Idaho Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton, voted against all but one of the public school budget bills Monday, but for a second consecutive year refused to explain her decision.
Republican leaders have repeatedly pointed to education funding as one of the major accomplishments this session. Overall state support for K-12 education will increase by $109.5 million next year, or 7.4 percent, to $1.58 billion. That's on top of the $101 million, 7.4 percent increase approved last year.
All seven school budgets passed by wide margins Monday.
McMillan, by contrast, voted against six of them, including the teachers division, children's programs, administration, operations, the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind and central services. She supported the $49 million facilities budget, which includes $19 million in general fund support.
When asked why she opposed the budgets, McMillan brusquely refused to answer. She did the same thing last year, when she also voted against six of the seven budgets, as well as the new career ladder teacher pay plan.
The three-term lawmaker – who recently filed to run for a fourth term – virtually never debates on the floor or tries to gather support for her positions.
She regularly votes against budget bills, though. Among the appropriations she has opposed this session: public health districts, Medicaid, the Idaho State Police, the Attorney General's Office, vocational rehabilitation, the Department of Labor and mental health services, which includes the budget for State Hospital North in Orofino.
McMillan will face former A-10 pilot Priscilla Giddings of White Bird, the daughter of Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings, in the May 17 Republican primary. The winner will take on Sandpoint Democrat Jessica Chilcott in the November general election.
