Richert: Luna's school plan puts Land Board in hot seat

On Wednesday afternoon, Tom Luna’s $52.8 million gamble comes before the state Land Board.

The state schools superintendent is betting the state can afford to use an endowment reserve to backfill Idaho's K-12 budget. He is also wagering that he can sway a couple of Republican votes on the state's Land Board.

It's up to the board - Luna, Gov. Butch Otter, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, Secretary of State Ben Ysursa and Controller Donna Jones - to decide whether to make a one-time withdrawal from the Public Schools Earnings Reserve Fund.

The schools are due to receive their regular annual payment of $31.3 million for 2010-11. But Luna is eyeing a fund that could open the budget year with $90.4 million in reserves, and believes the state can give more money to public schools.

I think Luna's plan pencils out - and we argued that case in our Sunday editorial. I also think this makes for fascinating politics.

Considering the cuts still facing public schools, this could be the most scrutinized Land Board vote of the year. It actually will make K-12 funding a germane issue in the races for attorney general, secretary of state and controller - not that Democrats have fielded candidates in any of these races.

And Luna has put some pressure on himself. Can he deliver the votes on the Land Board?

In an editorial board meeting Wednesday, Luna downplayed the politics. "It wasn't a consideration. ... I don't even know what the political ramifications are for even suggesting this."

I'll say this much. In four years on the job, Luna has proven himself as much more politically astute than his predecessor, soft-spoken and oft-overmatched Democratic superintendent Marilyn Howard. Of course, Luna's conservative Republican credentials help open doors that were summarily shut to Howard.

But that hasn't stopped Luna from supporting controversial ideas that he believes will help students. He acknowledges he has ruffled some feathers by looking for creative ways to augment the 2010-11 budget, instead of talking only about cuts. He said he will push a school district consolidation bill this session.

While he provided no details Wednesday, the idea is sure to rankle rural conservatives who wrongly view consolidation as a death sentence for small-town schools.

On Wednesday, Luna's political savvy will be put to the test - with $52.8 million at the center of the table.

AND NOW, A SAFE BET ...

I hope you had good luck in your friendly Super Bowl wagers.

And I just hope the cops didn't get wind of what you were doing.

Under a laughably archaic section of state law, police officers and prosecutors are required to "inform against and diligently prosecute persons" involved in all forms of gambling, clear down to office pools. An officer or prosecutor who looks the other way is subject to a misdemeanor charge.

I don't suspect this law is taken seriously - and, to the best of my recollection, no police department has set up saturation patrols during March Madness.

With any luck, this sort of foolishness will soon be scrubbed from state law. On Wednesday, a House committee unanimously endorsed House Bill 422, which would give law enforcement some discretion in this regard.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, heads to the House floor. I'd be willing to bet it passes. But who am I to make a mockery of state law?

BIETER: STATESMANTRIES TO 'START A FIGHT'

Mayor Dave Bieter responded Thursday to my previous column about the streetcar debate - in a pointed e-mail to some of Downtown's most influential movers and shakers.

My column was based on the Statesman's editorial board meeting with city leaders Tuesday. In our interview, Bieter discussed the split over the $60 million proposal, in terms I still consider patronizing. Downtown's "institutional" firms, such as St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and Idaho Power, have questioned the project, said Bieter, while "entrepreneurial" firms support the project, believing it will help attract workers and enhance Downtown's appeal.

In the interest of providing Bieter the last word, here are excerpts from his e-mail to the city's streetcar task force. You can read the full e-mail on my blog:

"As is often the case, the Statesman is trying to start a fight by taking my comments out of context and not giving the full quote I gave at a meeting with their editorial board. In talking about the nature of the supporters and opponents of the streetcar, I do see that startup firms and those owners and companies that depend on tenants that are smaller firms favor the streetcar in higher numbers. The future of our economy and downtown depend on their success, and since their situations can be more fragile, they more often see the streetcar as helping them in drawing employees and patrons.

"However, what I also said and will repeat here is that the presence of St. Luke's, who also happens to be my wife's employer, and Idaho Power downtown are 'hugely important and will continue to be in the future.' Of course that is what I believe. Any impression to the contrary or division that does not say clearly that both kinds of companies are vital to our future does a disservice to the debate about the streetcar and my views. It is no wonder newspapers struggle to find their place in our future."

Kevin Richert: 377-6437