Scholarship bill fails in Senate
BOISE – The Senate has narrowly defeated a bill aimed at using scholarships to attract the nation’s top math, science and engineering students to Idaho colleges and universities.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, would have provided full tuition, room, board and educational supplies to selected students who agreed to stay in Idaho for at least two years after completing their studies.
Before the bill came up for a vote Friday, Schroeder worked with Sen. Russell Fulcher, R-Meridian, to respond to critics’ concerns that there wouldn’t be any way to keep graduates in Idaho after they had finished their education.
Schroeder told his colleagues that many of the graduates probably would stay, and would contribute to Idaho’s economic development – but there would be no way to keep them here if they chose to leave.
“I just don’t think we can enslave people,” Schroeder said.
Several senators spoke for and against the bill before the 17-17 tie vote. The tie was broken by Lt. Gov. James Risch, who voted no.
Schroeder’s bill is just one of many scholarship proposals that have been introduced this session as lawmakers try to respond to concerns about Idaho’s educational system.
Also Friday, three scholarship or loan bills sponsored by Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, were approved by the House Education Committee. Trail was co-sponsor of Schroeder’s scholarship bill.
“I’m disappointed,” Trail said after the Senate vote. “Everybody is concerned about the math and science teacher shortage; it will be even worse in the future. That could have been a big help for us.”
Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, earlier introduced a bill that would have raised the pay for math and science teachers in Idaho. That bill was defeated by the Senate last month.
On Friday, Goedde spoke against Schroeder’s bill, saying state money shouldn’t be used to pay for people from outside the state.
“Why, if we can’t fund education well enough for Idaho citizens, we’d want to ask somebody from China or India into this country for a full ride … there’s a problem with that,” said Goedde, who is chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
Many lawmakers were also concerned that Schroeder didn’t say how much his plan would cost the state. Instead, the bill would have had the state Board of Education determine how many scholarships to award, and bring a budget request to lawmakers.
“It’s difficult to determine” how much the scholarships would cost, but it’s necessary to make an estimate, said Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. “As senators we have the responsibility to actually try to put a pencil to it.”
Trail’s legislation would use some of the state’s $214 million surplus to set up a $10 million interest-bearing fund for need-based scholarships for Idaho students.
Another bill would use $5 million for a loan fund for students, also based on need; and another would use another $5 million for loans for students who promised to teach math and science in Idaho schools. A portion of the loan would be forgiven for each year that commitment was met.