Politics

With its overwhelming Republican majority, Idaho has a reputation of having one of the most conservative legislatures in the nation. But glancing at the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s conservative “freedom index” for the 2016 session, Idaho looks more like Massachusetts.

Nearly half of Idaho’s 105 lawmakers (51) were given grades of “F” on the foundation’s report card and 24 others were rated as a “D.” Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill of Rexburg has the same grade as the Senate’s Democratic floor leader, Michelle Stennett of Ketchum (F-).

Legislators such as Rep. Tom Loertscher of Bone, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder of Boise and Sen. Steven Thayn of Emmett, who have spent their careers touting conservative ideals, were judged as among the most liberal. Of the three, only Thayn was given a passing grade (D-).

“I think the report speaks for itself,” said Wayne Hoffman, director of the Idaho Freedom Foundation. “I reiterate what I’ve said all along: Idaho has the most Republican Legislature in the nation. ‘Conservative’ is not a synonym for ‘Republican.’ I do not contend it is the most liberal legislature either, but it most certainly is not the most conservative.”

The IFF gives the highest marks to Reps. Ron Nate of Rexburg, Heather Scott of Blanchard and Steven Harris of Meridian for “regularly voting for Idaho families, taxpayers and small businesses,” said IFF Senior Policy Director Lindsay Russell Dexter. Sens. Steve Vick of Dalton Gardens, Bob Nonini of Coeur d’Alene and Sheryl Nuxoll of Grangeville also were praised “for opposing big government bills this year.”

Rep. Kelley Packer, R-McCammon, a critic of the Freedom Foundation and its approach, dismisses the ratings. “Wayne’s view is that anybody who disagrees with him on anything is a liberal. For some people, the Freedom Foundation is the end-all. But there are some of us who don’t put any stock into it.”

Packer says she hears from many special interests, “but I have never had anyone tell me, ‘if you vote this way, you will get a certain score.’ Nor have I had any organization accumulate those arbitrary scores and tell the public ‘this is what your legislator stands for.’”

She says a legislator’s vote should be based on the analysis of facts, and not an arbitrary scoring system. “Come share your opinions with me all day long, but don’t rank the bill, or tell me how I am going to be scored if I vote a certain way.”

According to the IFF, lawmakers were evaluated on 97 bills that related to issues such as expanded government, increased taxes or fees, or transparency of public records and documents. “We encourage every taxpaying Idahoan to contact lawmakers to discuss their 2016 freedom index scores,” said Russell Dexter.

For Rep. Heather Scott, the high rating comes as no surprise given her record. She puts a humorous spin on the result. “I’m baffled as to why I got an A+, while getting a 97 percent rating. Are they grading on the curve? Is that Common Core math?”

But, she says, the report card shows that the Idaho Legislature is more liberal than most people realize. “Maybe we have Democrats who are running as Republicans, because they know they won’t get elected otherwise.”

Scott says the scoring is based on constitutional principles, smaller government and more freedom for the people – ideals that do not guide all legislators.

Hill defends the freedom foundation’s right to publish its report card, but says that a national organization – the American Conservative Union – paints a different picture. Last year the Idaho Senate scored at 86 percent and the House was at 75 percent – both well above the national average (2016 has not yet been graded). Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, praised the top-scoring legislators adhering to U.S. Constitution principles, such as limited and transparent government, individual rights and personal responsibility.

Hill, Sen. Bert Brackett of Rogerson and Rep. Caroline Troy of Genesee are listed as among the best legislators in the ACU’s eye. In Wayne Hoffman’s world, they’re among the worst.

The conflicting conservative scorecards should provide some interesting campaign material for this year’s elections. Voters – to whatever extent they might be paying attention to these things – will be left to decide which one has the most credibility.

Chuck Malloy is a native Idahoan and long-time political reporter and editorial writer. He is a former political editor with the Post Register of Idaho Falls and a former editorial writer with the Idaho Statesman. He may be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.