Thanks, Laura. Your detailed report really helped my understanding. As I spent my entire professional life as an educator, I can only repeat what you and the people you and those you interviewed made clear. This is devastating and kids lose. The way the Republicans slipped it through without giving Democrats and families time to respond is just one more despicable thing they have done to the people of Iowa.
Thank you. You wrote that St. Rep. Skyler Wheeler hailed many provisions of the revised AEA bill as “wins” for House Republicans during the floor debate. I asked my non-political neighbor about these comments; she said Iowans want wins for Iowans, not a political party. The Republicans also passed a “time certain” motion cutting off debate on the House File. My neighbor only shook her head at this motion to dismiss the democratic debate, asking “What are they afraid of debating”. In my several decades of serving as a legislator, state government, or lobbyist, I am hard-pressed to remember examples of motions cutting off debates. For that matter, I do not remember previous Republican elected officials bragging about how the bill is a win for Republicans.
I give Wheeler points for shouting a version of the "king wears no clothes"; in effect, he admits his fellow Republicans want what is good for Republicans, not necessarily for the rest of Iowa. Here is who wins by the AEA bill that Wheeler is quoted as saying is a win for Republicans.
Iowa Registered Voters total 2,083,979; Republican Party registrations total : 718,901 (34.50%); Democratic Party: 631,689 (30.31%)Unaffiliated: 715,100 (34.31%) Third Party/Other: 18,289 (0.90%)
If you are one of the 34.5% of the state that is a registered Republican, I guess this AEA bill is a win for you. For the remaining 65.5%, perhaps if you change your party, then the bill becomes "a win" for you.
Thank you, Laura, for sifting through the nonsense to tell us what is really happening here. It seems every time republicans win families and children lose ground in this state.
Thanks, Laura. Your detailed report really helped my understanding. As I spent my entire professional life as an educator, I can only repeat what you and the people you and those you interviewed made clear. This is devastating and kids lose. The way the Republicans slipped it through without giving Democrats and families time to respond is just one more despicable thing they have done to the people of Iowa.
Thank you. You wrote that St. Rep. Skyler Wheeler hailed many provisions of the revised AEA bill as “wins” for House Republicans during the floor debate. I asked my non-political neighbor about these comments; she said Iowans want wins for Iowans, not a political party. The Republicans also passed a “time certain” motion cutting off debate on the House File. My neighbor only shook her head at this motion to dismiss the democratic debate, asking “What are they afraid of debating”. In my several decades of serving as a legislator, state government, or lobbyist, I am hard-pressed to remember examples of motions cutting off debates. For that matter, I do not remember previous Republican elected officials bragging about how the bill is a win for Republicans.
This is so sad. Thank you especially for the comments of parents and teachers in the legislature, who truly understand the stakes.
I give Wheeler points for shouting a version of the "king wears no clothes"; in effect, he admits his fellow Republicans want what is good for Republicans, not necessarily for the rest of Iowa. Here is who wins by the AEA bill that Wheeler is quoted as saying is a win for Republicans.
Iowa Registered Voters total 2,083,979; Republican Party registrations total : 718,901 (34.50%); Democratic Party: 631,689 (30.31%)Unaffiliated: 715,100 (34.31%) Third Party/Other: 18,289 (0.90%)
If you are one of the 34.5% of the state that is a registered Republican, I guess this AEA bill is a win for you. For the remaining 65.5%, perhaps if you change your party, then the bill becomes "a win" for you.
Thank you, Laura, for sifting through the nonsense to tell us what is really happening here. It seems every time republicans win families and children lose ground in this state.