Culver demanding money that’s already on the way?

Read details here.  Governor Chet Culver today (again) called on legislators to provide $347 million more to Iowa’s K-through-12 schools for the academic year that starts in the fall.  On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) had indicated legislators would provide the governor’s requested two percent increase in general state aid to schools, along with the $100 million of additional money the governor wants to forward to schools to fill budget holes.  Gronstal, on “Iowa Press” on IPTV, suggested legislators would give schools a “little bit” more than that $100 million.

Gronstal’s comments on Friday and Culver’s this morning seem to address the growing chorus of complaints from the education “community” over a lack of funding.  Grontal suggested some of the complaints were “pretty unrealistic” when complainers suggested legislators might provide schools less than what Culver called for in January.  Culver today told reporters he was talking about the issue because he wanted to let people know he’s hearing their concerns “loudly and clearly.”