>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN EDUCATION SPENDING.

IT TOOK JUST TEN HOURS TO TAKE A WIDE-RANGING BILL WITH AN HISTORIC PRICE TAG ATTACHED, ALONG THE OVERWHELMING LAWMAKERS VOTED YES, WE HEARD ABOUT THE PROCESS.

WE'LL BREAK DOWN HOW THE PROCESS AFFECTS YOU.

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK, WE'RE GIVING YOU A RUNDOWN OF THE TAX CUTS AND EDUCATION SPENDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED ON THURSDAY.

SENATOR STEVEN THAYN AND REPRESENTATIVES JULIE YAMAMOTO, GAYANN DEMORDAUNT AND SALLY TOONE SHARE THEIR TAKES ON THE SPECIAL SESSION, AND KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUATION NEWS WILL JOIN US TO BREAK DOWN THE EDUCATION COMPONENTS.

BUT FIRST, NOW THAT GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE HAS SIGNED THE BILL, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?

STARTING JANUARY 3RD, IDAHO WILL HAVE A FLAT CORPORATE AND INCOME TAX RATE OF 5.8%.

LATER THIS MONTH, THE STATE IS SCHEDULED TO START SENDING OUT REBATE CHECKS OF $300 FOR INDIVIDUAL TAX FILERS AND $600 FOR JOINT FILERS.

PUBLIC EDUCATION WILL SEE A BOOST IN SPENDING OF ABOUT $310 MILLION, WITH AN ADDITIONAL $80 MILLION GOING TO A NEWLY CREATED IN-DEMAND CAREERS FUND.

AND WHEN YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION THIS FALL, YOU'LL SEE WHAT'S CALLED AN ADVISORY QUESTION - BASICALLY ASKING WHETHER VOTERS AGREE WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID.

ALL OF THIS WAS IN A SINGLE BILL.

THE SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED AT 8 AM ON THURSDAY, AND SHORTLY AFTER, BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE TAX COMMITTEES MET TO HEAR TESTIMONY FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC.

REACTION TO THE MASSIVE PROPOSAL WAS MIXED.

>> THE EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE YOU ARE VITAL FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE NEEDED GAINS IN CLASS TODAY.

PICK A MAJOR BOULEVARD IN IDAHO AND LOOK AT WHAT MANY OF THE FAST-FOOD CHAINS ARE PAYING TO START.

WE'RE NOT COMPETING WELL WITH THAT.

THE NONTRANSPORTATION FUEL COSTS FOR DISTRICTS RAN UP A 24% INCREASE FOR POWER AND 28% FOR FUEL WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO COVER THAT.

>> AS I LISTEN TO THE PROPONENTS OF THE EDUCATION INVESTMENTS TALK, I FEEL LIKE I'M IN GROUNDHOG DAY.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND LAST YEAR IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION WE MADE HISTORIC, UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENTS IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN A SPECIAL SESSION, JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, AND MAKING INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION.

>> IT WILL SHOW WHAT WE DO IS VALUED AND THAT YOU SHARE OUR VALUE OF PROVIDING A FAIR AND EQUAL PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS BILL WILL KEEP EVERY EDUCATOR IN THEIR JOB, BUT FOR AN EDUCATOR LIKE ME, IT WILL HELP TREMENDOUSLY.

>> AFTER COMMITTEE TESTIMONY, THE HOUSE PASSED IT ON TO THE FLOOR, EXPRESSED MAJOR RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THE BILL WITH A SPEEDY SESSION, MULTIPLE SUBSTITUTE LAWMAKERS, AND LEGISLATORS WHO AREN'T COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

EVEN THOUGH MUCH OF THE DEBATE WAS NEGATIVE, MOST OF THOSE WHO SPOKE ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS STILL VOTED YES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST 15 HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED NO, AND ONLY ONE SENATOR VOTED NO.

>> THIS BILL IS CLEARLY A RESPONSE TO AND AN END-RUN AROUND THE EDUCATION INITIATIVE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TAX BILL WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 3RD.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU HAVE EITHER.

WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE IS THIS PLAN IS CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO, ON AUTOPILOT, UNDER THE QUALITY -- UP END THE QUALITY EDUCATION ACT IF IT PASSES.

THE QUALITY EDUCATION ACT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST AND WHILE WE ARE LAME DUCK AND NOT IN SESSION, THIS WOULD UNDO IT, WITHIN 48 HOURS, AUTOMATICALLY.

>> NOW, WE CALL A SPECIAL SESSION FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

IS THE BILL BAD?

NO, THE BILL IS GOOD.

I LIKE T THE BILL.

I DON'T THINK THE PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE GET INTO THE SPECIAL SESSION AND THE ONLY BLL WE LOOK AT IS DRAFTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CALLING OURSELVES BACK INTO SESSION, WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT?

A SUBJECT.

MAYBE WE'RE LIMITED TO THAT ONE SUBJECT.

THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE ACTUALLY LIMITED TO ONE BILL.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS, AND YET, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION.

WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO GO INTO BILLS AND VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR CALLED US TO DO.

AND WE'RE A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

IT'S TIME WE START ACTING LIKE ONE AND NOT BE LED AROUND AND BE HELD CAPTIVE BY ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK THIS BILL AND THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS VERY, VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR CONSTITUTION, TO OUR VOTERS, TO OUR TAXPAYERS, AND TO THE INCOMING CLASS.

WE ARE TELLING THEM, WE DO NOT TRUST THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THEIR IDEAS ON WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING.

THERE CLEARLY IS NO EMERGENCY ON SCHOOL FUNDING WHEN THE DATE IS THAT FAR OUT.

AS WE HEARD THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT 34 SAY.

I DO BELIEVE THIS BILL IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

I READ THE CONSTITUTION QUITE LITERALLY.

WHEN IT SAYS WE CANNOT MIX SUBJECTS, WE CANNOT MIX SUBJECTS.

WE CANNOT MAKE A SESSION POT OF MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND NOT SAY IT IS A POLICY.

IT'S NOT.

NOT CONSTITUTIONAL TO DO THIS.

>> JOINING US TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS SPECIAL SESSION ARE SENATOR STEVEN THAYN, REPRESENTATIVE JULIE YAMAMOTO, REPRESENTATIVE DeMORDAUNT, AND REPRESENTATIVE TOONE.

WE HEARD MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW.

>> I BELIEVE EACH ADDRESSED A POINT OF NEED AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT IT'S A NO-BRAINER, IF YOU HAVE A SURPLUS, TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

THAT WASN'T -- THAT DIDN'T CONCERN ME AT ALL, AND I'M A PERSON WHO FEELS THAT SCHOOLS DO -- ARE UTILIZING THEIR MONEY TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY AND THAT THEY COULD USE MORE AND SO HAVING A SOURCE THAT IS MORE STABLE AND CAN BE COUNTED UPON MADE SENSE TO ME.

AND IT ALSO MADE SENSE TO ME TO SENT IT OUT TO PEOPLE, IF THEY WERE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, THEN GIVE THEM THAT CHOICE AS WELL.

HERE WE ARE GOING TO GIVE MONEY TO EDUCATION AND NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES.

THE OTHER ONE WILL GIVE MONEY TO EDUCATION BUT IT WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES.

>> DO YOU MEAN PROPOSITION ONE?

>> TO ME, YOU'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU HOPED TO.

WE FEEL THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT, THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO, BUT NOW WE'RE GIVING THEM MORE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND REALLY GIVING THEM THE TWO OPTIONS.

>> SENATOR THAYN, WHAT GOT YOU TO YES?

>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T THINK MONEY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, IT IS A FACTOR IN THE ARMY OF SOURCES THAT CAN BE GIVEN AND SINCE THE ECONOMY IN IDAHO SEEMS TO BE GENERATING INCOME, PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THE CLASSROOM WAS SOMETHING I COULD SUPPORT.

IN MY REMARKS AND DEBATING FOR THE BILL, I CAUTIONED THAT MONEY BY ITSELF IS NOT THE ANSWER.

I THINK PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS ERRONEOUSLY TAKEN THE ROLE OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE KIDS ARE EDUCATED WHEN THEY SHOULD BE HELPING PARENTS.

PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEIR KIDS ARE EDUCATED.

SO WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF ADJUSTMENT THERE SO WE UNDERSTAND THE PROPER ROLES.

AND THE STRUCTURE RIGHT NOW NEEDS TO CHANGE SLIGHTLY TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

BUT THE OTHER THING WAS, I DID NOT LIKE THIS INITIATIVE AND -- >> THE QUALITY EDUCATION ACT?

>> THE QUALITY EDUCATION ACT, PARTIALLY BECAUSE IT RAISED MONEY ON THE WEALTHY, SO-CALLED WEALTHY.

I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE WORST THINGS I SEE IN CALIFORNIA ARE COMING WITH THAT INITIATIVE, AND I REALLY DID NOT LIKE IT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BASICALLY REPEAL IT BEFORE IT EVEN PASSED, IF IT DID.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, I KNOW THAT YOU -- YOU ALSO VOTED YES, BUT YOU GOT THERE A DIFFERENT WAY.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DID SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE IN THERE AS WE WENT THROUGH THE STATE BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT BY THE CITIZENS OF IDAHO, AND WE TAX OURSELVES ALL THE TIME.

WE DO THAT WITH BONDS AND LEVIES, AND WE HAVE FOR 20 -- WE HAVE A BACKLOG.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT, AS SENATOR THAYN SAID.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DEFINITELY NEED CHANGED.

BUT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY -- PARENTING IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T HOLD THE KIDS NECESSARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINS OF THE PARENTS.

AS EDUCATORS, WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES, AND MONEY WILL HELP.

I GOT THERE BECAUSE THIS IS MORE, AS AN EDUCATOR, WE JUST CAN'T NOT PUT THE STABLE PIECE OF THE EDUCATION IN THERE.

AND IT APPROACHED IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE TAXED OURSELVES WITH THE INITIATIVE.

THIS HAS A WAY OF CANCELING THE INITIATIVE.

BUT I THINK THE BILL LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO.

THAT INITIATIVE WAS ON THE BALLOT.

AND IT STILL IS ON THE BALLOT.

AND THAT MEANS A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I THINK WE, AS LEGISLATORS, HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND I GOT THERE BECAUSE OF THAT PIECE.

NOT A BIG FAN OF THE TAX PARTS OF IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK PEOPLE DESERVE THE MONEY.

WE HAVE SOME INFLATION ISSUES.

EVERY ONE OF US DO IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND PROPERTY TAXES, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PIECES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET.

IT'S A STEP FORWARD.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DeMORDAUNT, YOU WERE ONE OF 15 HOUSE MEMBERS THAT VOTED NO.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE NO VOTE IN THE SENATE.

WHY WERE YOU OPPOSED TO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION?

>> YOU KNOW, MELISSA, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU START WITH THOSE NUMBERS IN 15 AND 1 IN TERMS OF THE NO VOTES.

HAD YOU LISTENED TO THE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR, AT LEAST ON THE HOUSE SIDE, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD A LOT OF ANGST AND A LOT OF NEGATIVE DEBATE, BUT "YES" VOTES.

AND I DARESAY THERE WAS EVEN SPLIT IN TERMS OF THE DEBATE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT.

MY OWN PERSONAL OPPOSITION TO THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT BASED ON TAX.

IF IT HAD ONLY BEEN ON RETURNING THAT WHICH BELONGS TO THE TAXPAYERS ANYWAY, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THE FACT THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THE CALLING THE SPECIAL SESSION WITH 45% OF US ARE NOT GOING TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED DESERVE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE.

SECOND, I BELIEVE THAT IT COULD HAVE WAITED IN TERMS OF JANUARY.

BUT WATCHING THE ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE BEST ECONOMISTS ARE TRYING TO READ THE TEA LEAVES RIGHT NOW AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SAY THERE'S A SOFTENING HAPPENING, A RECESSION.

IF IT -- WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN A LOT MORE HAD WE WAITED UNTIL JANUARY.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRUDENT.

THIRD, THE FACT THAT YOU HAD THESE TWO COMPONENTS, YOU COULD SAY THREE COMPONENTS TO A BILL WHEN A CONSTITUTION REALLY DOES SUGGEST THAT IT SHOULD BE SINGLE SUBJECT AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THOSE PARTS PARSED OUT.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

SO THAT -- THAT WAS MY INITIAL OPPOSITION.

>> AND YOU BRING UP SUCH A GOOD POINT, THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH NEGATIVE DEBATE YESTERDAY FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ENDED UP VOTING YES.

REPRESENTATIVE DeMORDAUNT, ARE YOU CONCERNED WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY VOTING IN A SPECIAL SESSION WHO AREN'T GOING TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> I RESPECT WHAT REPRESENTATIVE GIBBS SAID.

