There was more debate at the Iowa statehouse, but no resolution over the proper timing of the legislature’s decision on state funding for schools. State law requires the decision to be made 18 months before a school year starts — and today(Friday) is the deadline for making that decision. Republicans want to get rid of the law and, instead, set the level of general state aid to schools once every two years. Representative Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, and Republican Representative Ron Jorgensen of Sioux City quarreled about it during House debate.

 
The bill Jorgensen and other Republicans in the House passed isn’t going to be debated in the Senate where Democrats control the debate agenda. Democrats propose a six-percent increase in general state funding for schools for the academic year that begins in the fall of 2015.

Jorgenson says it’s no wonder school officials are lined up behind that plan.

 
The Iowa legislature voted last year to boost the general level of state support for schools by two percent for the current school year and by four percent during the school year that begins this fall.