Teacher performance pay bill clears committee on same 13-5 vote

On SB 1110, the teacher pay for performance bill, the House Education Committee has voted 13-5 to approve the measure and send it to the full House with a recommendation that it pass. The measure had earlier passed the Senate. It would cost the state $38 million in its first year, 2013, and $51.3 million in each year thereafter.

Rep. Brian Cronin, D-Boise, objected that the bill sets up a system with no funding source. “It’s irresponsible, it’s not the way this Legislature generally acts,” he said. “We have such severe deficits we can’t even meet our basic needs, not only in the education field but in various other areas of government.”

Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, countered, “This is some of the most effective dollars that we can spend.”