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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Edit: Moyle Attacks Teacher Pay

Among Idaho's 105 lawmakers, only eight opposed the idea of improving teacher pay. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, was among the eight. But within days, Moyle tried to dismember the teacher pay initiative. Idaho's career ladder plan boosts teacher pay by $125 million during the next five years. It's fairly modest. For instance, it would elevate beginning teacher salaries to $37,000 - or about $3,000 less than the framers of Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter's education reform task force proposed. Idaho's teacher pay is ranked 49th in the nation and there's little reason to think the state will make up much ground.

Even at that, it's not clear if there's money to pay for it. It assumes Idaho's economy will produce five years of abundant tax revenues. Left unsaid is whether Idaho's pent-up demands - such as the state's struggling colleges and universities or a public workforce whose paychecks are 20 percent short - will get addressed. Underlining all of this is a belief that an economic expansion now in its 73rd month will continue uninterrupted for another five years or so. Here's how Moyle - with House Speaker Scott Bedke's support - planned to do away with it/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. More here.

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D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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