Quality of education not a priority

To the editor:

It's time for the Iowa Legislature to step up and support our schools, our educators and our students. Unfortunately, our GOP legislators and Gov. Terry Branstad have made it clear that in today's Iowa, commerce comes before education.

They touted last year's huge commercial property tax cut as the 'biggest in state history” during election season, but now they plead poverty as the reason why they can't give our schools more than a 1.25 percent funding increase. While big business rakes in more dollars courtesy of their GOP allies, our schools are facing real, serious cuts in programs, activities and teaching positions.

The tax cut was promoted as something that would boost business activity, thereby increasing tax revenues and giving the state more income to spend. Why has that not happened? Instead, the GOP says tax revenues can't support more than this embarrassing education funding rate that won't hurt our schools. If 'jobs, jobs, jobs” is the mantra of today's Republicans, why are they standing firm on a funding proposal that will cost the jobs of many teachers and staff in our schools?

Iowa has long been a beacon of educational quality in America. Our current GOP legislators and governor have made it clear that's no longer their priority - big business is calling the shots and Iowa can continue to sink into educational mediocrity.

Scot Hughes

Cedar Rapids