Gop Wants To Study Higher Education

The Republican leadership of the Idaho Legislature is pushing a plan to spend $100,000 on a study of higher education that some lawmakers say will be an absolute waste of time.

“If you have a lot of money and don’t mind wasting it, fine,” said Rep. Kathleen Gurnsey, R-Boise, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

“How many studies have we funded to do exactly this thing?” she said. “We do it and we don’t like what we hear, so we don’t do anything about it.”

The House voted 38-30 and sent to the Senate on Monday a resolution that would fund a study on the idea of creating a oneuniversity system for Idaho, and authorizing up to $100,000 for a consultant.

Majority Floor Leader Rep. Bruce Newcomb said the GOP leadership in both chambers was behind it.