(DES MOINES) - Senate Democrats appear to be walking away from their own demand for a 4 percent increase in state aid in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, setting schools up to potentially receive no increase in state aid over the next two years.
With their apparent lack of willingness to embrace true reform in conference committee, Senate Democrats are poised to block the governor's reform efforts, thereby putting in jeopardy their own funding demands for Iowa's schools.
"It appears that Senate Democrats are so opposed to fundamental, achievement-based reform they are willing to walk away from their own funding demand, and it is clearly putting us on a pathway to no new money for schools over the next two years," said Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht.
"For two decades, we have put more money ahead of real reforms," continued Albrecht. "For two decades, our student achievement has gone from best in the nation to middle of the pack. Governor Branstad and House Republicans are committed to breaking that cycle, and have offered a very generous spending package in order to achieve these reforms, allowing everyone to claim a great victory. Unfortunately, if Senate Democrats continue to oppose these achievement-based reforms, the only losers in this will be Iowa parents and their schoolchildren."
To highlight Senate Democrats' demands for new funding, which the governor and House Republicans have accommodated, the governor's office released the following video:
