of crazy extremists. If you believe our critics, all we do is yammer on about the size of government and babble incoherently about high taxes and government regulations. We probably also attend Star Trek conventions and live in our parents' basements.

IFF poll: Overwhelming support for tax cuts

January 12, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

A poll commissioned by the Idaho Freedom Foundation shows nearly a supermajority of Idahoans support cutting taxes to help boost the economy.

A dozen ideas too good to ignore

January 11, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

This winter, more than one thousand pieces of legislation will be written in Boise. Here are just twelve ideas that many freedom-loving Idahoans believe merit consideration:

1. Cut taxes. There is no greater antidote to economic malaise. Lower taxes requires not a single extra government bureaucrat to administer. It merely requires faith in people and trust in capitalism and the free market.

2. Eliminate state agencies. There are too many agencies and too many programs. Stick to the proper role of government. Eliminate the fluff. Find ways to privatize services.

Greetings from Spokane, Idaho!

January 08, 2010 | posted by Jay Howell in

There they go again…the same people that brought 34 new congressional districts to Idaho, have now moved the cities of Spokane, Portland and Great Falls to the Gem State!

Caldwell YMCA members got healthy on the taxpayers' dime

January 06, 2010 | posted by Jay Howell in

Tax dollars collected from property owners living within the boundaries of the Caldwell East Urban Renewal Area went to subsidize YMCA memberships for government and Simplot employees, but not for the taxpayers themselves.  Over a two year period, the CEURA granted $150,000 to the Caldwell YMCA’s wellness program; that money was then used to subsidize 25 percent of the cost of memberships for employees of participating government agencies and the Simplot company.

2010 Idaho Pork Report sets the stage for elected officials to act

January 06, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

On Wednesday, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) and the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) gathered in the state Capitol in Boise to unveil the first-ever 2010 Idaho Pork Report:  The Book Idaho's Government Doesn't Want You to Read! The 68-page report, intended to educate the public and lead the state's elected officials to examine the proper role of government and make both the tough decisions and the right decisions for Idaho taxpayers, details millions of dollars in wasteful spending, excess, and abuse. The report is available at www.cagw.org and www.idahofreedom.net.

Idaho Pork Report 2010 coming Wednesday!

January 05, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman

Read the book Idaho's government doesn't want you to read! Our 68-page report covers wasteful spending, excess and abuse. Come back on Wednesday to find out more in this exclusive research from the Idaho Freedom Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste.