House GOP leaders decide not to debate allowable growth for schools

House Republicans are “kicking the kid down the road” by refusing to discuss a 2 percent increase in allowable growth funding for K-12 education.

Republicans, who control the House, have budgeted for zero increase in allowable growth increase in base state aid to schools. The Democratic-controlled Senate has budgeted for a 2 percent increase.

So April 13, Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, called on the House to bring up House File 189, which the Senate amended to provide a 2 percent increase.

Her motion was denied 40-56 on a party line vote.

Dispute a sharp rebuke from Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, Steckman and other Democrats made clear they will continue to raise the issue.

Upmeyer said Democrats underfunded schools and used one-time federal stimulus dollars to funds schools last year.

As a result, “it took $216 million just to get to zero,” Upmeyer said, referring to the funds Republicans committed to “backfill” the state spending authority that was shifted to local school reserves and property taxpayers last year by the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

“We stand ready to assist the schools just as soon as we can finish fixing up the mess from last year,” she said.

That doesn't help local school boards, Steckman said.

School boards are “laying off teachers, pink slips are going out” ahead of the April 15 deadline for schools to certify their fiscal 2012 budget, she said.

“You know, they're kicking the kid down the road just to make a point and I'm really tired of that,” Steckman said about Republicans.

Gov. Terry Branstad and legislative Republicans have told school boards to plan on zero percent growth.

Part of the problem, they say, is the $70 million a year Democrats committed to a preschool program at the expense of K-12 education.

“We can spend that money any way we want, but we can only spend it once,” Upmeyer said.

Democrats insist the state has $1 billion more to appropriate this year than last.

“They want to save for a 20 percent across-the-board income tax cut,” Steckman said. “Why not 2 percent allowable growth?”

Given the relatively leisurely pace of the House in recent days, Steckman said there is plenty of time to debate the issue and the impact of zero growth.

“It's going to mean larger class sizes, lay offs and (schools) have been doing that,” she said.

“All I was asking is let's talk about it instead of adjourning at 2:30 in the afternoon,” she continued. “We have the time. We need to give education that time.”

The House adjourned at 4:23 p.m. after the parties spend part of the afternoon in closed door meetings.

Later, interest groups seeking more funding for education rallied on the Capitol steps.

Des Moines Superintendent said lawmakers are ignoring a cardinal rule anyone familiar with Iowa's agricultural heritage should understand: “You don't eat your seed corn.”

“Metaphorically, that's what's happening in a state that won't invest in its schools,” she told about 300 people.