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Education Freedom for Idaho Schools
Schools, districts, and Idaho's education department are not free. They are not "free" in the dollars sense, and certainly not "free" in the liberty sense either. Idaho school decisions are limited by many federal and state regulations. Local school boards are elected by district voters, but they have very little ability to make meaningful reforms in their districts.
This legislative session, I have introduced two bills to restore lost freedoms in Idaho schools: one repeals Common Core as a state requirement for districts, and the second rejects federal education funds and replaces them with state funds.
Repeal Common Core -- H412
Many Idaho parents are frustrated by Common Core standards and content. They are upset about inefficient and harmful teaching methods used and the confusion kids experience from it.
My own daughter had to learn no less than FIVE ways to add two two-digit numbers together. She liked "stacking" best. Unfortunately, she had to show all the methods on her tests.
There you have it, she is wasting 80% of her time learning four extra methods of adding, she will likely not use again. She knows and likes one method, but spends extra time doing less-efficient methods (for her anyway).
Bill H412, allows districts to choose alternative standards when Idaho makes Common Core the state standards. It is not a mandate, just a freedom hatch for districts who don't like Common Core or its methods. Education freedom demands the ability of districts to choose standards, content, and methods.
Eliminate Federal Funding (and Control) -- H413
Most people are surprised when I propose to reject federal funding for Idaho education. But, when I tell them the federal government only accounts for about 8-9% of our education spending, but controls most of our education policy, they start to see my point. When we are dependent on federal dollars, the feds get to make our rules.
Three years ago, one Idaho district chose to not administer the Common Core standardized test (the SBAC test). No problem, right? Wrong. Not only did the state government step in, but the federal Department of Education (headed then by Arne Duncan), notified the state and the district, about losing federal funding for special needs programs if the district did not comply with Common Core testing requirements. Federal dollars come with powerful strings.
The Education Freedom Act I'm proposing gradually reduces our reliance on federal funding (replacing it with state funding), until Idaho is free from federal dependence and federal rules. The Act does NOT reduce funding for Idaho schools; it only changes the source of the funding.
True freedom in education (or any area) is only possible when we don't depend on others for our wants and needs. We can do it in Idaho education, the question is, will we do it?
Bond Disclosure Act
When you buy a new car or sign up for a new credit card, disclosure requirements make sure you know exactly what your agreement and contract contains. Laws prohibit sellers and lenders from using deceptive tactics to obscure the true costs and obligations of financial agreements. The same should apply to debt incurred by an entire taxing district.
We vote on bonds for schools, sewer districts, and many other public projects. During bond campaigns many claims of cost numbers are cited and advertised and sometimes disputed. It is very confusing when a taxing district says, "This bond will not increase your taxes." How can that be?
Sometimes districts take advantage of expiring bonds as a way to issue new bonds. If a bond expires, taxes go down, but by issuing a new bond at the same time, the district can claim no increase in taxes. Bonds can also be made to look very inexpensive by putting most of the interest costs and principle payments at the end years of the bond. And, sometimes, low-cost claims are simply false.
One taxpayer noticed his tax bill was about three times higher than what was promised in a bond election. He was very frustrated, so he contacted me about finding a way to provide truthful, accurate, and consistent notification of bonding costs before voters make their yes/no vote.
The Bond Disclosure Act is a bill to require bond ballot measures to disclose an accurate dollar figure for the bond issue. It requires the district to submit the full cost of the bond (principle, interest, and fees) and the terms of the bond to the county clerk. The clerk then calculates the average annual cost of the bond to the taxpayer based on the levy rate and the amount of property taxed. The calculation is done by the third-party, it is simple, and it is an annual average, based only on the bond at hand. No trickery is possible.
It will look something like this on the ballot:
"This proposed bond will cost you an average $171.19 per year for 10 years for each $100,000 in taxable property you own. ..."
When voters are considering debt issues, they deserve complete and accurate disclosure of the true costs they can anticipate. There should be no monkey business about weirdly constructed bonds or other factors not related to the real question about the bond. The Bond Disclosure Act provides full disclosure so voters have certainty about what they are deciding. The bill is in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee awaiting and introduction hearing.
House Bills-of-Interest Update:
H376 - Human Trafficking - House 3rd Reading Calendar
H389 - Highway Speed Limit - House Transportation Committee
H405 - Repeal Unfair Sales Act - Passed House, Transmitted to Senate
H412 - Repeal Common Core - Stalled in House Ways & Means Comm.
H413 - Education Freedom in Idaho - Stalled, House Ways & Means Comm.
H414 - Sex Education Standards - House Education Committee
H418 - Lobbyist Limits (no state employees) - House State Affairs Comm.
H420 - Electronic Public Notice - House State Affairs Committee
H443 - Firearms Safety Education - House Education Committee
H447 - Civil Asset Forfeiture Protection - House Judiciary Committee
H448 - Breastfeeding Protection - House Judiciary Committee
H449 - Precious Metals Income Tax Exempt. - House 3rd Reading Calendar
H452 - Short Term Rentals Clarification - House 2nd Reading Calendar
H463 - Income Tax Cut (Otter) - Passed House, Transmitted to Senate
H466 - Minimum Wage Exemption - House 2nd Reading Calendar
HCR32 - Call for Convention of the States - House State Affairs
____ - BIG Tax Relief Plan - House Rev. & Tax. Committee (Intro. hearing)
____ - Bond Disclosure - House Rev. & Tax. Committee (2/12 hearing)
____ - County Commissioner Elections - House State Affairs Committee
Stand Your Ground Law
My good friend, Rep. Christy Zito, has spent over a year on a bill to improve Idaho's Stand Your Ground / Castle Doctrine law. The bill protects individuals who use guns to defend themselves, their families, their homes, and their property from intruders and assailants. It's a necessary and positive change for Idaho citizens. The bill is currently being held in the House State Affairs committee. Petitions to urge the committee to support the bill are flooding into Rep. Zito's office. You can see me above with the stacks of over 7,000 signed petitions to hear and approve bill H444. Keep those cards and letters coming!
Please visit the Growing Freedom Idaho website to help all citizens be more involved with what is going on in the Idaho Legislature and how to effectively make their voices heard. The site includes a Freedom Agenda of legislation brought to the legislature by citizens and is what liberty minded legislators are pursuing this session.
Stay in Touch!
As always my goals are to best represent District 34’s views and interests, keep my oath to protect and defend the U.S. and State Constitutions, restrain government influence, keep taxes low, and support legislation that is constitutional, economical, and moral. I always appreciate feedback from voters and citizens. As you probably know, citizen input is very important and influential. When you and others contact legislators, they have the power and incentives to protect rights and keep their oaths. Together, we can keep Idaho great and free.
You and your friends can contact your legislators to make your views known by emailing or calling them. To find your representatives’ and senators’ contact information you can click here for representatives, and here for senators.
Please email me your questions and comments: nater@house.idaho.gov
Rep. Ronald Nate
District 34 - nater@house.idaho.gov
Committees:
- Revenue and Taxation
- Judiciary, Rules, and Administration
- Environment, Energy, and Technology
State Capitol | P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0081 | (208) 403-3609
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