Rep. Brian Cronin, D-Boise, debating against SB 1184 in the House, said stakeholders' concerns weren't addressed, and that's why they don't support the bill. Rather than back away from providing a laptop computer to every high school student, Cronin said, "We're now spending $2.3 million more" on buying laptops than in the previous version of the controversial bill. He said, "Here's what I know: That young people today, they are in no way challenged in the workplace due to a lack of familiarity and experience with technology." Technology is practically "in their DNA," he said. But young people need  analytical, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, he said, which they can't learn from computers.

"We've denigrated and devalued teachers," Cronin said. "You only need to go back to your district and ask teachers if they feel they've been valued, with the legislation we've passed this year." He said, "This plan, ladies and gentlemen, does replace teachers with technology. No amount of rhetorical tap-dancing can change that."