Another partisan battle is underway at the statehouse over school aid, this time for the school year that starts next fall in 2016.
Disagreement over K-12 schools for this fall is preventing adjournment of the legislature. Now Republicans and Democrats are millions of dollars apart for next year’s budget.
Republicans say an uncertain economy requires restraint in spending for schools.
Iowa City Democrat Mary Mascher criticizes Republicans for proposing tax cuts when she says school needs are going unmet.
“That creates more of a problem in funding a priority like our schools,” Mascher says.
But House Appropriations Chair Chuck Soderberg from Le Mars defends the GOP tax proposals.
“Do you have some specific examples?” Soderberg asks. “There've been some that have made it through committee but not on the floor.”
Republicans initially matched the governor’s call for a nearly two-and-a-half percent increase for the 2016-2017 school year, but lowered their proposal after projected state revenues were revised downwards in March. Democrats are calling for a 4% increase.