And so the real fight begins - as I have been predicting for months - when serious budget cutting proposals start to show their faces. HOWEVER - cutting the bond reimbursement program and putting it back in the laps of school districts - is simply one way the legislature can avoid DIRECT fights with teachers over salary reductions that would come from reducing foundation formulas. 

BUT - we are going to have this fight - whether it is juneau or in our home towns. Bonds and teachers are paid out of the same pot eventually.  Either major job losses will occur OR public employees - especially in the school systems - will have to adapt to significant changes in how they are paid.

In my opinion - the battle in Juneau that currently seems between the house and senate - will start to refocus on the delicate house coalition - and how much budget cutting - aside from oil tax credits - the house democrats can stomach and stay unified until the final budget vote. Today's news is just the start.