While praising the JFAC co-chairs for bringing in education stakeholders to work on the public school budget, Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, said, "I'm sure that those stakeholders you invited in were very happy to have the opportunity to have their input considered. Should this be necessary in the future, I would hope that maybe we could consider a member of the minority party included in that process as well." Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, commented that by setting a number and then inviting education groups to give input on how to fit within it, "It's kind of like bringing someone in and telling them you're going to cut off their fingers, and you're kindly asking them for input into how, but nonetheless you're going to cut their fingers off, and they have no choice about that." She said, "I just want to express some sadness about that situation."

After the JFAC meeting, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, "In hindsight, I probably should've invited a member of the minority." He was concerned about having too many legislators at the two lengthy meetings with stakeholders, he said, which took place on Monday and Wednesday evenings and went into the night. "It really wasn't about us legislators," Cameron said.

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