Idaho: Where Freedom Rings
by Senator Brent Hill
Earlier this year, The Mercatus Center of George Mason University prepared a comprehensive ranking of all fifty states on their public policies affecting individual freedom. The resulting publication was entitled Freedom in the 50 States, an Index of Personal and Economic Freedom. The researchers defined individual freedom as “the ability to dispose of one’s own life, liberty, and justly acquired property however one sees fit, so long as one does not coercively infringe on another individual’s ability to do the same.” They then attempted to rank each state in five areas: (1) fiscal policy, (2) personal freedom, (3) freedom from regulatory policy, (4) economic freedom, and (5) overall freedom. Let’s see how Idaho sfared (1 = best, 50 = worst):
Regulatory Policy: Government regulations are stifling our freedoms nationwide, but Idaho has a business-friendly environment relatively free of burdensome regulation. When it comes to eminent domain, land and environmental regulation, our tort system, insurance mandates, and occupational licensing, Idaho ranks number 6.
Fiscal Policy: Fiscal policy deals with state and local government spending and taxation issues. States with government budget constraints and low levels of government employees as a percentage of employees in the private sector were rated better. States with low state and local tax rates and low debt, which represents future taxation, also scored well. Idaho’s score: 10th.
Personal Freedom: The criteria used to measure personal freedom included freedom from restrictions on home and private schooling and limited gun control—areas in which Idaho scored very well. But to improve its personal freedom index, Idaho would have to legalize gambling, marijuana, and gay marriage. Some things just are worth a high grade. Idaho was rated 8th in the country.
Economic Freedom: When all state and local taxes are considered, including income, sales and property taxes as well as fuel taxes, registration fees, and user permits, Idaho citizens enjoy one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. Idaho comes in at 5th out of 50.
Overall Freedom: The overall freedom index takes into account dozens of economic, social and personal factors. It is probably the best indicator of the overall freedom enjoyed by a state’s citizens. This is where Idaho received its best score, coming in fourth in the nation.
With our added freedoms comes great responsibility. Here in Idaho we understand the principles that guided this country to greatness. It falls on us to defend those ideals and hold our federal government accountable to them. Only when such principles are observed will our liberty be secure.
It is easy to get discouraged by the actions of our leaders in Washington. Many of them have strayed from the course set by our nation’s founders. But Idaho will continue to stand as a beacon of liberty to nations throughout the world, including our own. We have much yet to accomplish, but even with our mission unfinished, the fact that we live in one of the freest states in the freest country of the world gives us much to be grateful for.