Luna's plan hot topic at Legislators' Report

POST FALLS - Education reform and nullification were hot-button issues during the Legislators' Report on Saturday at the Post Falls American Legion.

Following the Senate's passage of two reform bills on Thursday - two-thirds of public school chief Tom Luna's extensive plan to overhaul the state's education system - local lawmakers spoke to a crowd of constituents, answered questions and countered a few comments.

"Quite frankly, I see (the legislation) as a time to restart. A time to rebuild," said Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene.

One of the newly-passed bills restricts the power of local teachers' unions; the other financially rewards high-performing schools and educators.

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, said over the past 60 years teachers' unions around the country have worked to gain more control and to protect teachers.

"The union runs the district, in my opinion," Nonini said. "We cannot sustain the current system the way it is. We need to reform public education in this country. We cannot continue to fund the system. We cannot continue to fund the system without raising taxes, in a terrible economy."

Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, said legislators considered the input of citizens, educators and outside experts when deciding on education reform. He said he had looked over a study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri and Vanderbilt University; the data appeared to support some of the tenets of Luna's plan.

"We do have information," Vick added. "I read every e-mail that I get from within the district. I'm glad we passed the bills."

Not all educators opposed the plan, he said - the Lakeland School Board supported the legislation.

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, led the discussion on nullification of President Obama's controversial health care initiative. The nullification bill, HO117, passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin - 49 to 20 - but did not make it past the Senate.

"If we can't get leadership to intercede, the only alternative is another bill," said Barbieri, who sponsored HO117 on the House floor. "Allowing it to be called 'nullification' was a huge mistake. I should have named it differently and I didn't realize that."

Three Senate leaders were against the bill, the legislators noted. Governor Butch Otter, however, remains a staunch proponent of nullification, they added.

"He is clearly on board with this. It's just a matter of how it's done," Barbieri said.

As a final recourse, the governor could order state department heads not to follow the Obama health care laws, the legislators said. But for now, nullification has died in the Senate.

Other discussions centered on creation of jobs, local regulations that limit small business entrepreneurs, and a handful of urban renewal bills under consideration in Boise.

"I'm hoping that a few of the bills will get passed, and we can tighten up urban renewal in this state," Nonini said.

Nonini delivered some good financial news during his closing remarks: The state's projected budget shortfall has shrunk to $90 million, he said. Last month, the shortfall was an estimated $185 million.

The room was full of North Idaho citizens on Saturday.

"I thought it was great for (the legislators) to spend the time with the public that votes for them," said Donna Montgomery of Hayden Lake.

John Cross of Post Falls also took in the legislators' report.

"I thought the meeting was very informative, and just in general, I agreed with most of the comments," he said. "I like to attend as many as I can."

The event was hosted by the Panhandle Pachyderm Club, the North Idaho Pachyderms and the Reagan Republicans. The next Post Falls report is scheduled for March 26 at 9 a.m. at the Post Falls American Legion.