>> PRESENTSTATION OF "IDAHO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE.

WE KNOW WHAT'S ON LAWMAKERS' MINDS.

BUT WHAT DOES THE AVERAGE IDAHOAN THINK?

I'M MELISSA DAVLIN.

"IDAHO REPORTS" STARTS NOW.

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HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IDAHO REPORTS."

THIS WEEK PROFESSOR JEFFREY LYONS OF BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE JOINS US TO DISCUSS THE MOST RECENT PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY FROM THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS INSIGHTS INTO WHAT IDAHOANS FEEL ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, VACCINES, AND MASK MANDATES.

THEN MARK BROWNING OF COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO AND KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS JOIN US TO DISCUSS EDUCATION BUDGET REQUESTS AND MORE.

BUT FIRST, A QUICK COVID UPDATE.

ACCORDING TO A WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 STATE REPORT ON IDAHO RELEASED THIS WEEK, IDAHO'S NEWLY REPORTED CASES ROSE SLIGHTLY RECENTLY, THOUGH NEW HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS DROPPED 30%.

DEATHS REMAIN HIGH, WITH 285 REPORTED SO FAR IN JANUARY AS OF FRIDAY MORNING.

THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK HAS REMAINED ABOUT STEADY, AND IDAHO WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ABOUT 21,000 VACCINE DOSES WEEKLY INTO MID FEBRUARY.

THIS AMOUNT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE GUARANTEED SECOND SHOT FOR PEOPL WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.

IDAHO CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND OTHER STATES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED PER CAPITA.

ON THURSDAY, GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE ANNOUNCED A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER TO SPEED UP VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND MAKE THAT DISTRIBUTION PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT.

>> TODAY I AM SIGNING A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IT'S CALLED THE TRANSPARENCY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF COVID-19 VACCINE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

MY EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRES HEALTH DISTRICTS AND PROVIDERS TO REGULARLY REPORT THE NUMBER OF VACCINE DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED, HOW MANY SHOTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND HOW MANY DOSES THEY HAVE IN INVENTORY.

TO ENSURE VACCINE IS GETTING OUT IN A TIMELY FASHION.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IN PRACTICALLY REAL TIME THE NUMBER OF DOSES EACH PROVIDER HAS RECEIVED, ADMINISTERED, AND HAS AN INVENTORY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT OF GETTING OUT DOSES AS QUICKLY AS THEY COME TO IDAHO.

I WILL REVIEW THIS INFORMATION DAILY TO ENSURE THE DOSES ARE DISTRIBUTED EQUITABLY ACROSS IDAHO AND THAT PROVIDERS ASK PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS HAVE THE OPERATIONS IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SHOTS WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE DOSES ARRIVING.

ON FEBRUARY 1st, THE 65 AND OLDER POPULATION CAN BEGIN MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO RECEIVE VACCINE IN IDAHO.

THIS IS A BIG STEP TO KEEP OUR SENIORS SAFE AND HEALTHY.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS STILL A BIG GAP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND AT THIS POINT.

THE SENIOR POPULATION IN IDAHO INCLUDES MORE THAN 265,000 PEOPLE.

IDAHO CURRENTLY RECEIVES JUST 24,000 FIRST DOSES PER WEEK.

BASED ON OUR CURRENT ALLOCATION IT COULD TAKE TWO MONTHS FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THEIR FIRST DOSE.

>> QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN ABOUT WHO IN IDAHO IS RECEIVING THOSE SHOTS.

THIS WEEK A CNN ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT IN 14 STATES WHITE PEOPLE ARE INOCULATED AGAINST COVID-19 AT A HIGHER RATE THAN BLACK AND HISPANIC PEOPLE.

BUT IDAHO DOESN'T COLLECT THAT DATA, AND THIS WEEK BOTH GOVERNOR LITTLE AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DIRECTOR DAVE JEPPESEN WERE ASKED WHY.

>> YES, AN IDAHO STATUTE IT'S VERY SPECIFIC WHAT WE CAN CAPTURE IN OUR DATA SYSTEM, AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED.

AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER STATUTE TO CAPTURE THAT DEMOGRAPHIC, THAT RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.

SO THAT MAKES THE CHALLENGE A LITTLE HIGHER TO MEASURE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING OTHER WAYS TO CAPTURE THAT DATA AND WE ARE IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HEALTH DISTRICTS TO UNDERSTAND OTHER AVENUES WE CAN USE TO CAPTURE THAT DATA BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, THAT THIS IS DONE FAIRLY ACROSS THE STATE, SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND HOPE AND URGE THAT WE ARE AGNOSTIC, THAT RIGHT NOW ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A 1 THAT WANT IT CAN GET A SHOT.

START MUNG DAY EVERYBODY 65 AND OLDER CAN GET A SHOT.

THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE OTHER PRIORITIES.

BUT I KNOW OF NO BARRIERS OTHER THAN THE FACT IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS ETHIC AND GOING TO BE MORE LOCATION.

IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR DISTANCE FROM A BIG PROVIDER, THEIR DISTANCE FROM A PHARMACY THAT HAS A LOT OF CAPABILITIES.

>> BOTH "IDAHO REPORTS" AND THE IDAHO STATESMAN HAVE REVIEWED RELEVANT CODE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, AND COULD FIND NO SUCH PROHIBITION ON THE COLLECTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.

WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE.

WE HAVE MORE ON THE "IDAHO REPORTS" BLOG.

YOU'LL FIND THE LINK AT IDAHOPTV.ORG/IDAHOREPORTS.

MUCH OF THE FOCUS SO FAR THIS SESSION HAS BEEN ON THE PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES, WITH LAWMAKERS TRYING TO CURB GOVERNOR LITTLE'S EXECUTIVE POWERS IN REACTION TO HIS COVID-19 RESPONSE.

THOSE EFFORTS HAVE RANGED FROM A PROPOSAL TO PLACE A TIME LIMIT ON FUTURE EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS TO A SENATE EFFORTS TO END THE CURRENT EMERGENCY DECLARATION AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T AFFECT FEMA FUNDING.

AFTER PUBLIC REBUKES FROM LITTLE AND FORMER HOUSE SPEAKERS BRUCE NEWCOMB AND CONGRESSMAN MIKE SIMPSON, SENATE LEADERSHIP WITHDREW THAT RESOLUTION.

ON FRIDAY THEY INTRODUCED A NEW ONE TO END THE STAGE 2 STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER INSTEAD.

WHILE LAWMAKERS ARE NAVIGATING THOSE ISSUES, WHAT ARE AVERAGE IDAHOANS CONCERNED ABOUT?

THIS WEEK BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY RELEASED ITS SIXTH ANNUAL PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY, AND ON FRIDAY PROFESSOR JEFFREY LYONS JOINED US TO DISCUSS ITS FINDINGS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AT BOISE STATE, WE USED TO DO THE SURVEY FOR A WHILE A COUPLE DECADES AGO, AND THEN WE SORT OF RESTARTED IT ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO.

THIS SURVEY IS A STATEWIDE SURVEY OF IDAHO, AND IT IS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE THE PREFERENCES AND OPINIONS OF IDAHOANS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE RECRUIT A SAMPLE OF A THOUSAND IDAHOANS, THROUGH A COUPLE DIFFERENT MEANS.

WE DO IT OVER THE PHONE, WE DO IT VIA E-MAIL AND VIA TEXT MESSAGE.

KIND OF TRYING TO GET OTHER THE HURDLES OF PEOPLE NOT ANSWERING THEIR PHONES AND RECRUIT PEOPLE FROM A DIVERSE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONTACTS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE'VE GOT A SAMPLE OF A THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT REALLY DOES PRETTY NICELY LOOK LIKE THE STATE OF IDAHO.

IT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE, IT LOOKS ABOUT LIKE THE STATE IN TERMS OF AGE, AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY FOR OUR PURPOSES I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO WHAT THE STATE WOULD LOOK LIKE ON MEASURES OF PARTISANSHIP.

