Advertisement
Letter: Education investments best economic stimulus
Op-Ed · April 24, 2014


When will the House Republicans understand that investment in education is the best form of economic stimulus?


Earlier this year the State Board of Regents and the governor came to an agreement that would have ensured a tuition freeze, if the state boosted funding by at least 4 percent for all three of the state’s public universities.

The governor honored this agreement by including the necessary funding in his budget proposal, but now house Republicans have decided to derail this agreement.

With a vote of 53-45, House Republicans approved their budget which honored a 4-percent increase for Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa, but only appropriated 2.1 percent for the University of Iowa. Some have hypothesized that house GOP members have had it in for the UI, and that this is their way of showing it.

That may or may not be true, but what is indisputable is that this is not good for West Branch or the surrounding area.

The reduction from 4 to 2.1 percent would have very real economic consequences for members of our community. For employees of the UI, it represents stagnation in wages while cost of living increases.

For small businesses in the area, it means their customers will have less spending money in their pockets.

For companies hoping to do direct business with the university, it means fewer contracts.

For parents sending their kids to school at the UI, it represents a possible tuition hike because the university will not be able to afford a tuition freeze.

Is this a glimpse into the future relationship between the GOP in Des Moines and the University of Iowa?

I thought our educators and legislators were supposed to be playing on the same team.

David Johnson, West Branch

Candidate for State Representative