House Democrats are speaking out against HB 256, the bill to cut $4.1 million from reimbursements the state sends to school districts for busing. "I think this is an unnecessary bill, and it's likely the first of several we'll see that cuts money that goes to our kids' education," House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, told the House. Rep. Liz Chavez, D-Lewiston, said she was "blind-sided" when the bill was introduced, though she'd been part of a bipartisan committee that negotiated consensus legislation that cleared the House yesterday regarding temporarily suspending various state laws to allow for financial emergencies. "HB 256 is both unnecessary and unfair to all three of the school districts that are in my legislative district," Chavez said. Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, said, "We are taking an unprecedented step to cut public education for the first time in Idaho's history - let that sink in, folks."