WE HAVE A SAMPLE WHERE IT'S A MAJORITY REPUBLICAN SAMPLE AND THAT'S ONE CONCERN AND SURVEYS OUT THERE TODAY IS THAT SURVEYS AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH REPUBLICANS.

BUT WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THIS SAMPLE REPRESENTING ALL IDAHOANS OVER THE AGE OF 18.

THAT'S THE GROUP WE'RE TRYING TO SPEAK TO.

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT GROUP OF IDAHOANS SPEAKING, WHAT ARE THE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES?

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING, WE'VE BEEN ASKING THIS POLICY PRIORITY QUESTION FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AND WE SEE A VERY CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM IDAHOANS.

THE FIRST THING THAT IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE TOP OF LIST IS EDUCATION.

YEAR OVER YEAR PEOPLE SAY THE NUMBER ONE THING FOR US OR THE THING WE'RE MOST INTERESTED IN SEEING ADDRESSED IS EDUCATION.

NOW IT DOESN'T MEAN WE KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THEY WANT TO HAPPEN WITH EDUCATION, BUT THAT ISSUE IS CONSISTENTLY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, ALONG WITH JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

AND THIS YEAR WAS NO DIFFERENT.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING A VERY% CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM IDAHOANS.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO SPECIFICS AND THE BREAKDOWN, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE COVID SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED THIS YEAR.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC, WHAT'S ON IDAHOANS' MINDS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING, SO WE ASKED A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE VIRUS, SO HAVE YOU HAD IT, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT HAVE HAD IT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE ALSO ASKED WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS, BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

ONE THING THAT WE FOUND WAS THAT IDAHOANS PUT IMPACTS ON THE ECONOMY ACTUALLY AS THE MOST FREQUENTLY IDENTIFIED CONCERN.

ALSO NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST ARE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING THE EDUCATION OF IDAHO'S CHILDREN.

SO ACTUALLY WHEN WE PROVIDE THOSE OPTIONS WE SEE THE THIRD PLACE OPTION IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS ABOUT SICKNESS.

SO IDAHOANS APPEAR TO BE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH ECONOMIC IMPACTS AS IT RELATES TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND THERE WERE PARTISAN SPLITS IN THOSE CONCERNS, TOO, WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING LOOKING AT THE NATIONWIDE DISCUSSION.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PREDOMINANT THEMES BOTH IN THE COVID QUESTIONS BUT REALLY THROUGHOUT THE SURVEY, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOMEBODY IF YOU WANT TO PREDICT WHAT THEY THINK IS THEIR PARTISANSHIP.

SO REPUBLICANS OVERWHELMINGLY ARE IN THE CONCERN ABOUT THE ECONOMY, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION OF IDAHO'S CHILDREN.

DEMOCRATS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SAY THAT THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN WAS MORE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH, THINGS RELATING TO SICKNESS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MASK MANDATES.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE ASKED.

AND IT WAS PRETTY EASILY SPLIT, BUT PEOPLE FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE QUESTION.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER SORT OF SIGN OF OUR HIGHLY PARTISAN TIME.

SO WE ACTUALLY ASKED TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST WAS JUST KIND OF A GENERAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

WHEN WE ASK IT THAT WAY, WE SEE A MAJORITY OF IDAHOANS SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

DEMOCRATS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY SUPPORT IT.

REPUBLICANS WERE MORE DIVIDED, ACTUALLY THE REPUBLICANS WERE SLIGHTLY OPPOSED.

WHEN WE ASK A VERSION OF THE QUESTION SAYING WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE WHERE NOT WEARING A MASK IS ENFORCEABLE BY A FINE, WE SEE OPINIONS NOW BECOME VERY SHARPLY DIVIDED IN THE STATE.

ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE WITHIN OUR MARGIN OF ERROR AND WE CAN'T SAY IF MORE IDAHOANS SUPPORT OR OPPOSE A MASK MANDATE WITH AN ENFORCEMENT PROVISION.

