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Iowans need to keep their eye on the ball, and not through rose-colored glasses. We need to be aware of our challenges ahead, the very real cuts to education we have seen, and the prospect of cuts in Medicaid and access to health care.

It is really time to examine whether this is a wise use of what legislators tell us are scarce resources.

When the 2016 session began, Iowa faced a host of critical challenges. This session has done little to ease any of the major concerns, and nothing to meet them for the long term.

“The precedents being set raise uncertainties for the future governance of our state.”

Aside from fiscal impacts, sales-tax proposals and actions in Iowa ignore existing law or voters’ directives, and long traditions in the way we govern ourselves.

Economic benefits would result — perhaps more — if the penny sales tax dedicated to school infrastructure spending were not diverted, as the Governor proposes, to other purposes.

“Is it a better use of taxpayers’ money to send millions in checks to profitable companies to do research they would do anyway, or to make sure schools can hire enough teachers next fall?”

“Too often, we see public officials relying on these rankings and the policy prescriptions they promote, when in fact the rankings have no predictive value for economic growth,” said Fisher.

The path to advancements in education, economic stability and environmental stewardship — as well as other critical areas where strong public policy and institutions are necessary — rests on strong, strategic investments.

Governor Branstad’s words ring hollow in his decisions to cut education funding and to prevent greater access to child care assistance.