HE WAS ELECTED TO SERVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE JUST SOME HAVE, BY CHOICE, AND OTHERS BY VOTE, THEY'RE STILL ACTING ON THE BEST THEY CAN DO TO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICT AND TO REPRESENT IDAHOANS, AND I THINK TO SAY THEY'RE NOT IS -- I JUST -- I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE, AND WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF AISLE OR ARE REPUBLICANS, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT PEOPLE NEED JANUARY, AND SO I THINK -- I - GIVE GOVERNOR LITTLE A LOT OF KUDOS TO BE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SAY, OH, BECAUSE HE HAS AN ELECTION.

WELL, OKAY.

HE DOES.

BUT HE ALSO -- THEY FORGET, HE'S A TAXPAYER.

HE'S A DAD.

HE'S A GRANDFATHER.

AND HE'S LOOKING -- HE HEARS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, THAT IT'S HARD TO JUST GET GROCERIES, IT'S HARD TO DO ALL THE THINGS -- INFLATION HAS HIT US ALL HARD.

SO HE'S TRYING TO DO WHAT HE CAN DO NOW.

THAT'S A BOLD MOVE AND THAT'S A BOLD STEP FOR PEOPLE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IN THE SENATE TO STEP UP AND EVEN WITH MISGIVINGS TO SAY, WE GET IT.

WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IT'S TOUGH.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY.

SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THOSE FOLKS BEING ABLE TO VOTE AND TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, SENATOR THAYN?

>> NO.

THIS IS FOLLOWING THE RULES THAT ARE CURRENTLY LAID OUT IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND STATE LAW.

RIGHT NOW, THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONE THAT CAN CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS.

HE'S ELECTED.

HE DID WHAT HE WAS LEGALLY ENTITLED TO DO.

THE LEGISLATURE CURRENTLY CAN'T CALL ITSELF BACK INTO SESSION.

IF WE WOULD HAVE CALLED OURSELVES BACK INTO SESSION, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF A POINT, BUT WE DID NOT.

WE ACTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S CALL.

THERE IS AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD LAW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL -- ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF BACK INTO SESSION, BUT AS OF NOW, WE CAN'T, SO WE WERE FOLLOWING THE RULES THAT ARE CURRENTLY LAID OUT.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT?

HALF THE PEOPLE WILL BE UNOPPOSED, BUT HALF OF THEM STILL HAVE AN OPPONENT.

SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND AS REPRESENTATIVE GIBBS SAID, WE HAVE A JOB.

WE'RE STILL CONTENDING WITH CONSTITUENT ISSUES, GETTING AHOLD OF EVERYTHING.

PEOPLE STILL HAVE MY EMAIL, I'M ANSWERING EMAILS AND ALL OF THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S FAIR.

LET US DO OUR JOB, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE THERE.

WE STILL HAVE A MAJOR ELECTION TO GO THROUGH, AND HALF OF THOSE SEATS ARE CONTESTED.

SO YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO IS THERE.

>> A LOT OF WHAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY OR DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WERE NO METRICS, THERE WERE NO GOALS ATTACHED WITH THE EDUCATION SPENDING, THAT HERE IS, ESSENTIALLY, A BLANK CHECK.

WE WILL LET THE 2023 LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATE THAT MONEY.

SHOULD THERE BE STRINGS ATTACHED TO THAT MONEY?

TIED TO PERFORMANCE?

(OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS) >> NO.

IT WAS PASSED ON AN INFLATION ISSUE FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

THEY HAVE SAME CONCERNS.

WE HAVE METRICS FOR STUDENT GOALS AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT THIS MONEY IS TO FIGHT INFLATION.

IT COULD BE USED.

THEIR POWER BILLS HAVE GONE UP.

STUDENT BODY NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP.

SO JUST THE COST OF RUNNING OUR SCHOOLS IS GOING UP.

AND SO TO SAY IT'S A BLANK CHECK, WELL, YES AND NO.

I MEAN, WE HAVE INSURANCE COSTS.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SALARIES.

I HATE TO ALWAYS PUT THAT IN.

WE DID COVER THAT.

BUT HAVE YOU BOUGHT A TEXTBOOK LATELY?

>> RIGHT.

>> WE CAN'T EVEN GET MODERN TEXTBOOKS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE $400 A TEXTBOOK IF YOU GO TO BUY A CALCULUS TEXTBOOK.

