In the aftermath of Des Moines rallies, which drew students from the three regent universities to the Capitol to protest proposed education funding cuts, state legislators are left to deal with the budget and make the decision that would affect thousands of students.

On March 28, about 75 students from Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa converged on the steps of the Statehouse to protest the education budget, which would strip millions from the requested budgets of the regent universities.

The $975 million education spending package passed out of the House of Representatives by a party-line vote of 55-41. The bill has not been debated in the Senate.

“I think the students were taken seriously by most of us,” said Rep. Polly Bukta, D-Clinton. “There were a few representatives who said they thought the students should have stayed at school and gone to classes, but I certainly appreciated them being here.”

A smaller group of students made the trip to the Capitol on April 5 to speak with senators about the budget. The group made a presentation to the Democratic caucus, but their request to speak to the Republican caucus was denied.

While the students wait for the Senate to take action on the bill, the legislators are left to consider the students’ triple-tiered effort.

“[The students] were quite impressive, and they told their stories well,” said Sen. John Judge, D-Albia.

Some senators said they hope the Senate can increase funding for the regent universities.

“I think there are going to be some improvements [in the budget],” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. “I think the students that came down to Des Moines were effective in laying out their concerns and making a case for more state funding for the regent universities. I’m hopeful we can respond with some increased funding for higher education.”

However, other senators said many organizations are feeling the budget squeeze, and the students’ protest will not impact their decisions on the bill.

“I don’t want to say that they weren’t taken seriously,” said Sen. Jeff Angelo, R-Creston. “At the same time, you have to understand that everyone has a piece of the budget that is very important to them. We have to take them into consideration, but we always have to look at the big picture.”

Sen. Kitty Rehberg, R-Rowley, said the bill is not yet ready to be presented to the Senate.

“We have not finished the draft of the bill yet,” she said. “We have nine budgets to spread our money out on, so we will weigh all the information carefully.”

Rehberg said the senators are taking the students seriously, but she said the protest will not influence her decision.

“We are listening to the students, but they are one group of many,” she said. “The protest will not affect my decision.”

She said a tuition raise, which has been speculated to be a double-digit consequence of the budget cuts, is not the state’s jurisdiction.

“If the Board of Regents wants to raise tuition, that will be their decision,” she said.

The professional conduct of the students, legislators agreed, was a convincing asset in their favor.

“They conducted themselves very well,” Bukta said. “They were polite and to the point. I’m hoping we get some money back into that bill. To me, it was a grand fight to see.”