SB 1108, the one on labor relations and teacher contracts, has now cleared the Senate Education Committee on a 6-3 vote, with Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, joining Democratic Sens. Edgar Malepeai and Nicole LeFavour in opposing it. Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, who made the motion to send the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, said, "I know there are a lot of people that feel we still need to make changes to some of these bills. ... I believe ... this is the direction that we need to go."

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said, "Of all the bills, this one saddens me more than any other. ... I think there was a bit of an overdoing of the harsh treatment of people who teach our kids." Sen. Edgar Malepeai, D-Pocatello, said the bill appears to have nothing to do with student achievement, but "it certainly hits at the heart of teachers." He said, "I believe this is going to be a restraint for those coming into the state, and it's going to have an effect on retention of the best in our local school districts throughout the state."

Sen. Chuck Winder said, "I think that's been one of the saddest parts of this whole debate process, that there's some idea that because we want to make some changes it's mean-spirited or that we are opposed to teachers. I really do feel bad about that part of it. My wife's a teacher, my daughter's a teacher." He told the audience, "You can roll your eyes if you want to roll your eyes, but I can assure you the spirit I'm voting on is not in opposition to the teacher." Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, said, "This will result in fewer litigation costs, which means more money to the schools. That's good for the kids."