Idaho Freedom Index Reveals Legislative Voting Patterns

Idaho Pulse

Idaho Freedom Foundation President Ronald Nate joins Idaho Pulse host Bob Neugebauer to discuss the newly released Idaho Freedom Index, which rates all 105 Idaho legislators based on their voting records. Nate explains that the comprehensive guide evaluates bills according to conservative principles including limited government, protection of rights, lower taxes, and controlled spending.

The conversation reveals Idaho’s significant spending problem, with approximately two-thirds of both the Senate and House scoring in the “F” range on spending votes despite Republican majorities. Nate points out that this year’s budget growth is closer to 5% when including “hidden spending,” adding over half a billion dollars to state expenditures. Geographic analysis shows traditionally conservative Eastern Idaho now consistently voting against fiscal responsibility, while the Magic Valley has become more conservative in recent elections.

Nate and Neugebauer discuss how certain legislators publicly claim conservative values but score poorly on the Freedom Index, creating a disconnect between public perception and voting records. They express concern about demographic shifts across Idaho and speculate about potential conservative challengers to Governor Brad Little in the 2026 election, noting the difficulty of challenging an incumbent with substantial financial backing.

01:12 Introduction to the Idaho Freedom Index

Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ronald Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to discuss the newly released Idaho Freedom Index. Nate explains that the Freedom Index is a comprehensive guide to legislative activity that rates all 105 Idaho legislators based on their voting records according to conservative principles like limited government, protecting rights, lowering taxes, and controlling spending.

03:23 Idaho’s Spending Problem

Ronald Nate identifies Idaho’s significant spending problem, revealing that about two-thirds of both the Senate and House score in the “F” range on spending despite Republican majorities. He explains that the reported 1.5% budget growth is misleading, as it excludes “hidden spending” that brings the actual increase closer to 5%, representing over half a billion dollars in increased spending.

05:23 Comparing Tax Cuts to Spending Increases

The discussion turns to how legislative leaders tout tax cuts while simultaneously increasing spending by even larger amounts. Nate compares the claimed $450 million in tax cuts to the $650 million increase in spending, questioning whether lawmakers are truly prioritizing taxpayers over government growth. Neugebauer mentions his personal solution to Idaho’s grocery tax by shopping across the border in Ontario, Oregon.

08:23 Legislators Responding to Their Freedom Index Scores

Nate discusses how certain legislators who consider themselves conservatives are shocked when they receive mediocre Freedom Index scores. He specifically mentions Senator Brandon Shippy’s public complaints about his C-minus rating, explaining that disagreements over a few bill ratings wouldn’t significantly change his score, and challenging his claim of being more conservative than legislators who scored higher.

13:23 Geographic Freedom Map of Idaho

The conversation turns to a new feature of the Freedom Index – a geographic “heat map” showing how different regions of Idaho vote on freedom issues. Nate highlights the surprising shift in Eastern Idaho, traditionally considered Idaho’s conservative stronghold, which now shows consistently poor voting patterns on freedom and spending issues. They discuss whether this might be influenced by changing voting patterns within the Mormon community.

20:23 Analyzing District Representation Patterns

Nate points out interesting district-level voting patterns where the same constituents elect representatives with dramatically different voting records. He cites examples of districts with both A-rated and F-rated legislators representing the same voters, questioning which legislators truly represent their constituents’ values and noting opportunities to align representation with conservative principles.

25:23 Positive Trends and Election Impact

Despite critical assessments of many legislators, Nate highlights that Freedom Index scores improved by about 12% overall this year, primarily due to gains made in the last election cycle. He emphasizes that elections matter and encourages Idahoans to get informed about their legislators’ voting records before the 2026 primary elections, suggesting a similar improvement could lead to significantly better policy outcomes.

27:42 Organizational Structure and Election Influence

Nate explains the organizational structure of Idaho Freedom Foundation and its related entities that can engage in voter education and electioneering. He distinguishes between the Foundation, which rates bills and advances policy; Idaho Freedom Action, which educates voters; and Idaho Freedom PAC, which can promote or oppose candidates. They discuss potential implications of Mike Moyle’s new law affecting lobbying groups.

31:47 Looking Ahead to the 2026 Governor’s Race

The conversation concludes with speculation about potential conservative challengers to Governor Brad Little in the 2026 election. They discuss the significant hurdles of challenging an incumbent with substantial financial backing and name recognition, mentioning Theo Wold and Dorothy Moon as possible contenders who could turn the race competitive, while lamenting how much more Idaho could accomplish with truly conservative executive leadership.