Rep. Cliff Bayer's motion for operations shifts $20 million in general funds out of schools, and replaces it with stimulus money. "In my judgment, it makes very little difference," said Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, strongly objected to the move, saying it will take public school money and use it for something else. "I sure hope it isn't roads," she said. She called that the opposite of the aim of the federal stimulus money for schools - to avoid school budget cuts. Rep. Maxine Bell noted that Idaho doesn't spend general fund money for roads. Cameron called the difference one between taking the money out of one pocket or another; the amount schools receive next year would be the same either way. Bayer's motion passed, 15-4, on a party-line vote. Sen. Jim Hammond has left.

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