In the final three motions of the public schools budget, one, for the facilities division, passed on a 15-5 vote, like earlier motions. The motions on the children’s programs division and the division for educational services for the deaf and blind passed on unanimous, 20-0 motions.

Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, asked the joint committee to hold off on two of the 35 sections of legislative intent included with the public school budget, the sections dealing with bonuses for teachers at school district discretion and with technology funding. “I feel a little uncomfortable,” Mortimer said. “I feel like we’re getting ahead of the germane committees.” Mortimer asked to keep those intent sections open until Friday, to allow comment from those committees, and the committee agreed unanimously. Sen. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, alsoobjected to the section dealing with unfreezing two steps on the teacher salary grid, but was outvoted 15-5.