When the House got to its committee meeting announcements before its adjournment earlier this morning, Chief Clerk Bonnie Alexander said, “The only one that I have is for Education Committee, will meet subject to the call of the chair.” But House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, told Idaho Education News reporter Kevin Richert after that announcement that his committee won’t be meeting today – or Monday. DeMordaunt suggested any legislation to settle the impasse over the public schools budget may have to start in the Senate, where the House-passed budget was defeated this week. You can read Richert’s full post here.

Across the rotunda, Sen. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, one of the leading opponents, came directly from a meeting with state schools Superintendent Tom Luna to the morning Senate session, clutching a copy of a draft bill. “It is a vast improvement over the intent language,” Thayn said. He huddled on the floor with Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Vice Chairman Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, before the Senate convened, looking over the proposal.