President Obama is pushing an economic-stimulus package that might shower a half billion dollars on Idaho schools and colleges just as Idaho lawmakers and school administrators prepare for deep cuts in education.
But few in Idaho government are talking about the federal money.
"We haven't got it," Gov. Butch Otter told the Idaho Statesman after meeting Tuesday with public school administrators. "The worst thing that we could do is raise expectations."
Otter said he is working on some plans if a federal stimulus package passes Congress, but he declined to discuss them. "If we do get it, then we will go public with it," he said.
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a stimulus bill that could bring $43 million or more to Treasure Valley school districts. That is enough to help ease many of the cuts administrators fear they will have to make - including teaching jobs - as the state prepares for reductions in public school and college budgets that could top $100 million.
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