Rep. Elfreda Higgins, D-Garden City, asked whether there is any data showing that the teacher merit pay bill would improve student performance. Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, said no, but said it's "my belief" that rewarding outstanding teachers will attract and retain them and thereby boost student achievement. "So we don't have any data," Higgins responded.

Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, asked Nonini if the money for the merit pay program would be new funding for Idaho's schools, or if it would come out of the existing school budget, by rearranging it. "It would be obtained by rearranging," Nonini responded.