Republicans respond to Democratic criticism of budget

Republican legislators reject democrat criticism of their spending priorities. One democrat says the G-O-P has cut so deeply in education, they’re making the state a quote “southern backwater.” Senate President Mary Kramer, a republican from West Des Moines, says there’s not enough cash, and the state budget must be cut. Kramer says cutting services is not an easy task, but it must be done. Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows says republicans are still making deals with democrat Governor Tom Vilsack. Iverson says he hopes lawmakers can complete their outline of the state budget and adjourn for the year sometime next week. Legislators will have to return to Des Moines in June to consider a second plan for remapping Iowa’s legislative and congressional districts. Senate republicans rejected the first plan this past week.