Iowa Legislature supports ‘Republican Math’

To the Editor,

   With all the recent concerns about gender identifying curriculum, book banning, and more from the Iowa Legislature, I’d like to introduce you to something that is getting support in the statehouse…it’s called Republican Math.

   This is how it works…we’ll try a story problem:

   Susie needed $4 to ride the city bus. She asked the Republicans for money to help her. They gave her $1. When she told them she needed $3 more, they replied, “We have funded you for the ride.”

   It’s easy to see in Republican Math that ANY sort of money given is considered “funded” even though it’s not the full amount. Susie is left walking instead of getting a ride on the city bus.

   The same strategy can be applied to funding Iowa’s public schools. Since 2010, Iowa school boards and administrators have been telling the Republican-led legislatures they need 4 percent allowable growth to fund their schools. The legislature, on average, has given 1.8 percent to fund their schools (Des Moines Register – 11/3/18). So, just like Susie, they’re shorted financial support (2.2 percent).

   The Iowa Legislature has fully implemented Republican Math this legislative session to support Iowa public school funding for 2023-24. They have passed a 3 percent allowable growth (Des Moines Register – 2/3/23) when the Democrats have asked for 6 percent to help cover all those costs not afforded the past 10 years. Nope, in Republican Math if ANY money is given…you’ve been funded.

   Simply said, Iowa public schools aren’t getting a “ride on the bus” again this year. The legislature has $341 million (Cedar Rapids Gazette – 1/22/23) to take off the top to give private schools by its fourth year of implementation. But Iowa’s public schools will be forced to go to their cash reserves which are either depleted or soon will be.

   What does that mean? Public school boards and superintendents could start cutting staff and programs as soon as this spring for next year. There’s only so much money to go around when your tax dollars are going to support 10,000 private school students in Iowa instead of 500,000 public students.

Deb Pingel

Monticello, Iowa