Legislature agrees to governor’s education proposal

Republican legislative leaders have agreed to the Governor’s request for a four percent increase in education spending for the 2001-2002 school year. Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson says it was a difficult decision to make in light of the state’s shrinking budget.The increase amounts to more than 78-million dollars. Iverson says republicans won’t single out programs to be cut to make up for the increase in education funding. He says they will have to trim the entire budget. Governor Vilsack, a democrat, applauded the republicans’ decision.Vilsack says this is only a first step in improving Iowa schools.Vilsack dismisses republican threats to cut other areas of his budget proposal. He says if republicans would fund more programs out of the infrastructure fund, there would be no need for cuts.