Idaho lawmakers OK education budget, send a message about teaching social justice Hayat Norimine, The Idaho Statesman
May 4 Idaho lawmakers found a solution to getting education budgets over the finish line: Cut $2.1 million from university budgets.
A new measure, House Bill 387, was negotiated among Republican lawmakers as they tried to quell fears from a faction of legislators over universities teaching about critical race theory and providing other social justice programs. The cut, along with a bill against critical race theory, helped garner enough votes in the House to approve education budgets.
Senators in a 25-8 vote on Tuesday supported the bill, which previously passed the House and will now need Gov. Brad Little s signature. The legislation would provide nearly $629.9 million for colleges and universities for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. It would cut $500,000 each from the University of Idaho and Idaho State University and $1.5 million f