Disagreements over public education funding are preventing the Legislature from finalizing a state budget and adjourning for the year.
Iowa’s families count on Iowa’s great local public schools to give our children and grandchildren the knowledge and skills to be successful in our competitive world, and to provide opportunities for Iowa students to realize their dreams of creating a better life for themselves and others.

High-quality education has made Iowa and its workers among the nation’s most productive, which in turn attracts additional high-skilled, high-wage jobs and successful businesses to our state.  Education is the key to our future and must be adequately funded.  It’s a priority for Iowans and it’s a priority for me.

A great public education system has long been the key factor in Iowa’s economic growth, with economic opportunity directly related to education funding provided by the Legislature.  Funding determines if schools can pay teachers and staff,  can limit class sizes – how much one-on-one attention students receive, and determine whether or not classrooms have the necessary materials and technology to provide excellent instruction.  Funding will also determine whether or not the education reforms, launched in 2013, will be implemented and successful in improving student achievement.

Today, Iowa invests $1,600 fewer dollars per student than the national average.  Education leaders, superintendents, administrators and school board members have told us, over and over, that a minimum 3 percent increase in funding for our schools is absolutely necessary to meet current needs and prevent Iowa from falling behind in academic achievement.

Republicans, who control the Iowa House, proposed an increase of just 1.25 percent,  five months ago. Democrats, who hold the majority in the Iowa Senate, approved a 4 percent increase earlier this year and have made numerous attempts to compromise, coming all the way down to 2.625 percent.   Democrats in the House have also offered 4% for Iowa schools.

Democrats are willing to split the difference by giving schools a 2.625 percent increase, which would prevent cuts at most schools in the state.  Unfortunately, House Republicans haven’t budged – so far rejecting all  attempts to compromise and approve an education budget.

“Instead of doing the work of legislating, House Republicans hung fast to their session-opening position of limiting education funding to less than the rate of inflation, assuring unnecessary and harmful education cuts for Iowa schoolchildren.”  Quad City Times

The House position has forced schools across Iowa to send out notices, “pink slips”, to teachers,  with estimates that more than 1,034 Iowa teaching positions will not be filled next school year as a result of the cuts.  This is not the way to strengthen Iowa schools, improve students’ achievement, or improve the economy and quality of life in Iowa communities.

With Iowa’s finances in good shape, it is critical that we remain steadfast and committed to our investments in education – building a secure future with a strong economy.  You can help by contacting the House majority Republican leadership, asking them to compromise and approve adequate funding for Iowa schools : Kraig.Paulsen@legis.iowa.gov and Linda.Upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov.

Affordable Higher Education

For most, school does not stop with high school graduation. Increasingly, good jobs require higher education and worker training.  Iowans of all ages and backgrounds need access to college to build a better future for themselves and their families.

Ideally, these opportunities should be as affordable as possible. Taking on massive student debt is a huge roadblock to achieving success, to strengthening our middle class and to growing our economy.

Iowa students already graduate with more student loan debt than those in other states, leading many  graduates to leave the state in search of higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Yet the majority of the Republican House members disagree with Democrats on the importance of college funding.

Community colleges work with employers to address local skilled worker shortages and provide an affordable path to a four-year degree.  Iowa Democrats, in both the House and Senate, proposed investing $8 million more in Iowa’s community colleges. House Republicans oppose any increase.

At our three state universities, there will be a tuition freeze for in-state students for a third straight year under the Democrat’s budget proposal.  Democrats also support an increase in tuition grants for Iowa students attending our private colleges.

In contrast, the budget plan approved by the House Republicans would force students to pay even more for their college education. The House budget actually cuts funding for the University of Iowa, Iowa State and need-based grants to Iowans attending our private colleges.

The budget approved by the Senate Democrats proves we can invest in education at all levels and balance the budget responsibly.  It can be done, with an overall budget the same size as the budget proposed by Republican Governor Terry Branstad.

Bipartisan Bills Deserve a House Vote

As we near the end of the 2015 session, there are many bipartisan bills that have been approved in committees and the full Senate but have been held from floor debate here in the Iowa House. This includes initiatives to make our communities safer, improve health care and boost quality of life – bills that won the support of both Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa Senate.
Among them are efforts to:

•    Keep all students safe with adequate training for schools to investigate harassment and bullying, including alleged incidents that occur outside of school, and to impose school discipline.

•    Combat human trafficking through public awareness efforts, special training for law enforcement officers and making the crime a forcible felony.

•    Prohibit the use of GPS to track a person without legitimate purpose or authorization.

