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Republican Lawmaker: Bump Idaho Teacher Pay To $40,000 Or No New Tax Cuts

Boise State Public Radio

The Idaho lawmaker who has the power to kill tax bills says there will be no new tax breaks unless beginning teacher salaries boost to $40,000 a year.

Republican Sen. Jeff Siddoway threatened to hold proposed tax cuts hostage in order to get more funding for Idaho's public schools even before the legislative session kicked off on Monday. Siddoway sharpened his demand on Tuesday, saying teacher salaries must increase sooner than what Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has outlined.

Otter asked lawmakers Monday to increase teacher salaries to $40,000 over the next five years, bumping new teacher pay from $31,750 to $32,800 next year.

Siddoway is the chairman of the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee. It's the first stop after tax bills clear the House.

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