Editorial

Art Cullen

The Iowa Legislature this week, with the concurrence of Gov. Reynolds, allowed for a 2.3% increase for K-12 schools for next fiscal year. That comes after years of increases in the range of 1%, half the rate of inflation, which have put a lot of pressure on school districts and teachers. Minority Democrats urged a 3% increase to make up for underfunding in past years. The GOP proposal will cost about $90 million more. The Democratic proposal would cost an additional $43 million.

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

After that first harsh winter the Pilgrims were full of thanks in 1621, for 14 days of rain that summer and for the Native Americans who taught them how to grow corn and cook an eel. So the 190 of them — 100 Calvinists escaping the Church of England, and about 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe of indigenous people who welcomed the European immigrants to the New World and saved them from starvation — gathered as one at the Plymouth Plantation to celebrate their bonds and praise God for their bounty.

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

Democrats can grab a comforter and coffee to watch in the Iowa Capitol over the next couple years. Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Republicans control everything following the midterm elections. The Democrats’ protestations on the cold capitol steps outside won’t find much of a hearing inside, as they haven’t the past couple years. On a couple, maybe even a few, issues especially important to Storm Lake the minority party might be needed inside to address urgent issues that the GOP might not be able to handle alone.

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

Vision Iowa helped transform Storm Lake’s north shore with King’s Pointe, Awaysis Park and camping improvements thanks to a $9 million state investment on a $40 million project. It rebooted Dubuque with a river museum. Sioux Center got a big grant. Towns big and small all over Iowa restored buildings and civic pride, launched new recreation attractions and built cultural heritage. That singular program was the product of divided government.

EDITORIAL

BY ART CULLEN

If the Republican apparatus were functioning properly, we would have had a farm bill signed by the President by now. But because of dysfunction in the administration, infighting among regions and deep differences among GOP factions in the House and Senate, the last farm bill expired on Sept. 30. And that farm bill came about two years after the previous farm bill expired, thanks to the House Freedom Caucus.