Iowa democratic leaders say they’re “tired of the excuses” from Republican Governor Terry Branstad and his fellow republicans in the legislature, and they are calling for a special legislative session to “support local schools”.  Senate President Pam Jochum, a democrat from Dubuque, blasted the governor during a speech this weekend at an Iowa democratic party fundraiser.

Given the partisan make-up of the Iowa legislature, however, reconvening the House and Senate this summer is impossible without the support of republicans, and Governor Branstad and top republicans in the Iowa House both say that republicans don’t want one.  Jochum told the group is was time to get serious.

Democrats hold a 26-to-24 majority in the Iowa Senate.  Jochum, Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal, and House Democratic Leader Mark Smith published an opinion piece this weekend, urging Iowans to ask their local senators and representatives to “support their local schools by joining the call for a special session to restore critical funding for Iowa schools.”