The tempo of the Iowa Legislature accelerated quickly during the second week. Hundreds of Iowa veterans gathered at the Statehouse to see their contributions to our state and to our country be recognized as the Iowa Senate and House unanimously passed a veteran assistance package.

The measure, which is now on its way to Governor Vilsack for his signature, provided additional money to help eligible veterans in buying their own home. Since that program began in 2005, 237 service members and their families have been assisted in home purchases with an average grant of $4,400 to be used as a down payment or for other initial costs. The program has proven to be extremely popular, so an additional $2 million has been allocated. The state of Iowa will also provide $1 million in hardship grants for military veterans seriously injured in a combat zone since September 11, 2001, and we increased spending by $75,000 for the National Guard Education Assistance program.

Legislators are now turning our attention to an issue with major budget implications. It is a proposal to increase per-pupil funding for public schools by 6% for the 2007-08 school year. The big news of the week was the call for a significant commitment to local student achievement by increasing basic state funding for Iowa’s schools by 6%. Basic school funding is the foundation of local school budgets and educational excellence. It pays for day-to-day operations, new textbooks, equipment, school counselors, school nurses and other student support personnel, field trips, salaries, and building maintenance. In recent years, Iowa schools have been under-funded by the state while their budgets have been eaten up by skyrocketing health care costs and dramatic increases in fuel and heating costs.

The House Education Committee, of which I am a member, gave unanimous approval to a 4% increase. The Democrats on the committee attempted to increase the allowable growth to 6% but that was voted down. We will again attempt to increase state aid by 6% when the bill comes to the floor of the House for debate. If we are unsuccessful in our attempt, I am hopeful that the Senate will provide the needed increase. It is unconscionable that Iowa has slipped to 41st in teacher pay in the U.S. We usually rate in the top three states in the nation in student achievement, but we cannot expect to remain at that high level if we are not able to attract and retain bright and committed people to teach our children.

Many of the surveys I sent to the constituents of House District 29 are being returned to me. My clerk is very busy logging the information, and I will eventually be able to report the results of the survey. I appreciate your feedback; it is extremely helpful to me when I am making decisions regarding the various issues that come before the Legislature.

Visitors to the Capitol this week included two members of the Mt. Vernon School Board, Tom Wieseler and Ann Stoner. A number of veterans from the area also were in the Capitol observing the passage of the Veterans Appreciation Program.

You can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call me at 515/281-7328 or e-mail me at ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us.

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