Iowa not lacking money to fund programs, jobs

Gov. Terry Branstad's budget is being placed squarely on the backs of the middle class. By eliminating the public pre-K programs and going to a lower-funded voucher system, many Iowans are not going to be able to afford quality preschool unless they are the poorest or the richest part of society.

Branstad's budget sets allowable growth for K-12 education at zero percent, which will mean higher property taxes, teacher layoffs and eliminating important education programs at the local level.

He also plans to eliminate up to 1,500 state employees that fill essential positions. Two years ago Gov. Chet Culver worked with AFSCME to have 2,000 state employees take early retirement and save the state millions of dollars. Only half of those workers' positions have been refilled.

Our governor's plan is to do all this in order to finance tax breaks for those who need it the least, large corporations. There is a projected

$330 million surplus with even more money in state savings. There is no deficit and the Republicans have been misleading the public by saying there is a “gap” hoping to fool the few that don't catch the difference. We have the funds to properly fund the programs and public jobs that are priorities to Iowans and we should do it.

Joe Nehring

North Liberty