The Idaho Launch Program Should be Scrubbed
The Idaho Launch Program is nothing but corporate welfare, central planning, and socialism. It goes against the principles of a free market and is a complete waste of taxpayer money.
The program promises every Idaho high school graduate $8,500 in taxpayer money to use at an “approved” college, university, or workforce training program in the state. While this sounds ok, the money comes with strings. It can only go to qualified institutions and only for specific career paths. Taxpayers must spend a staggering $102 million yearly to pay for other people’s optional higher education expenses. And once these workers are trained, there is no guarantee they will remain in Idaho. Would Idaho taxpayers be paying to train Idaho workers or workers for the rest of the United States?
If this program is passed into law, the Workforce Development Council will determine what jobs are “in demand” and, with no accountability, have the power to direct money to the council’s private interests. This takes the decision-making power away from the students. It’s marketed as a solution to improve the state’s workforce training but is really a scheme structured to benefit big businesses and the IACI cronies of Governor Little, who will be paid to do the worker training programs they are already doing.
Don’t confuse the Idaho Launch Program with an Education Savings Account (ESA). Idaho Launch serves one-twelfth the number of students at five times the total cost. If the governor wants true education freedom, he should support universal ESAs and allow dollars to follow K-12 students to a school of their choice.
Idaho Launch assumes an unelected board knows better than high school graduates about what is best for their future. It’s central planning, treating students like widgets to be directed to fulfill businesses’ needs. It’s corporate welfare and government meddling in business workforce training.
The Idaho Freedom Caucus rejects central planning ideology and always looks out for the forgotten taxpayers whenever the governor wants to spend another dollar.
The Idaho Freedom Caucus urges all legislators to vote NO on this foolish legislation
