Forum focuses on preschool funding, marriage amendment

IOWA CITY - Education and funding dominated the discussion between several state lawmakers from Johnson County at a forum held at the packed city council chambers in Iowa City on Saturday.

The six legislators at the forum, all Democrats, seemed to be in agreement on many of the issues. The vent was organized by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.

Legislators expressed frustration with the contentious House File 45, which passed through the house earlier this month. The bill would end state sponsored preschool.

Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said cutting preschool funding for middle and upper income people would also affect lower income families because there wouldn't be enough to support the program's overall infrastructure.

Most said the bill was too rushed.

Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, said the House was in session on a Monday and they voted on House File 45 on Thursday.

“There was barely enough time for us to understand it, let alone our constituencies,” Lensing said.

State Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, expressed doubts that the bill would go far in the Senate.

Legislators also discussed Republican plans to cut funding of sabbaticals for professors at Iowa's regent institutions.

Mascher said a minimal amount of money would be saved by cutting them.

“It's all politics. They see the term sabbaticals as vacations. We need to educate the public on the value of sabbaticals. They literally bring in millions of dollars in grant funding,” she said.

Legislators at the forum were again in agreement in opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage.

“It goes so much further than saying no to same-sex marriage,” Mascher said.

The League of Women Voters of Johnson County will hold another legislative forum at 9: 30 a.m. on Feb. 26 at the Coralville City Council chambers, and again on March 26 at the North Liberty City Council Chambers.

- By Justine Scattarelli, Correspondent