>> PEOPLE WERE FAIRLY DIVIDED ON VACCINES, TOO.

>> NAY WERE.

SO I THINK I SHOULD GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THE VACCINE QUESTION.

OUR SURVEY WAS AT THE END OF NOVEMBER AND BEGINNING OF DECEMBER, SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE HAD TRIAL RESULTS FOR OUR TWO PRIMARY VACCINES RELEASED, SO PEOPLE KNEW THEY WERE EFFECTIVE, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY THE F.D.A., PEOPLE HAD NOT YET BEGUN GETTING SHOTS.

SO THAT WAS THE WORLD PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN WHEN WE ASKED THEM THIS QUESTION.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND WAS ABOUT 55% OF IDAHOANS SAID THEY WOULD PROBABLY OR DEFINITELY GET THE VACCINE, WITH 38% SAYING THEY WOULD PROBABLY OR DEFINITELY NOT GET THE VACCINE.

SO THAT'S A NUMBER THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO PRESENT A CHALLENGE TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AS THEY TRY TO GET THE PERCENTAGE IN THE STATE TO BE HIGH ENOUGH TO WHERE WE CAN SEE CASES FALL OFF.

>> AS YOU ACKNOWLEDGED, THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED IN THE INFANCY OF VACCINE ROLLOUT, AND SO IF YOU ASK THAT QUESTION NOW, AND I REALIZE I'M ASKING YOU TO SPECULATE, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE NO'S WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE SOFT OR PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE SEEN SINCE EARLY DECEMBER SOME INCREASES IN WILLINGNESS TO GET VACCINATED IF WE LOOK AT NATIONAL POLLING DATA, THAT'S THE BEST THING WE CAN DO TO COMPARE IS TO SAY WHAT'S HAPPENED NATIONWIDE.

AND THERE IS A SUGGESTION THAT NATIONWIDE WE HAVE SEEN THAT.

IN TALKING WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE OF IDAHO ABOUT THESE RESULTS I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT AS THE VACCINE ROLLOUT ACCELERATES, AS PEOPLE PERSONALLY KNOW OTHERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE AND THEY'VE BEEN FINE AND THEN THEY'RE NOT GETTING SICK, HOPEFULLY THAT WILLINGNESS TO GET VACCINATED WILL INCREASE.

SO MY GUESS IS TODAY WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE SLIGHTLY MORE OPTIMISTIC NUMBERS ON THIS QUESTION.

BUT THERE PROBABLY IS STILL A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE.

WE'RE SHOWING ABOUT 27% OF THE STATE SAYING THEY DEFINITELY WOULD NOT GET A VACCINE, SO THAT'S SOME PRETTY HARD RESISTANCE.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO LEGISLATIVE POLICY.

WHEN YOU ASKED THIS IDAHO WAS SEEING A SIZABLE BUDGET SURPLUS, AND SINCE THEN IT'S ONLY GROWN.

WHAT WERE FOLKS' THOUGHTS ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT BUDGET SURPLUS?

>> YES.

SO WE PRESENTED FOLKS WITH A QUESTION BASICALLY SAYING, AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE WERE THINKING OF A SLIGHTLY SMALLER SURPLUS THAN WE'RE EXPECTING NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO WITH THIS MONEY?

AND THE STATE IS SOMEWHAT DIVIDED ON THIS.

THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE WAS TAX RELIEF.

SO TURNING SOME OF THIS MONEY BACK TO THE PEOPLE, VIA TAX CUTS IN SOME FORM.

BUT A SIZABLE NUMBER OF IDAHOANS IN THE LOW 30% RANGE SAID THEIR PRIORITY WOULD BE INVESTING IN CRITICAL STATE SERVICES WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION OR TRANSPORTATION, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

SO THERE'S THIS TENSION IN PUBLIC OPINION IN IDAHO WHERE BOTH TAX CUTS AND INVESTMENT IN CRITICAL SERVICES ARE BOTH FAIRLY POPULAR AMONGST THE PUBLIC.

>> WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION, WAS IT AN EITHER OR, OR WAS THERE A CHANCE FOR RESPONDENTS TO SAY WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, WE CAN INVEST AND RETURN SOME TO TAXPAYERS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE WAY WE PRESENTED IT WAS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THEIR TOP PRIORITY.

SO WE HAD TO CHOOSE ONE OF THEM.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ACTUAL NATURE OF THE POLICY DISCUSSION, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSALS AND THINGS, THIS IS SOME MIXTURE OF THESE THINGS, WE AVOID THAT IN THE SURVEY SIMPLY BECAUSE THINGS CAN GET COMPLICATED ON THE QUESTION DELIVERY END OF THINGS WHEN WE START HAVING PEOPLE RANK ORDER CHOICES.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WITH BOTH BEING POPULAR IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE'S SOME SUPPORT FOR A MIXTURE OF THE TWO, KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDENTS WHO SAID THEY THOUGHT THAT TAX RELIEF SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY, WHAT WERE THE TYPES OF TAX CUTS THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN?

>> YES, SO WE ASKED A QUESTION THAT SAID, OKAY, IF WE WERE TO DO TAX RELIEF, IS THERE A KIND OF TAX YOU WOULD BE MOST INTERESTED IN SEEING REDUCED?

AND REALLY WHAT WE SEE IS INCOME TAX BEING THE MOST POPULAR, BUT PROPERTY TAXIS ALSO BEING HIGH ON THE LIST.

SALES TAX QUITE A BIT DOWN THE LIST.

SO REDUCING SALES TAXIS APPEARS TO BE THE LEAST POPULAR OPTION OF THOSE THREE.

BUT I WOULD PUT THE INCOME AND PROPERTY TAXES KIND OF IN A SIMILAR REALM IN TERMS OF THEIR POPULARITY.

>> IS GROCERY TAX INCLUDED UNDER THE SALES TAX UMBRELLA?

>> SO FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE I WOULD SAY YES IT IS.

WE ACTUALLY ASKED A QUESTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE GROCERY TAX A FEW YEARS BACK.

AND WE DID SEE QUITE A BIT OF SUPPORT FOR REDUCING THAT SPECIFIC TAX.

FOR THIS ONE WE JUST CHOSE TO LEAVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN ENDED AND JUST KEEP THINGS SIMPLE IN TERMS OF INCOME, PROPERTY AND SALES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, HOW DO IDAHOANS SEE THE QUALITY OF K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY INTERESTING, SO WE'VE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS NOW.

AND SORT OF THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE WE SEE IS THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE IS FAIR.

A SIZABLE NUMBER DO SAY GOOD.

WE DO ALSO HAVE ABOUT 20 TO 25%, PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, WHO SAY THE QUALITY IN THE STATE AS A WHOLE IS POOR, AND VERY FEW SAY EXCELLENT, AROUND 5% SAY EXCELLENT.

AND THOSE ARE FAIRLY CONSISTENT NUMBERS OVER TIME.

SO MY INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS IDAHOANS HAVE HAVE A MIDDLING PERCEPTION OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, AND MAYBE THEY THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS IF YOU ASK WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS IN YOUR SPECIFIC AREA, SCHOOLS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH, THE PERCEPTIONS DO GET BETTER.

SO WHEN WE ASK THAT QUESTION WE SEE THE PERCENT WHO SAY THEY THINK SCHOOL QUALITY IS GOOD INCREASES, THE PERCENT WHO SAY EXCELLENT INCREASES.

AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT IF WE LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL OF SCHOOL AGE, THEIR PERCEPTIONS TEND TO BE OF HIGHER QUALITY THAN PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

SO THE BIG PICTURE IS ONE WHERE THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT THERE ARE SOME SILVER LININGS UNDER THE SURFACE OF THAT OVERARCHING PERCEPTION.

>> PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> JOINING ME IS MARK BROWNING, VICE PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE RELATIONS FOR COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO, AND KEVIN RICHERT OF IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS.

