Once again our children suffer as the Legislature insists on “giving away the farm” with overly generous tax refunds to big corporations and the richest Iowans. Since 1992 Iowa has lost a total of $4.5 billion in revenues when these reckless tax cuts were first legislated.

Last year we lost $855 million due to tax credits that did nothing to stimulate our economy. We would not be in this tight budget fix if the majority party had not been so irresponsible.

Now the governor is forced to ask for a two to three percent cut in education funding. This is the only option open to the governor — however, the Legislature does have other options.

What does this mean for our children? In Ames alone, public school systems may be asked to make a $450,000 cut in 2004. The Ames school system has already cut back on support personnel and administration.

Rest assured that property taxes would go up around the state as school boards are forced to raise the amount of money they need from local taxes, because the state has cut back on its responsibility.ÿÿ

The regents had just agreed to a smaller increase in tuition, before they heard the news of another cut. They must now determine how to fill another hole in their budget. No one should be surprised that many faculty members are sending out their resumes and looking for jobs elsewhere or that class sizes are increasing.

If you want to stop these cuts in K-12 programs and if you want to make sure that our regent institutions are probably funded and affordable to Iowa students, you must tell other legislators what you are telling me. You have to let them know it is essential to raise revenues because our system of public education is worth our investment.

I have two specific suggestions. House File 284 is cigarette tax increase I sponsored with Rep. Henry Rayhons (R-Garner) that would raise $150 Million.

Another simple way to gain a little revenue would be an equalization of truck and car license fees. There is no reason why a new $38,000 truck used for recreation should only pay $75 for their license fee when I pay almost $400 for my 3-year-old car.

It is our responsibility as able-bodied wage earners to adequately fund education, just as generations before us have funded education.

Our state’s support of education has not kept pace with inflation. As a result, today the state pays for a much smaller percentage of a student’s college costs than the state paid 40 years ago.

One of the best selling points of our state has been our commitment to quality public education. It is my hope the Legislature will convene in January with renewed purpose to shore up the cuts just made with my suggestions for generating more revenue.

Rep. Jane Greimann

D-Ames