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Brian Morelli, "Local Legislators Say Higher Education Funding is Top Priority"

Jack Banghart, "Where Does It All Go?"

[Note: This material is copyright by the Press-Citizen, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.]

State appropriations for the University of Iowa is tops on the list across the board. However, it is unlikely universities will get the full asking, said Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, who will head the Senate Appropriation Committee.

"Regents are talking about making up funding lost in 2001. I don't think we can get in to that in one year," Dvorsky said.

The total asking for fiscal year 2008 for state regent institutions is $717.8 million, which is about $73 million more than FY 2007.

Gov.-elect Chet Culver's life sciences initiative also is a key priority, Dvorsky said. The program would take $100 million to $130 million to get started and would focus on economic development.

"It goes with the strength of UI and makes use of Oakdale (Research Park)," he said.

Dvorsky's other priorities are looking at the Iowa state Board of Regents governance structure, the 2,000-foot rule for sex offenders living near schools or daycare centers and the Iowa Farm Bureau.

The 21-year senator expects motions in removing stem cell research bans and English as the official language legislation.

In the past, the Republican majority had blocked a cigarette tax increase, but Dvorsky thought there might be enough support now.

Culver suggested a $1 per pack increase earlier in January. He estimated the tax would pull in $125 million and deter up to 13,000 minors from picking up the habit. Iowa has a 36-cent per pack tax on cigarettes, ranking it 40th in the nation.

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, is pushing regent funding and raising teacher salaries.

She spoke most passionately about increasing funding for early childhood programs, and with the new makeup of the Legislature, Mascher said she expect progress for infants to 5-year-olds.

With $15 million in new money on top of the previous $15 million appropriation, Mascher hopes to make all preschools become registered and regulate nutrition, health safety and development programs.

"I can't think of a better way to invest money than in young people," Mascher said.

Mascher also wants to look into opportunities for public education for 4-year-olds.

Dvorsky thinks there will be progress on these initiatives because there is a benefit in preparing kids for school.

"It is set up to benefit K-12, so there will be support politically and from organizations," Dvorsky said.

Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, also thinks investing more in early childhood is wise because each level of education is affected by the previous level.

"Look at Minnesota and Wisconsin, and their ACTs are better. What are they doing differently?" Jacoby said. "It trickles down to the 0 to 5 age range."

Jacoby also would like to look at commercial property taxes, road-use taxes and a local joint communication center.

However, like other local leaders, Jacoby's key for the Legislative session is funding for higher education. Getting other legislators to understand how important the universities are to the state, not just the counties they are located in, is necessary.

"This is our state university, and our state university is what makes us great," Jacoby said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.

With the Iowa General Assembly set to convene Monday and with a Democratic governor and a majority in the House and Senate, members of the local delegation, several of whom now are in leadership positions, have high hopes.

State appropriations for the University of Iowa is tops on the list across the board. However, it is unlikely universities will get the full asking, said Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, who will head the Senate Appropriation Committee.

“Regents are talking about making up funding lost in 2001. I don’t think we can get in to that in one year,” Dvorsky said.

The total asking for fiscal year 2008 for state regent institutions is $717.8 million, which is about $73 million more than FY 2007.

Gov.-elect Chet Culver’s life sciences initiative also is a key priority, Dvorsky said. The program would take $100 million to $130 million to get started and would focus on economic development.

“It goes with the strength of UI and makes use of Oakdale (Research Park),” he said.

Dvorsky’s other priorities are looking at the Iowa state Board of Regents governance structure, the 2,000-foot rule for sex offenders living near schools or daycare centers and the Iowa Farm Bureau.

The 21-year senator expects motions in removing stem cell research bans and English as the official language legislation.

In the past, the Republican majority had blocked a cigarette tax increase, but Dvorsky thought there might be enough support now.

Culver suggested a $1 per pack increase earlier in January. He estimated the tax would pull in $125 million and deter up to 13,000 minors from picking up the habit. Iowa has a 36-cent per pack tax on cigarettes, ranking it 40th in the nation.

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, is pushing regent funding and raising teacher salaries.

She spoke most passionately about increasing funding for early childhood programs, and with the new makeup of the legislature, Mascher said she expect progress for infants to 5-year-olds.

With $15 million in new money on top of the previous $15 million appropriation, Mascher hopes to make all preschools become registered and regulate nutrition, health safety and development programs.

“I can’t think of a better way to invest money than in young people,” Mascher said.

Mascher also wants to look into opportunities for public education for 4-year-olds.

Dvorsky thinks there will be progress on these initiatives because there is a benefit in preparing kids for school.

“It is set up to benefit K-12, so there will be support politically and from organizations,” Dvorsky said.

Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, also thinks investing more in early childhood is wise because each level of education is affected by the previous level.

“Look at Minnesota and Wisconsin, and their ACTs are better. What are they doing differently?” Jacoby said. “It trickles down to the 0 to 5 age range.”

Jacoby also would like to look at commercial property taxes, road-use taxes and a local joint communication center.

However, like other local leaders, Jacoby’s key for the legislative session is funding for higher education. Getting other legislators to understand how important the universities are to the state, not just the counties they are located in, is necessary.

“This is our state university, and our state university is what makes us great,” Jacoby said.

A recent statement from some incoming Iowa Democrat legislators states they intend to dramatically increase educational funding.

Fact: Since 1996, federal funding for education has increased 186 percent. Fact: U.S. students now test third from the bottom when tested with students from other developed countries.

A statement from the new legislators that would be of more interest to taxpayers is one that says they intend to investigate why, with the hundreds of millions already being spent on education, there isn't enough left over for teacher pay raises and classroom supplies.

Would such an investigation reveal the real culprit is poor money management rather than inadequate funding?

Jack Banghart
Des Moines