Glum debate in House on school funding
The tone has been mostly glum as the House debates the public school budget bill, SB 1418. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, a retired high school teacher, said, "This is a budget that is all about choices. ... We are not forced into this course of action. It is a course of our own choosing if we choose to take it." Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said, "We weren't sent here to make easy votes. ... This is one of the difficult votes that we must make." Said Rep. Donna Boe, D-Pocatello, "I don't think that we are supplying the resources that our students are going to need as they face their future." Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, said, "I do believe this budget is probably the best we can do." Here, Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, debates against the bill.