The debate now shifts to the House. GOP leaders said higher education must bear its share of the cuts. Democrats argued that cuts of that magnitude are unnecessary, saying the state's economic emergency fund should be used to ease the budget pain. These are unnecessary cuts to kids. Sen. Steve King, a Kiron Republican, replied that college students should be able to manage the situation.
Real kids have to live in the real world, and a minimum cut to the Iowa tuition grant . . .
State support for college work-study programs would be eliminated in the next fiscal year. Proposed cuts for the state universities are in the 6 percent range.