Goedde: Will follow up on today’s suggestions
In between fielding lots and lots of handshakes and thank-you's from people who sat through today's nearly four-hour public hearing on education reform legislation, Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said he never asked whether people could come back tomorrow, "Because there are an awful lot of people here from out of town - I didn't want people to have to come back." The committee still has two days of testimony scheduled this week, tomorrow and Thursday. Tomorrow, Goedde said, "We're going to do the same thing we did today - people will have to sign up again." He said those who sat through today's entire hearing but never got to speak will have no special priority.
Asked if his approach is skewing the testimony the committee hears - though 127 people signed up to testify, and only 16 of those signed up in favor of the plan, the actual testimony heard by the committee today included all 14 of the backers who showed up when called, but only about a quarter of the opponents - Goedde said, "It's the call of the chair. I felt that was as fair and equitable as it was going to get. Everyone knew how it was going to be done."
Goedde said he wasn't surprised at what he heard in today's testimony, but said, "I did hear a few specific suggestions, and I think it's important to follow through on them - and I intend to do that."