THEIR INFLATION IS EQUAL TO EVERYONE ELSE.

IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS US LIKEWISE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> I DO BELIEVE, AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME SAY YESTERDAY, THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO POLICY, AND WE ARE POLICYMAKERS.

BEING ASKED TO COME IN AND VOTE ON A BILL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO REALLY DELIBERATE.

YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY CHANGES TO THE BILL.

OF COURSE, YOU SAW LAST-MINUTE CHANGE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN WE -- THE 3% ACCELERATOR.

>> INFLATION FOR FUTURE YEARS, EDUCATION SPENDING.

>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

BUT IT'S NOT TYPICAL TO WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF HAVING AN OBJECTIVE, GOALS, PERHAPS ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES BUILT IN, AND COMING WITH A PIECE OF POLICY FIRST AND THEN APPROPRIATING.

THAT'S HOW WE DO IT 99% OF THE TIME.

THIS IS OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO, TO SAY, HERE'S A POT OF MONEY, AND IT CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF STUDENTS.

THAT'S GREAT.

WE'VE MADE SOME HISTORIC INVESTMENTS.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED INVESTMENTS, AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTED THOSE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM RAISING TEACHER SALARIES, INCREASING BENEFITS.

NO PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE WERE OBJECTIVES AND NEEDS THAT WERE BEING IDENTIFIED.

WRITING OUT A BLANK CHECK AND NOT HAVING GOALS AND OUTCOMES IDENTIFIED BEFORE, I DON'T THINK IT IS A WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU CAN FIND OUR FULL DISCUSSION ONLINE, INCLUDING WHAT THE LAWMAKERS THINK THE 2023 LEGISLATURE SHOULD DO FOR EDUCATION FUNDING NEXT.

YOU'LL FIND THE LINKS AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

>> KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS ALSO JOINED US TO DISCUSS WHAT WE KNOW AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE EDUCATION FUNDING COMPONENT IN THE BILL.

KEVIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CAN YOU SUM UP THE DEBATE WE HEARD THURSDAY OVER EDUCATION FUNDING?

>> I THINK YOU HEARD WAS A REAL DEBATE ABOUT THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN IDAHO AND HOW DOES MONEY FIT INTO THAT EQUATION.

YOU HEARD A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM LEGISLATORS SAYING, WE HAVE PUT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY INTO EDUCATION THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THAT'S TRUE.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT MONEY INTO EDUCATION, AS WENDY HORMAN POINTED OUT IN HER DEBATE, THEY HAVE PUT A BOATLOAD OF MONEY, BOATLOAD WAS A TERM WE HEARD A LOT ON THURSDAY, BUT THE FEDS HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO EDUCATION, MOST OF WHICH HAS BEEN UNSPEND, STILL BEING SAT ON, UNSPEND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SPEND IT.

WHAT WILL WE GET WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY, WHERE WILL THE ADDITIONAL MONEY GO, HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE MONEY WE COMMITTED ON THURSDAY IS GETTING RESULTS?

>> TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, DO WE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO.

THAT WAS NOT DEBATED ON THURSDAY.

THAT'S NOT REALLY CONTEMPLATED IN THE BILL.

THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE SETTLED OUT IN THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS STARTING IN JANUARY WITH A WHOLE NEW CROP OF LEGISLATORS.

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW WITH THAT INVESTMENT, WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH CONTROL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE OVER THAT FUNDING.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

AND IF YOU WENT TO 115 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET 115 ANSWERS BUT SOME THEMES ARE DEFINITELY EMERGING.

A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO HIRE, THE NEED TO RETAIN.

NOT JUST THE TEACHERS, BUT THE CLASSIFIED STAFF -- THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, THE CAFETERIA WORKERS.

THE WORKERS THAT WILL GET MORE MONEY AT A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT THAN AT THE SCHOOL.

ROB SAUERS TESTIFIED AND SAID, WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH McDONALD'S TO GET CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.

A SCHOOL DISTRICT CANNOT COMPETE WITH A BURGER JOINT TO GET EMPLOYEES.

THE FACILITIES, THEY NEED EMPLOYEES FOR THE DISTRICT, AND YOU'RE HEARING MORE SENTIMENTS, SAYING, THIS PAYING FOR SCHOOLS THROUGH BONDING AND PROPERTY TAXES IS NOT WORKING.

WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH GROWTH.

WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

WE'RE FALLING BEHIND, AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

>> THIS CAME TWO DAYS AFTER SCHOOL AND LEVY BOND ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

HOW DID THOSE GO FOR SCHOOLS?

>> NOT VERY WELL.

NOT IN THE BIG DISTRICTS.

COEUR D'ALENE RECEIVED A SLIM MAJORITY, BUT IT NEEDED A 55% THRESHOLD, VALLEY VIEW, MIDDLETON, BOTH FAILED.

VALLEY VIEW CAME CLOSE TO THE TWO-THIRDS SUPER MAJORITY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING OUT IN A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WE SAW IT PLAY OUT IN THE DEBATE ON THURSDAY.

ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING PIECES OF TESTIMONY WE HEARD IN THE JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON THURSDAY MORNING CAME FROM A TEACHER IN THE VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO SAID, I LOVE TEACHING.

I LOVE THIS PROFESSION.

I WOULD HATE TO LEAVE IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHERE MY FUTURE IS, AND SHE SAID, PART OF WHAT MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BEING IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE POLLS ON TUESDAY IN HER DISTRICT WHEN VOTERS DID NOT APPROVE A BOND ISSUE FOR NEW SCHOOLS.

>> A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY OPPOSED TO THE SCHOOL FUNDING PROVISION OF THIS BILL, A LOT OF THAT OPPOSITION FOR OUTCOMES, THAT STUDENT OUTCOMES HAVEN'T NECESSARILY IMPROVED MUCH AFTER ALL OF THE INVESTMENTS OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT METRICS ARE THEY LOOKING AT?

>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT ANY METRIC RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE CHALLENGES.

AND NOT UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE WORLD OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT READING SCORES, IF YOU LOOK AT SCORES ON THE ISAP, THE STANDARDIZED TESTS FROM THIRD GRADE TO HIGH SCHOOL, THE COLLEGE GOING RATE, ALL OF THESE METRICS ARE NOT WHERE PEOPLE WANT THEM TO BE, WHERE EDUCATION LEADERS WANT THEM TO BE.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT DEBATE CONTINUE, AND THAT DEBATE SHOULD CONTINUE.

I THINK IT'S FAIR FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, IF WE'RE PUTTING THIS MUCH MONEY INTO EDUCATION, THERE HAS TO BE A RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT.

THAT'S ONLY FAIR.

AND I GO BACK TO KURT LEE BECK, I LISTENED TO HIS ADDRESS TO THEM, AND HE PUT IT ON THE LINE.

WE'RE PUTTING ALL THIS MONEY INTO LITERACY, INTO READING, YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE THESE READING SCORES, NOT JUST, OBVIOUSLY, IT HELPS KIDS, IT HELPS THEM THE REST OF THE WAY IN THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS, BUT IT HELPS THE STATE BOARD MAKE THE CASE TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT IF YOU PUT MONEY INTO EDUCATION, YOU GET RESULTS.

AND I DON'T THINK THE ADMINISTRATORS WERE -- I THINK THE ADMINISTRATORS GET THAT.

I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S PART OF THE BARGAIN.

BUT SCOTT WILSON, THE SUPERINTENDENT IN BONNEVILLE, CAME BACK AND SAID, YOU DO HAVE TO GIVE US SOME TIME, YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THE MONEY IN AND EXPECT RESULTS RIGHT WAY.

IT TAKES TIME TO GET RESULTS.

THEY'RE BOTH RIGHT.

THEY'RE BOTH MAKING A VALID POINT HERE, BUT OVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND RETURN OF INVESTMENT IS JUST BEGINNING, AND I THINK IT'S A HEALTH DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.

>> YOU CAN FIND MY FULL DISCUSSION WITH KEVIN ONLINE, INCLUDING ECHOES OF THE 2006 SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FIND THE LINKS AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR REGULAR SEASON STARTS OCTOBER 7TH, AND WE'LL ALSO AIR THE GENERAL ELECTION IDAHO DEBATES DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

LOOK FOR THAT SCHEDULE LATER THIS MONTH.

AND NEXT WEDNESDAY, WE'LL HAVE A PODCAST WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLAT TAX RATE AND REBATES.

YOU'LL FIND ALL OF THAT, PLUS LINKS TO ALL OF OUR ONLINE CONTENT, AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

>> PRESENTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.