GOP hypocrisy on education

To the editor:

Gov. Terry Branstad and the GOP propose only a 1.25 percent increase ($50 million) in state funding our public schools. That would leave our schools 37th among the states, and 35th for per-pupil expenditure. The GOP's 1.25 percent proposed by the Republicans would not even cover the increase in costs due to inflation.

The Democrats in the Iowa Senate (over the 'no” vote of every GOP Senator) voted to seek a 4 percent increase ($212 million).

What do Branstad and the GOP legislators say? They sing a sad song. They would love better schools, they say. But they say Iowa can't 'sustain” putting money into our children's schools.

Sustainability? Why does Branstad/GOP question that? Because Branstad/GOP three years ago gave a 10 percent commercial property tax cut that went only to the wealthy, like Wal-Mart. The state has 'backfilled” the losses to the counties and cities from this tax cut so far. But even the state can't any longer afford the huge 'backfill” from this tax cut. Starting next year, we can expect our counties and cities to start making huge cuts to our police, fire, schools, libraries, roads, streets, sewer, water, food inspection and health department, and ambulance. But Branstad and the GOP would have us believe we cannot 'sustain” a 4 percent increase for our children's schools?

Education should be priority No. 1. It represents our children's best future. Please contact your legislators and make sure we get what our children need.

Paul McAndrew, Jr.

North Liberty