NorthIowaToday.com

Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

Branstad levels vetoes on range of spending bills; Dem’s furious at education funding snub

Iowa capitol
Iowa capitol
DES MOINES – Larger class sizes, fewer educators, and higher property taxes. That’s what Democrats are saying Governor Terry Branstad’s veto of millions in education spending means for the people of Iowa.

Branstad struck down a number of compromised bi-partisan spending bills Thursday, sending Democrats into furious backlash as they watched much of the excruciating work they accomplished this spring and summer go for nothing.

Teachers, educators, administrators and Democratic leaders took to social media to voice their outrage over the governor’s vetoes. One Iowa teacher wrote “let him come walk a mile in our shoes and see how he likes it” regarding his veto of education spending for grade schools.

Iowa Representative Sharon Steckman described the vetoes as “A sad, sad commentary on the value of Iowa children. It literally makes me sick”. With state funding shut off, schools will likely need to go to voters to ask for more local tax dollars.

In a statement, Iowa Democrats said “As a result of his vetoes, Iowa students could face overcrowded classrooms, fewer teachers and limited opportunities this upcoming year. Meanwhile, Iowans who depend on the vital services and supports offered at the mental health facilities now will have to look elsewhere for care.”

Here is the governor’s explanation for the education funding veto:

“I recommended a two-year budget on the second day of this legislative session including an increase in supplemental state aid for both years. Throughout the session, I encouraged the legislature to provide supplemental state aid for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade for the next two years as required by law. By using one-time money and not providing supplemental state aid for the second fiscal year, the legislature compounded the uncertainty that school districts faced this entire legislative session.

“My administration’s commitment to giving Iowa students a world-class education is demonstrated by significant, targeted growth in funding for initiatives to raise achievement. Iowa’s new Teacher Leadership System is the single largest reform measure, with an investment of more than $150 million when fully phased in during the 2016-2017 school year. With many of our best teachers serving in leadership roles, such as instructional coaches and mentors, Iowa can better support the more demanding work teachers must do today to prepare all students for a knowledge-driven economy.

“Other targeted education reform measures my administration proposed for the next fiscal year at a cost of more than $18 million include: an initiative to ensure children are able to read by the end of third grade, ongoing expansion of Iowa Learning Online program to offer more course options to high school students, and the Teach Iowa Scholars Program which provides up to $20,000 to top graduates of Iowa teacher preparation programs who teach hard-to-fill subjects in Iowa schools for five years.

“With any budget, it is important to look at the entire picture. For fiscal year 2016, Iowa schools will receive over $3 billion, by far the biggest item in the state budget.”

Iowa schools were not the only ones who were left out of the funding. Rep. Steckman said this full list includes:

HF 666 – One-time funding bill (all vetoed below)
• $55.7 million for k-12 schools
• $1.8 million to keep Clarinda MHI open
• $2.3 million for substance abuse treatment
• $310,000 for transition costs to new Ft. Madison facility
• $2.5 million for community colleges
• $2.8 million for the UI
• $2.2 million for ISU
• $1.1 million for UNI

HF 651 – E911
• Vetoed language to improve communication between local emergency providers
SF 499 – Economic Development Budget
• Vetoed language to ensure administrative law judges can operate free from political influence

SF 505 – HHS
• Vetoed language to prevent a private managed care company from charging additional fees for services
• Vetoed expanding eligibility for child care assistance to more Iowans
• Vetoed language that could have kept Clarinda open under private management
• Vetoed funding for Mt. Pleasant MHI

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

14 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Even more news:

Copyright 2024 – Internet Marketing Pros. of Iowa, Inc.
14
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x