School vouchers continue to be debated in the Iowa Legislature.

District 24 Senator Jesse Green of Boone says the bill is in the House Appropriations Committee and it remains viable for the rest of the legislative session. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio House Republicans are looking to tweak the governor’s proposal of allowing students who can apply for school vouchers to come from school districts of 5,000 or more students.

“I’m guessing they’re targeting Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines. I’m not sure how many schools actually have over 5,000 students. But, of course personally, I think that’s absolutely a ridiculous thing. What’s fair for somebody in Des Moines Public (Schools) should be fair for any public school.” 

The governor’s bill stipulated a maximum of 10,000 students, including 5,000 for students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 5,000 for low and moderate income students. The other part of the governor’s bill would allow 70-percent of the state per pupil funding for the student to use in a private school and the remaining 30-percent would go back to small and rural school districts. Arguments against the legislation have been taking public funds and using it in private institutions. 

Green believes this is a Republican Party platform issue and is hoping Governor Kim Reynolds can use her popularity to get the bill passed.

“It’s been tried in Tennessee, Arizona (and) Florida. There’s little pieces of all those state’s school choice bills in this bill. It’s a comprehensive bill. I applaud the governor for how she sees what the best parts of Florida’s bill, Arizona, Tennessee and Indiana’s bill and putting this together.”

The bill originally failed to get through the House Education Committee and then House Speaker Pat Grassley shifted the legislation to the appropriations committee.