State lawmakers would have you believe they're doing something pretty spectacular by passing a ban texting while driving. Are they? We don't know. The problem is there's no data that show that a ban on texting actually decreases accidents. We also don't know whether a lack of a ban increases the number of accidents.
Solutions
Taxpayers will take the hit for expensive retirement fund
February 22, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inState lawmakers last week very nearly fumbled on an issue with massive implications for taxpayers. It happened Wednesday when the House State Affairs Committee voted 13-5 to reject a proposal to block a 1 percent cost-of-living increase for retirees on the state’s pension program, the Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI).
Legislature looks to assume the role of parent
February 15, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inIn 1999, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne made raising childhood immunization rates a central component of his first-year legislative agenda. He pushed a bill to create a statewide immunization registry. The measure sailed through the Senate 26-6. But his proposal ran into stiff opposition from House members, who protested the government's increasing dictatorial involvement in the family. So lawmakers amended the legislation to add provisions declaring that the new vaccination registry was to be strictly voluntary.
Government's attempts to regulate milk go too far
February 08, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inAt the Statehouse, lawmakers are split on whether to uphold the state Department of Agriculture's new rules governing raw milk. The department has come up with rules intended to protect the public. But the rules go too far, restricting farming operations doing business with consumers who willingly and knowingly consume unpasteurized milk.
It's the 21st century. End funding for government television
February 02, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inNostalgic sentiment for government television is no reason to continue funding it. Imagine, if you will, a brand new state called Idaho, born in the year 2010. What government services should this new state offer? Would this new 21st century government really include a taxpayer-funded television network? Probably not, and the reason is simple: It's not needed. It's government waste.
High hopes that statism won't prevail at Idaho Legislature
January 25, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inRoller 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 inVirtually 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 inA 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 inThis 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.
2010 Idaho Pork Report sets the stage for elected officials to act
January 06, 2010 | posted by Wayne Hoffman inOn 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.
