The leader of democrats in the Iowa Senate used props to illustrate his unhappiness with republican plans for education spending. A democrat dropped dry ice dropped in boiling water — sending out white smoke, which wafted across the face of a mirror Senate Democrat Leader Michael Gronstal of Council Bluffs says it was an attempt to come up with an “audio/visual aid” to illustrate the “smoke and mirrors” of the republican budget on education. Gronstal says democrats were trying a “light-hearted way” of making their point. Republicans have offered to send schools slightly more in the 2005/2006 school year if state tax collections grow.Gronstal calls it a last minute scheme “to promise maybe to do something.” He says it does nothing for schools that’re sending out pink slips to teachers because they lack the money for the school year that starts in September.Gronstal says “that’s the smoke and mirrors of the republican budget: pretend you’re doing something by making a promise.” Gronstal says it’s a hollow promise, as he says republicans have broken their promises in the past. Republicans say Gronstal’s charges are ludicrous, and point out they’ve provided 109 million more in state aid for the next school year.
