For Immediate Release: July 13, 2015
Decisions by individual legislators will determine fate of Governor’s vetoes
(Des Moines) Iowa’s State Senators are being formally asked to support an effort to restore several key compromises made during the 2015 session which benefited education and mental health care.
On July 10, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs and Senate President Pam Jochum of Dubuque sent letters to each of Iowa’s 50 state senators. The legislators were asked to sign and return a form stating that they:
“…request that the members of the 86th General Assembly convene in special session for the purpose of overriding Governor Terry E. Branstad’s vetoes, including funding for education and mental health services…”
The senators have until July 29, 2015 to respond. If two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House call for a special session, Iowa’s Constitution requires the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House to convene one.
Senate leaders said they hoped to overturn Governor Branstad’s veto of $55.7 million in local school funding.
“We reached a bipartisan compromise to help every school and every student in Iowa and we should keep that promise,” Gronstal said. “This call for a special session puts that decision in the hands of individual legislators, not Governor Branstad or party leaders. If legislators listen to the people they represent, these dollars can be on their way before the school year starts in August.”
Jochum warned that the Governor’s veto of funds for Iowa’s public universities and community colleges could mean sharp tuition hikes this spring.
“Investing in education is an investment in Iowa’s future and our future growth. On efforts to continue the tuition freeze for Iowa students at ISU, U of I and UNI, the Governor’s veto breaks the agreement between the Republican House, the Democratic Senate and his own Board of Regents,” said Jochum. “The special session would help keep college affordable for Iowa families and avoid increasing student debt.”
Jochum noted that Legislature worked to reach a bipartisan legislative compromise protecting mental health services in response to Governor Branstad’s own statements make on February 10, 2015. In response to a question about the future of Iowa’s mental health institutes, Governor Branstad said:
“Obviously, the Legislature, through the appropriations process, will make the decision as to what the level of funding should be and how these services can best be delivered.”
“Today, Iowa families in urgent need of mental services are being denied help because the treatment beds are no longer available,” Jochum said. “Legislative Democrats and Republicans approved alternatives to closing the mental health institutes in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda, but Governor Branstad insisted on a ‘my way or the highway’ approach that is irresponsible and uncaring. A strong majority of Iowans want the mental health veto reversed to restore these services. A special session will accomplish that goal.”
The two legislative leaders urged Iowans who support strong local schools, affordable higher education, and accessible mental health care to contact their lawmakers and ask them to join the call for a special session.
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