KEVIN, LET'S START WITH THE K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

WAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BUDGET PRESENTATION?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, THEY'RE PLAYING THE HITS, BOTH SUPERINTENDENT SHERRI YBARRA, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS THE LEGISLATURE HAS IMPROVED AND ENDORSED OVERWHELMINGLY THE PAST FEW YEARS, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TEACHER PAY RAISES, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES, ADVANCED MONEY IN LITERACY IN THE FORM OF THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

SO NOT REALLY ANY SURPRISES, NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND SHERRI YBARRA'S BUDGET.

AND BECAUSE OF THE FAMILIARITY OF THESE PROGRAMS AND BECAUSE WE'RE SITTING ON THIS UNPRECEDENTED SURPLUS, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING THAT THERE'S GOING T BE MUCH TURBULENCE SURROUNDING THE K-12 BUDGET, I THINK IT PROBABLY SAILS THROUGH FAIRLY EASILY.

NOT SO MUCH WITH HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT DEFINITELY WITH K-12.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT CONTENTION SURROUNDING THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.

PARTICULARLY DURING BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY'S PRESENTATION ON FRIDAY MORNING, WHAT WAS GOING ON?

>> I THINK EVEN OVER ZOOM YOU COULD FEEL THE TENSION, BECAUSE MARLENE TROMP WAS HIT WITH SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

THE REPUBLICAN FROM, THE TWO NEW MEMBERS, HARD LINE CONSERVATIVES, ASKING POINTED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

MOST OF REPRESENTATIVE NATE'S TALKING POINTS COME PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WHITE PAPER, THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION COAUTHORED IN DECEMBER.

BUT YOU COULD TELL PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUESTIONS AT ALL.

AND WAS SAYING OUR AGENDA IS TO SERVE STUDENTS AND THE STATE.

AND SHE ACCUSED NATE OF MISREPRESENTING A LOT OF FACTS ABOUT PROGRAMS AT BOISE STATE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NATE AND GUYEDINGS ARE NEW -- GIDDINGS ARE NOT TO THE COMMITTEE BUT NOT NEW TO THE LEGISLATURE.

THE CONCERNS THEY BROUGHT UP WEREN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HEARD THESE ISSUES FROM VERY CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FRICTION BETWEEN HOUSE CONSERVATIVES AND MARLENE TRUMP SINCE SHE ARRIVED IN JULY OF 2019.

YOU SAW THAT LAST YEAR WHEN THE HOUSE VOTED DOWN TWO VERSIONS OF THE HIGHER ED BUDGET, IT TOOK A THIRD VERSION TO GET THROUGH THE HOUSE.

ONCE IT'S FINALLY GOT TO THE SENATE IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

AND I SUSPECT THAT TENSION IS STILL THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES IN THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE MAY BE MORE CONSERVATIVE THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ELECTIONS, I THINK IT WILL BE TOUGH TO GET A HIGHER ED BUDGET THROUGH THE HOUSE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SYMPATHY TOWARDS THE PLIGHT OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHEN YOU GET OVER TO THE SENATE.

>> SO THESE APPROPRIATION BILLS IN HIGHER ED, THERE ARE SEVERAL, BUT THE MAIN TWO WHAT THEY CALL THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUDGET, IS THE FOUR FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS, BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, IDAHO STATE AND LEWIS CLARK STATE.

THEY'RE PACKAGED IN ONE.

THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE PACKAGED IN THEIR OWN, AND THEN THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SMALLER APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS, THE MEDICAL PROGRAMS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THE OVERRIDING TENSION WITHIN HIGHER ED AND WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE, IS THAT AND I BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE NATE CAME OUT AND SAID THIS, ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT YOUR PEERS, YOUR COLLEAGUES IN HARM'S WAY, MEANING THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, IDAHO STATE AND LEWIS AND CLARK, WITH THEIR APPROPRIATION IF YOU DON'T CONSENT TO HAVE BOISE STATE'S APPROPRIATION PULLED OUT SEPARATELY.