•    Give adoptive parents time to bond with their new child by requiring businesses with maternity leave programs to give adoptive parents the same time off as birth parents.

•    Improve detection of breast cancer by notifying women in their mammogram results if they have dense breast tissue, may be at greater risk of developing breast cancer and should consult with a physician about additional screening options.

•    Forbid felons from receiving life insurance proceeds if they commit a violent crime against an insured person within the six months prior to the death of that person.

•    Provide immunity from prosecution for possessing, sharing or using controlled substances or drug paraphernalia to assist those suffering from an opioid overdose.

The House will still have the opportunity to reconsider these bipartisan ideas because they were included in Senate File 510, approved by the Senate on May 14.  SF 510 is now in conference committee, as are the majority of the state’s budget bills.

Guest speaker Wednesday evening at the Linn County Democrats Central Committee Meeting was Connie Ryan Terrell, Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Charles Crawley serves on the steering committee for Intersections which is a project of Interfaith. Monthly luncheon meetings provide an opportunity to learn, to participate in civil dialogue, and to discuss issues at the intersection of religion and politics. The next Intersections gathering is June 5th, with special guest speaker, Senator Joe Bolkcom, who will be discussing tax credits and how they impact the state’s budget. More information or request for speakers here: http://interfaithallianceiowa.org/events/intersections/

By the way, Interfaith is a nonpartisan, non-profit.organization.

Linn County Early Childhood Iowa invited area legislators to attend their Governance Board meeting today. I arrived after school Tuesday, just in time for introductions and the start of the meeting which was led by Carol O’Donnell, Chris Kivett-Berry, and Jeanette Shoop.

They provided an overview of the budget and funding streams along with program funding recommendations. We also discussed recent audit results, financial controls, 3rd quarter program summaries, and funding scenarios for next year. Before ECI can finalize their contracts, they – like many Iowa agencies receiving state funding – must wait for the legislature to approve the state’s annual budget.

ECI’s mission: To provide and support quality education, health and social services through community partnerships and collaborations, for children prenatal – 5 and their families, resulting in healthy, safe, school-ready children.

I am always impressed by the tremendous amount of work this governance board undertakes and accomplishes for Linn County families.

CelebrAsian Festival

The tag line: “Why pay for airfare when you can travel to Asia for free at CelebrAsian” is very apropos – we sampled a taste of the rich heritage that Iowans from Asia have added to our cultural backdrop. The festival offered a wealth of music, food, sports, languages and costumes at the two-day event. Susan and I made the trek back to Des Moines last weekend to attend, in part as a way of saying, “Thank you” to the 63,291 Iowans who have Asian heritage.

Cedar Rapids will be having its own AsianFest this Jul-25th at the Amphitheater.  More details here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/AsianFest/463038450515300?fref=ts

Som Baccam received an award for her tremendous efforts in volunteerism. A native Laotian, Som has lived in Iowa since 1975. She attained her nursing degree from DMAC and is passionate about preserving, promoting and passing on native traditions to her children, and sharing these traditions with others. Congratulations, Som!

Representative Dan Kelley and I also enjoyed visiting with Ben Jung, Chairman of the Iowa Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. Ben spoke about services to immigrants, and just as importantly, about outreach efforts to bring awareness of opportunities awaiting new immigrants.

Fascinating demonstrations of various martial arts techniques. We can thank India, Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines for bringing us the martial arts. After watching these performances, I’m motivated to take up Tae Kwon Do again!

Bikal Adhikari is originally from Nepal, and he’s raising money in Des Moines for earthquake relief efforts. We spoke about how week building structures and the isolation of villages in Nepal contribute to the enormity of the devastation and challenges in providing help. Bikal said everyone should visit a country not as richly blessed as our own, to have a better understanding of our similarities and an appreciation for the comparative quality of life in America.

I learned about a new sport, and I’m intrigued. Sepak Takraw evolved from a game similar to footbag / hacky sack into the exciting professional sport it is today. I learned from enthusiast, Nou Cam, that It hails from Thailand and Malaysia. Nou has taught his sons to play and it was fun to watch them on the field.

As fascinated as I was by the sports and competitions, Susan was just as intrigued by the costumes.

The dancing dragons show was a hit with young and old alike!

Legislative Session hasn’t wrapped up yet, but I’ve begun summer door-knocking back in House District 66.  I want to hear from voters about the issues/suggestions/concerns on your mind.  My email isart.staed@legis.iowa.gov and my cell phone is 319-899-4365.

Hope to see you at the door!