The second bill in state Schools Supt. Tom Luna's reform plan also was introduced on a party-line vote in the Senate Education Committee. "I know we're looking forward to some good debate on this next week," said Sen. Dean Mortimer as he moved to introduce the second bill.

Committee Chairman John Goedde said hearings on the bills will start on Monday at 3 in the Capitol Auditorium, with Luna making his presentation. Public testimony will start on Tuesday, he said, and he  is hoping the committee will be prepared to vote on the bills by the end of next week. Goedde slipped, however, and at first said "next year."

Questions on the second bill included several on the elimination of teaching jobs. Luna aide Jason Hancock said school districts will see savings as a result. "When you're talking about 770 fewer positions than you have today, each of those positions comes with a package of health benefits," he said. "So those are going to be additional savings."

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, responded, "What about the loss of the income tax revenues of 770 jobs in the state, and the multipliers that come from that? ... Those are impacts to the general fund as well."