Vote in Congress Could Bring Millions for Schools (IA)

August 10, 2010

Iowa school districts are likely to get about $96 million in federal money that would be used exclusively for salaries for teachers and other school employees, education officials said Monday.

Reaction to the proposed education spending hints at a story line that will most likely play out in Iowa congressional politics throughout the fall: Republicans will cry "bailout" every time Democrats want to spend money; Democrats will say they’re keeping basic services going.

The U.S. House of Representatives has been in August recess, but it’s scheduled to be back in session today to vote on a $26 billion spending bill that the Senate approved last week. The money has two purposes – to help states pay for education expenses, and to help pay for Medicaid, the state-federal government health insurance program fo r the poor.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday that the money would pay for salaries for about 1,500 school district employees in Iowa.

"The bill will help prevent future job losses and help rehire educators who have already received pink slips," he said.

Other supporters said the bill would save as many as 1,800 jobs in Iowa. The reason for the discrepancy wasn’t clear.

U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, a Republican from Ames, said in a statement: "Congressional Democrats propose to pay for an election-year bailout that rewards unions by running up job-killing tax increases and reducing funds for food stamp programs that help families in need."

All Iowa school districts would most likely get money, but just how the $96 million would be split up has yet to be determined, said Elaine Watkins-Miller, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Education.

The bill as written would provide money for the coming school year, said Harkin spokeswoman Bergen Kenny. Once enacted, the money would go out to states within 45 days, she said.