THAT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED.

I THINK IN OUR TIME FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATURE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

THE DIFFICULTY IS FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, YOU LOOK AT, WE HEAR CONSTANTLY, LET'S RUN THESE INSTITUTIONS LIKE BUSINESSES.

AND THE PRESIDENT AT IDAHO STATE WAS VERY DIRECT IN HIS COMMENTS, WAS IT 77 MILLION WORTH OF CUTS AND HOW MANY POSITIONS HE'S CUT.

HE'S CUT HIS BUSINESS OPERATIONS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE PROVIDING JUST THE BARE MINIMUM.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS IN THE STATE, WHICH IS TO EDUCATE YOUR CITIZENRY AND TO POSITION PEOPLE WHO COME TO LEARN FOR BETTER FUTURES, EDUCATION THROUGH CAREER TRAINING, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, YOU'RE HURTING YOUR BUSINESSES.

AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT PROBABLY GOT DROWNED OUT A LITTLE BIT IN WHAT WE HEARD FRIDAY MORNING, WAS THAT MANY OF THE ADVOCATE POSITIONS THAT HAVE COME FOR MORE INCLUSION ARE COMING FROM MAJOR IDAHO INDUSTRIES.

THESE UNIVERSITIES ARE RESPONDING TO THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES AND THEY'RE SUPPLYING THE WORK FORCE, THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMER, IF YOU WILL.

AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE GOT A LITTLE LOST.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT, MARK.

SORRY, GO AHEAD, KEVIN.

>> BIG NUMBER, THE JPAC HEARD THIS WEEK WAS 493.

THAT'S THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT THE FOUR FOUR-YEAR INS INSTITUTIONS SAY THEY'VE HAD TO CUT SINCE THE COVID CRISIS.

AND YOU HAD KEVIN SATTERLY SAY SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE.

BUT LEWIS AND CLARK PRESIDENT, SAYING WE'RE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS AND WE'LL HAVE TO REINVEST IN PEOPLE, AND SHE HAS RULED OUT THE IDEA OF ANOTHER TUITION FREEZE AT LEWIS AND CLARK.

SO THAT MESSAGE HAD TO RESONATE WITH SOME OF THE BUDGET WRITERS.

>> I WOULD THINK SO TOO.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT COMMITTEE THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF NEW MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMITTEE, NEW MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THAT COMMITTEE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND THERE THAT THEY'VE GROTTO GET UP TO SPEED ON.

BUT I THINK FROM A BUSINESS SENSE, THE MESSAGE THAT IS BEING PUT FORTH IS, HEY, WE'VE CUT AND CUT AND CUT, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT SOME MINIMAL INVESTMENT BACK IN PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION TO BE HAD WITH THE STATE IN GENERAL.

WE'VE TRIED TO CUT OUR WAY TO PROSPERITY IN MANY WAYS, BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT JUST HOW DEEPLY YOU GO TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR.

>> MARK, I WANT TO BRING THE TWO-YEAR, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES INTO THE CONVERSATION.

COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO FOR THE MOST PART HAS AVOIDED A LOT OF THE HURT THAT A LOT OF THE HIGHER ED INSTITUTES, NOT JUST IN IDAHO BUT AROUND THE NATION ARE REALLY FEELING RIGHT NOW.

>> WE TOOK OUR LICKS EARLY, ACTUALLY PRE-COVID.

SO THE WAY COMMUNITY COLLEGES REALLY WORK IS WHEN YOUR ECONOMY IS REALLY STRONG AND HOT, WHEN YOU HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT'S STATISTICALLY NIL, LESS THAN 3%, WE TYPICALLY OUR ENROLLMENTS ARE WAY DOWN.

SO WE LOOKED AT THIS TWO YEARS AGO AND LOOKED AT THE FORECASTING AND SAID THIS ECONOMY IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT UP, WE NEED TO START CUTTING NOW.

FOR FISCAL '20 WE BUDGETED A 10% DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT, WE DID THE SAME IN '21 AND WILL DO THE SAME FOR '22.

