Schneider Statehouse Report: Education Plan in Conference Committee

By Sen. Charles Schneider

Some of the most important work that will get done during this legislative session will take place in conference committees. Conference committees are created when there are competing House and Senate versions of a particular bill. This is common when the chambers are controlled by different parties, as is the case this session. Conference committee members meet several times to try to resolve differences between competing bills.

 Education reform is currently in a conference committee comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Conference committee members have been meeting over the last few weeks in an attempt to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of education reform. Funding for education has been a point of contention during these meetings. The conference committee’s Democrat members have insisted on funding Allowable Growth at 4 percent each of the next two fiscal years.

House Republicans initially wanted to fund Allowable Growth at 2 percent for FY 2014 and FY 2015. Last week, however, the Republican conference committee members made a good faith offer to move closer to the 4 percent increase in Allowable Growth for which Democrats have asked. Specifically, they offered a 2 percent increase in Allowable Growth plus a one-time payment equivalent to 2 percent Allowable Growth for FY 2014, and a 4 percent increase in Allowable Growth for FY 2015. In exchange, Republicans asked for the policy language and appropriations that are included in the House Republicans’ education reform bill. 

While the Iowa Association of School Boards, the School Administrators of Iowa, and the Urban Education Network of Iowa have endorsed this offer, Democrats on the conference committee have rejected it. As of Thursday April 18, they had not made a counteroffer. 

Republicans have not removed their offer at this point. They are still waiting for Democrats on the conference committee to put a counteroffer on the table for consideration. The committee will continue meeting to see where it can find footing to move forward.

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Conference committees are being established left and right to iron out differences on major legislation. Committees have already been created for several appropriations bills. Conference committees will likely be formed for major policy bills as well, including property tax reform and Medicaid expansion. I’ve been appointed to a conference committee on the competing House and Senate versions of the Economic Development appropriations bills.

The creation of conference committees is a sign the legislative session is beginning to move toward a conclusion. However, this process typically begins earlier in the legislative session than it has this session. That means it may be unlikely that the legislature will adjourn by May 3.

(Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, represents District 22 in the Iowa Senate. The district includes Waukee, Clive, Windsor Heights and part of West Des Moines. Contact him at Charles.Schneider@legis.iowa.gov or 515-281-3371.)