(Radio Iowa) – Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate are calling for a five percent increase in general state spending on Iowa’s K-through-12 public schools for the next academic year. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says the extra money is needed to reduce class sizes and raise salaries to keep teachers from leaving the profession.

“If Governor Reynolds has $300 million to put toward another corporate tax cut,” Konfrst says, “then there is room in our budget to invest $300 million for Iowa’s kids.” Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed a corporate tax cut that would reduce corporate income taxes by 300-million dollars over the next five years. Republicans in the Iowa Senate have introduced a bill today (Tuesday), calling for a two-and-a-quarter percent increase in general state spending on public schools. Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls says Democrats also oppose the governor’s proposal to give state tax dollars to parents who move their child from a public to a private school.

“We believe that public education makes Iowa great, but Republicans want to give up on Iowa public schools and we believe that we cannot afford that,” Wahls says. Wahls and Konfrst made their comments during a virtual news conference. Iowa currently ranks 39th among the states in per pupil funding for K-through-12 schools, according to Wahls.