Political Football

From what I understand this is what happen with HF2645.

It came out of the Labor Committee with some non-controversial wording changes related to some old Education policies.

It was brought to the floor when most of the School Superintendents are on Spring Break. Those Superintendents and School Boards are affected most by the changes in the bill’s 14 page amendment offered at 4pm on March 18. Many had to be tracked down for comment. For a good part of March 19 (when I was at the Capitol Building) the Republican House caucused on what to do with this lousy bill. Some quotes are below, but no School official had anything good to say about this amendment, and many are Democrats.

When they finally came to the floor at 1:55pm, House Republican after House Republican pummeled the 14 page amendment:

“Sir, each school board is elected to do their job as we are, and each can lose their jobs as we can.” School Boards should be allowed to do the job they were elected to do.

“I just called one of the School Superintendents in my district who read the amendment and replied ‘what’s left for me to manage?’ ”

“Have you consulted any school board member or superintendent in your district before supporting this amendment?” [answer was no]

Then a comment that had to be dripping with sarcasm… “There is plenty of time for discussion – and if a concern arises after our vote, the Senate can debate and correct” [the Iowa Senate has a super majority of Democrats, so no - there will be no debate by Republicans on the Senate floor and he knew that when he made that remark]

This amendment was offered with no opportunity for public discussion. I’ve heard several superintendents tried to get time to speak on the House floor last night and were bodily removed by security there.

I will post Jeff Kauffman’s note this week verbatim in this post space when I get it – he will be hoping mad to have lost this fight at 2am after 12 hours of debate.

Primary changes to the Education bill as I understand it is as follows:

• Teachers can now collect sick leave and disability at the same time.
• School Boards and Superintendents can no longer terminate teachers, only an arbitrator can make that judgment which is not subject to appeal.
• Unions can dictate class size (to the extreme of mandating 25 student classes, so if there are 51 students – 3 teachers are required) as well as other staffing levels and preparation time, and heath care insurance provider.

you can read the amendment here.

All these costs are unfunded by the State but Mandated by the State. This is EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY, don’t let anyone tell you this is about providing good education. This WILL raise taxes; anyone who thinks it won’t is fooling themselves.

Next – what the Dems call “Fair share” or “we need more union dues to get more Dems elected so they get more union control so they can get more union members to pay more union dues so they can elect more democrats”. Why would you take a bill through committee with moderate changes – then two weeks later attach a 14 page amendment that guts the bill, submitting it during a week when those most affected are hardest to contact? Why allow NO time for public discussion? You decide.  This bill was move to the Senate – on party lines 47-53.

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