Several committee members are raising concerns about warnings to school technology task force members to avoid contacts with computer vendors. "Certainly the members of this committee are not the experts and need to be looking to the outside community, whether it be schools or vendors or research," Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, told state purchasing officer Sarah Hilderbrand. "I think you're suggesting that we put on blinders."

Hilderbrand explained that if a particular senator met with two vendors, but not with any others, that wouldn't be acceptable in the purchasing process. "We want to make sure that it is above board, we want to make sure that there isn't any appearance that we're getting certain information, but we're not talking to this vendor over here," she said.