Eye On Boise

Nonini: ‘It’s a golden parachute’

April 28, 2009 9:02 a.m. • 33 comments

The House Education Committee has voted 11-6 in favor of HB 339, the new bill from Education Chairman Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, that directly contradicts the action JFAC took this morning on school funding, and also makes other school funding changes. “We’re just trying to cover all the bases at the end of the session,” Nonini said after the meeting. “If this legislation makes it through the process and becomes law, there’s $4 million that doesn’t have to be funded.” That’s because HB 339 retroactively eliminates an early retirement program for teachers. However, this morning, JFAC restored funding for that program, based on legislation that’s already passed both houses. Nonini derided the program as a “golden parachute” for retiring teachers. “This is a going-home bill to where we can get these education issues resolved, we can spread the pain throughout the system,” he told the committee. The early retirement incentive program, he said, is “going into a teacher’s pocket - it’s a golden parachute to leave the profession. … I have a hard time paying those people. … Maybe they should just gracefully retire and go to the golf course.”

Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, responded, “I think if anybody deserves a parachute, it’s the people that teach our kids.” He added, “If we pass this legislation, the Senate will not accept it as it is. … Think about what you’re doing.” The early retirement incentive program, which gives teachers who retire early an average $18,000 lump sum, was promoted as a savings for school districts who can replace the retirees with less-experienced, lower-salaried teachers.

33 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Sisyphus on April 28 at 9:09 a.m.
“I have a hard time paying those people”—wow, the insight this gives into the vindictive character of the great Nonini is astounding. He’s not motivated to save money only to screw teachers.
RathdrumBob on April 28 at 9:19 a.m.
One must understand, Mr Nonini is actively opposed to education in general, and the Idaho Education Association in particular (both educated folks and the IEA are an affront to Mr Republican and his agenda).
scootermom on April 28 at 9:35 a.m.
Only in Idaho would a political hack with a deep seated hatred of teachers become the Chair of the House Education Committee.

Pathetic.
thomg57 on April 28 at 9:38 a.m.
“those people”— I’m speechless.
Digger on April 28 at 9:42 a.m.
I can see the pain in Mack Shirley’s eyes (sitting to the right of Nonini)

Mack was a college administrator in Rexburg for a number of years and would be far better suited to be the chair of the house education committee - and I’m surprised he hasn’t been handed that role since he has more seniority over No-No-Nini.

I might also add that when I served as a page in the legislature it was also Mack’s first year as a legislator. He was one of the 12 legislators that I was assigned to as a page and he is quite possibly one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet in your life.
Arpie on April 28 at 10:11 a.m.
Unbelievable! Now we find that Nonini doesn’t care that this early retirement incentive saves the state money. He eliminated it out of spite for teachers.
Wahapete on April 28 at 10:29 a.m.
Maybe he should just gracefully retire and go to the golf course.
slfisher on April 28 at 10:41 a.m.
It says something that Representative Nonini is so against teachers that he will cut a program that saves the state money and guarantees a longer legislative session when the Senate rejects it.
thomg57 on April 28 at 11:29 a.m.
Maybe Bob realized that every day the legislature is in session they waste the equivalent of a teacher’s annual salary and he’s trying to drag out the session until the state runs out of money to pay teachers.
idadem on April 28 at 11:34 a.m.
I don’t think support or opposition to the early retirement incentive has anything to do with support for education. It was adopted to create vacancies for new teachers and to relieve school districts from paying salaries at the top of the wage scale. We are entering a time of teacher shortage so its continuation should be questioned. Withdrawing the incentive as a budget measure though is laughable…it means a higher percentage of the teaching force topped out on the pay scale.
nooncarl on April 28 at 12:18 p.m.
Since when can $18K be considered a “golden” parachute? What economy is he living in?!?!
thomg57 on April 28 at 2:19 p.m.
It was only a few weeks ago that Bob took his own golf course vacation to visit Duane Hagadone and find out how Mr. H wanted Nonini to vote on the liquor bill- Mr. H was against it and that is how Bob voted- If Bob thinks golf trips during session is appropriate perhaps he should retire.
Or, as a self employed individual, does he need his Legislative gig for the taxpayer provided health care and PERSI benefits?
schoolkids on April 28 at 2:41 p.m.
Just WHO does this Nonini guy “Represent” (besides his own personal agenda)? Certainly not our legislature’s views (who are paying a LOT to stay in session for his nonsense), certainly NOT our public schools (who SAVE hundreds of thousands of dollars via the early retirement program by retiring teachers on the high end of Idaho’s dismal salary scale and replacing them with younger teachers on the beginning end of the scale), certainly NOT our taxpaying patrons who also save $ with the early retirement program by lowering costs and thus saving tax dollars… As a Representative…. Nonini should represent his constituents. Would that be the public ?
Sisyphus on April 28 at 4:09 p.m.
“Just WHO does this Nonini guy ‘Represent’”—well, I reckon when he goes to Palm Springs mid session to meet with Duane Hagadone and comes back and votes Duane’s way on legislation, I’m thinking its a good clue on his constituency. This is how Californians get their way in Idaho, they buy it.
thomg57 on April 28 at 4:34 p.m.
“Just WHO does this Nonini guy “Represent””

Good question.

Bob went to California to hear Duane Hagdone’s views on the liquor bill. He said that he was returning to Idaho to listen to the liquor lobbyists views on that same issue because “I want to hear both sides.”(I may have paraphrased). At no time did either of “the both sides” include the average citizens that he is elected to represent.
souper6 on April 29 at 8:16 a.m.
Nonini is so out of touch with reality and what goes on in the real world. I hope his district understands how he is trying to destroy the education system in Idaho. It sounds like this year it’s time to renew the old battle cry “Throw the bums out”! And clean house (the House). Let’s get folks who know what they’re doing elected. Get the extremists out of our Capitol. Let them go home so they can practice their terrorism within the confines of their own homes.
souper6 on April 29 at 8:23 a.m.
Nonini should have a cost analyst done before he pops off his mouth. Offering early retierement is common practice in corporate America. It takes the higher paid senior staff and replaces them with less paid new employees. Nononi (Ichabod Crane) doesn’t have a degree (or at least that I couldn’t find one when I Googled him.) How can we allow this idiot to remain on the Education Committee?