WE TOOK THOSE CUTS VOLUNTARILY, AND THEN MATCHED ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S 2% AND 5%.

SO OUR FOLKS, THEY'VE TAKEN SOME HURT, WE HAVEN'T LAID OFF, WE HAVEN'T FURLOUGHED.

BUT WE'VE GOTTEN VERY, VERY LEAN IN OUR OPERATION.

THAT ALONG WITH THE BENEFIT OF A SUPER HOT ECONOMY AND THE RISE IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AND THE VALUATION THAT COMES IN, THAT'S HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT, WE HAVEN'T HAD TO PASS ON ANY COSTS TO OUR STUDENTS IN FIVE GOING ON SIX YEARS, WE'VE HELD TUITION THE SAME.

NOT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE AS THAT ADVANTAGE, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY FOR IT.

THE OTHER THING TOO, MELISSA, ALL THE THINGS WE KIND OF LAMENTED AT C.W.I.

FOR YEARS, OH GOSH, WISH WE COULD DO SOMETHING WITH RESIDENCE HOUSING, WE WISH WE COULD HAVE ATHLETICS, WE WISH WE HAD FOOD SERVICE OTHER THAN VENDING MACHINES, BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HUNGRY.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT TAKE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CAPITAL AND CASH TO KEEP GOING ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

WHEN COVID HIT AND YOUR STUDENTS AREN'T ON CAMPUS, THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS TO REALLY GO DOWN THE TANK.

AND WE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT, AND I'VE GOT TO TAKE A QUICK OPPORTUNITY, OUR FACULTY WERE TREMENDOUS.

THEY WERE THE ONES THAT STEPPED IN AND SAID WE COULD DO THIS, WE COULD DO THIS, LET'S TRY THIS.

THEY CAME UP WITH SOMETHING CALLED THE HIGH FLEX MODEL WHERE THE STUDENT CHOOSES HOW THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR CLASS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, MONDAY IN PERSON IF IT'S OFFERED THAT WAY, WEDNESDAY VIA ZOOM, FRIDAY AN LINE ASSIGNMENT.

AND THE FACULTY CAME UP AND SAID YEAH, THAT WILL KEEP OUR STUDENTS ENGAGED AND WE CAN KEEP THAT GOING.

SO THAT'S BLN THE CASE FOR US, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

>> KEVIN, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 90 SECONDS LEFT.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT K-12 AND TALKING ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, HOW MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK HAS FOCUSED BEYOND THIS COVID CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW?

HOW MUCH ARE WE LOOKING TO THE POST-COVID WORLD?

>> THIS IS A VERY REFLECTIVE EDUCATION WEEK, BETWEEN WHAT SUPERINTENDENT YBARRA SAID ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WHAT COLLEGE PRESIDENTS HAVE SAID, THERE WAS A LOT OF RECAPPING WHAT THE PAST 10 MONTHS HAVE BEEN LIKE, WITH INSTRUCT DOORS, TEACHERS AND COLLEGE PROFESSORS HAVING TO RETHINK HOW THEY DELIVER EDUCATION ON A DIME.

AND INSTITUTIONS HAVING TO RETHINK HOW THEY SPEND MONEY AND HOW MONEY COMES IN, ALSO ON A DIME.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF REFLECTION OF JUST HOW FAR THINGS HAVE HAD TO GO AND HOW MUCH HAS HAD TO CHANGE IN 10 MONTHS.

AND I THINK LEGISLATORS WERE RECEPTIVE TO THAT.

I THINK AT ONE POINT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ALL BUT TOLD THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AND COLLEGE PRESIDENTS IT WAS ALMOST MIRACULOUS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN THIS FALL.

SO I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD WILL ON THAT FRONT.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS ALSO A VERY SOBERING MESSAGE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY OF BUDGETS NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT MOVING FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, KEVIN RICHERT, IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS, MARK BROWNING, COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> PRESENTATION OF "IDANO REPORTS" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO, BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

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