Education funding bill passes Iowa Senate - KWWL.com

A funding bill for Iowa education passed the Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate on Wednesday.

The bill increases funding by 4 percent, or $135 million.

"If you want world-class schools for all of the kids in Iowa, you gotta pay for it," said Sen. Robert Hogg, (D) Cedar Rapids. "We gotta stop doing this education on the cheap."

Senate legislators also approved a plan to provide additional money from a budget surplus fund to prevent local property tax increases for schools and to reduce the property tax rate in some districts.

Governor Terry Branstad opposes setting school funding until lawmakers approve his education reform plan.