GOP puts tax cuts over public education

As long as we the voters allow the Republican mantra “tax cuts over social programs” there will be many unreasonable cuts to our public schools statewide. Somehow “my tax bill” is more important than ensuring my community thrives in all socio-economic strata. It is up to us to vote out the Governor and most of her Republican colleagues for devastating public education, AEAs, public universities, and gifting money to private education. Iowa, historically, was a beacon of education excellence. That has continually declined with the Branstad/Reynolds regimes.

A 2.5% budget increase as passed never meets the needs of Iowa schools. Business expenses just because a school is open goes up at 4% a year. The gift to private education further drains public school money. We have allowed this governor and this legislature to fail our children — our most precious resource.

The closing of Hills Elementary is deplorable in all rationalizations. Imagine draconian cuts to athletics, music, foreign language, or not moving forward with the middle school initiatives?

We have allowed our most vulnerable to be short changed the education they deserve because they are young and many are immigrants. I will gladly pay my tax to be sure my community thrives.

I admonish each voter to vote for what’s best for kids and not some narrow selfish mantra about “cutting my taxes.” That vote should never be tax cuts over social programs and that’s what we see with this governor and her Republican legislature.

Michael Fritz

Coralville