There was lively debate in the House on SCR 134, the resolution endorsing the state Board of Education’s goal to have 60 percent of Idahoans age 25-34 have a post-secondary degree or certificate by 2020 to meet the state’s workforce needs.

Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, said the state isn’t adequately funding higher education, and said proposing that twice as many of Idaho’s students go on to higher education beyond high school without helping pay for that is irresponsible.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, also spoke out against the measure. “I think this is a ridiculous resolution,” she told the House. “It is not a proper role of government to be telling adults to be going and getting more training.”

House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, acknowledged that the 60 percent goal is a “stretch goal,” which Idaho isn’t anywhere near reaching. But he said the state should try.

“This is a high, ambitious goal,” DeMordaunt said. “We are making an investment in our students, in our education system. But what’s important about the most recent investments that we’ve done is they have been much more focused. I will certainly highlight STEM as an example of that. That is an area where we know the economy needs the workforce.” DeMordaunt said the state isn’t “telling adults” which fields to go into. “What we’re doing is we’re providing an opportunity for them to get an education that will be good for them and for their families.”

The resolution then passed the House, 63-7. The seven “no” votes came from Reps. Dixon, Gannon, McCrostie, McMillan, Nate, Scott and Sims.