MORE ABOUT MIKE

Mike Gronstal, from Council Bluffs, has been the Senate Democratic Leader since 1997. First elected to office in 1982, Gronstal served one term in the Iowa House (1983-85), and is currently in his seventh term in the Senate. He is the State Democratic Leader in the Iowa Senate and has been a lifelong advocate for public education and smart politics.

OUR ADVOCATE

We are fortunate to have Mike Gronstal represent us, our students, our schools and our profession. In the current political climate it is vital that you understand that we need YOU. Your time, your talent, and--eventually--your treasure will be needed to make sure that we reverse the trend of legislators who are willing to sell out our children for corporate tax cuts.

Investing in Iowans will help grow our economy

This legislative session, we are staying focused on creating good jobs and improving the economy.

We won’t accomplish those goals by shutting down credit to small businesses, closing preschools or letting tobacco companies target our young people.

Unfortunately, that’s all included in the first bill taken up by the Iowa House this session.

CLICK TITLE TO READ MORE


It would eliminate our state’s successful public-private preschool partnership, an effort that has given thousands of Iowa kids a great start in the classroom. Closing preschools would increase the financial burdens on working families struggling in today’s tough economy.

The House bill also cuts efforts to discourage youth smoking, which leads to early deaths and increased health care costs. And it shuts down low-interest loans to small businesses that help create local jobs.

The House bill could save the state about $6 million this year, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency. That’s less than one-tenth of one percent of the state budget! Does it really make sense to cut preschool, anti-smoking efforts and small business loans for these modest savings?

Instead of hurting the children who are our state’s future, I am committed to targeting help to small businesses and rural economic development. If we work together, we can do it without harming educational opportunity and increasing health care costs.

And that’s something we can all agree on.

0 comments:

Post a Comment