Boise, ID – The Idaho Legislature this week gave final approval to Freedom Foundation-supported legislation that would end taxpayer support for teachers’ unions in Idaho.
If signed into law by Gov. Brad Little, the measure would be among the strongest in the nation ensuring taxpayer funds are not used, directly or indirectly, to subsidize union operations and activism.
The House passed the original version, HB 745, by a vote of 45-23 in early March. However, when it arrived in the Senate, the committee chair suddenly and without explanation reversed his previous support of the bill and refused to give it a hearing.
This week, however, the Senate resurrected the effort by amending another bill on the Senate floor, HB 516, and replacing it with the no-taxpayer-funding-for-teachers-unions language.
The amended bill passed the Senate on Wednesday in a vote of 20-14. The House concurred with the Senate amendments on Thursday, sending the bill to the governor’s desk.
If the Little signs or allows it to take effect without his signature, school districts will be prohibited from:
- using public payroll systems and personnel to deduct union dues from teachers’ paychecks;
- contributing taxpayer funds to a teachers’ union;
- providing teachers with paid leave to engage in union operations and activism, unless the union reimburses the district for the value of the teacher’s time out of the classroom;
- paying teachers’ union dues for them with taxpayer funds;
- providing more of a teacher’s personal information to a union than is disclosable under the Idaho Public Records Act, unless the teacher authorizes the disclosure;
- requiring teachers to meet or interact with a teachers’ union if they do not wish to do so; and,
- distributing communications or membership solicitations on behalf of a teachers’ union.
“For decades, the Idaho Education Association has enjoyed special treatment and taxpayer-funded perks unavailable to any other advocacy group in the state,” said Maxford Nelsen, the Freedom Foundation’s director of research and government affairs. “It’s high time Idaho stopped taxpayer funds and government resources from underwriting this private, political special-interest group.”
He continued, “In passing HB 516, the legislature has stood up to the radical teachers’ unions and put the interests of Idaho families, students, and taxpayers first. Hopefully, Gov. Little will do the same.”
Freedom Foundation research has comprehensively documented how the Idaho Education Association benefits from millions of dollars’ worth of government support each year. Examples include about half million dollars of paid union leave annually provided to Idaho teachers to engage in union activism, and programs to cover the cost of teachers’ union dues in Boise and Twin Falls that cost taxpayers about $1.2 million annually.
Polling commissioned by the Freedom Foundation shows Idaho voters strongly support ending government support for teachers’ unions.
Nothing in HB 516 prevents teachers from joining a union, nor does the bill stop teachers’ unions from continuing to collectively bargain with school districts.
In addition to the Freedom Foundation, HB 516 is supported by:
- Americans for Prosperity
- Americans for Tax Reform
- Citizens Alliance of Idaho
- Foundation for Government Accountability Action
- Heritage Action for America
- Idaho Family Policy Center
- Idaho Freedom Foundation
- Idaho Republican Party
- Mountain States Policy Center
- National Right to Work Committee
HB 745 was sponsored by Rep. Judy Boyle (R-Midvale) and Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene). HB 516 was sponsored by Rep. Dale Hawkins (R-Fernwood) and Sen. Cindy Carlson (R-Riggins).
The “radiator cap” amendment to HB 516 was proposed by Sen. Brian Lenney (R-Nampa).
Founded in Olympia, Wash., as the Evergreen Freedom Foundation in 1991, the Freedom Foundation is today spearheading efforts around the country to make government unions more accountable to their members and taxpayers. It is not affiliated with the Idaho Freedom Foundation established in 2009.
