Trib: Nonini’s Bill Gets Its Due

In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune cheers … to Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg: “He didn’t just block Sen. Bob Nonini’s barely concealed ploy to spend tax dollars on religious schools. Hill drove a stake through its heart. Nonini was engineering an end run around Idaho’s constitutional ban against using public dollars for religious instruction. He suggested giving taxpayers a credit when they contribute toward private school student scholarships. Estimated cost: $10 million. Not so fast, said Hill. When he’s not running the state Senate, Hill is a CPA. Said Hill: For every $100 contributed to a scholarship, the taxpayer would net “at least $107” and the state would pay another 10 percent for administrative costs. Down Nonini’s bill went on a 7-2 Senate tax committee vote/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. Full Cheers & Jeers column here.

Question: Huckleberries is trying to figure out how someone as opposed to public education as Sen. Nonini could be appointed first to chair the House Ed Committee & now a member of the Senate Ed Committee? Anyone?