Letter writer points out facts about budget debate

1) Senate Democrats did not walk away from negotiations. A Friday meeting was canceled because the chair of the Appropriations Committee had a funeral to attend. At the same time, three dates for meetings the following week were offered. Meanwhile, the governor himself has yet to personally engage in negotiations.

2) The Senate plan doesn't spend more money than the state is taking in. We now have $1 billion in available revenue, some of which can be used to fund the state's priorities. By law, Iowa can only spend 99 percent of what we take in.

3) There has not been an entire session of joint budget meetings. Some of the budget bills have been languishing on the House calendar for going on two months. If the correct process were being followed and respected, House Republicans would have moved those budget bills so that conference committees could be set up and real discussions among all parties could actually take place.

4) Senate Democrats did not "add $100 million on top of their baseline." The Senate has proposed to spend LESS than the governor recommended in January.