TheIdaho Freedom Foundation(IFF) is a conservative and libertarian think tank located inBoise, Idaho.[3][5][6][7]Ronald M. Nate has served as the organization's president since January 2024.[8]
IFF was begun in 2009 by Wayne Hoffman, who had been theCanyon County Republican Party vice chairman and spokesman for U.S. Rep.Bill Sali. Formerly, Hoffman was a newspaper reporter for theIdaho Statesman, leaving in 2005, and before that had worked for theSouth Idaho Press in Burley, theIdaho Press Tribune in Nampa, and a southern Idaho radio station.[1]
The IFF is influential within theIdaho Legislature and the state's broader politics.[9][10][11]Politico described the IFF as "an arch-conservative group that has driven challenges to so-called RINO politicians in the state."[12] The IFF's website says it works to defeat "the state’s socialist public policies." Its Freedom Index rates Idaho legislators on their votes.[13]
In 2012, the IFF was one of the chief opponents of an Idaho state legislative bill that would have placed restrictions ontanning bed usage.[14] In 2013 and 2014, IFF put up billboards criticizing Idaho legislators for their votes to implement a state health insurance exchange.[15][16]
In October 2020, the IFF published a video questioning the existence of theCOVID-19 pandemic and decrying governmental measures to combat the spread of the pandemic. Several Idaho Republican elected officials, includingJanice McGeachin and a number of state legislators, appeared in the video.[17]
In 2021, the organization criticizedBoise State University for holding a "Black Graduation" meant to celebrate Black students in addition to the traditional graduation ceremony. IFF called the event "segregationist." It has urged Idaho lawmakers to cut funding to Boise State.[18]
In a December 2021 opinion editorial published in thePost Register, former Idaho attorney general and former chief justice of the Idaho Supreme CourtJim Jones criticized the IFF, writing "It's time to clean Idaho's House of disruptive lawmakers who worship at the Freedom Foundation altar and ignore their duty to act responsibly in the interests of their voters."[19]
The IFF has mounted various legal challenges to state and city laws and regulations.
In 2009, IFF was successful in requiring officials fromCoeur d'Alene, Idaho, to release public records in regards to the names, genders, salaries of all public employees.[20][independent source needed]
In 2014, IFF and theAmerican Civil Liberties Union threatened legal action againstBoise State University when the school required a student group to pay security fees for bringing a pro-gun speaker to campus. Boise State refunded the student group the cost of the security fees.[21][22]
In 2015, IFF sued theBoise School District over its contract with a local teachers union, the Boise Education Association. The case was dismissed due to lack of standing.[23][24]
In 2019, IFF Board Chair Brent Regan suedLawerence Denney, arguing that Medicaid expansion was unconstitutional in part because it delegated lawmaking authority to the federal government. The case was dismissed due to the ruling that the foundation of the lawsuit lacked a basis in the law.[26][27][28][29]
In 2019, IFF suedBoise due to the establishment of two new urban renewal districts which prevents cities from taking on debt or liabilities without a super-majority of voter approval. The case was dismissed and appealed where it was upheld.[30][31]
