• Update: House passes teacher merit pay bill 44-26/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise; and: How they voted (Eskridge only North Idaho legislator to oppose)

“Pay for the performance will reward excellence in the classroom,” Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the House, opening debate on SB 1110, the teacher merit pay bill. Noting that the bill's first-year cost is $38 million and no funding source is identified, Nonini bristled at suggestions he's heard that it's an “unfunded mandate.” In subsequent years, the program would cost the state $51.3 million a year. “This is statutory spending,” he said. “Unfunded mandate - couldn't be further from the truth. That means it gets funded automatically from monies appropriated to fund public schools"/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Debate: 'Reform or status quo,' 'Can do better,' 'Just cruel," & 'Debating policy'
• McGeachin: 'An unfunded mandate'
• Ringo: 'Commitment to fund it'
• Dems quiz Nonini on merit pay
• No full reading on teacher merit pay

Question: Will today's sure-fire support of a second Tom Luna 'reform' bill in the Idaho House be closer than Tuesday's 48-22 vote?