Through the Idaho Policy Forum, The College of Idaho invites the Idaho public to get informed, listen to each other, and deliberate about the most important issues facing the nation and the State of Idaho.
Legislators, academics and leaders in our community come together in these forums and confront issues such as women’s reproductive rights, the state of education, tax and housing policies, climate change and green energy and more. Open and civil discourse are the foundation of our forums. For those unable to attend in person, we also offer livestreaming options.
An Overview of Past Forums
The Idaho Policy Forum gathered to hear members of the press deconstruct the election and weigh in on the upcoming legislative session; Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane detail what the data says about Idaho and the nation; Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield on what’s next for Idaho public schools; and elected Republican senators and representatives espouse upon the state of the Republic Party in Idaho.
Interested in Prop 1? The Idaho Policy Forum hosted Luke Mayville, the co-founder of Reclaim Idaho and the architect behind this voter initiative, and Tom Luna, former chair of the Idaho Republic Party, as they debated the pros and con of open primaries and ranked choice voting.
The College hosted 16 candidates running for U.S. Congress and the Idaho Senate and House of Representatives and asked pointed questions about their positions on a variety of critical issues affecting Idahoans, including public schools facilities funding, abortion care policy, library restrictions, JFAC budgeting process, among others.
Policy experts, elected officials and leaders in government agencies, nonprofits and corporations grappled with the issues of school vouchers, green energy and open primaries. Former Governor of Idaho Butch Otter offered his perspective on open primaries and ranked choice voting, and Former Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Jim Jones offered a keynote address.
Current and former Idaho representatives, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, a member of the housing developer community, constitutional law scholars and representatives from the Legislative Services Office of the State of Idaho, the Idaho School Boards Association, the Government Affairs Office of the City of Boise, the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and the Idaho Coalition of Safe Healthcare discussed tax and education policy and the housing crisis in Idaho and contextualized the significance of the Dobbs decision for Idahoans.
Solve Problems & Shape Policy
