Iowa Republicans in disagreement over state budget
KCCI
[{'start': '2.569', 'end': '4.771', 'text': "FUNDS.  AS OF 2025, LEGISLATIVE SESSION  BEGINS TO WIND DOWN.  LEADERS ARE FOCUSING THEIR  PRIORITIES ON STATE SPENDING AND  OVERALL BUDGET.  ONE ISSUE THAT'S LEAVING LEADERS  IN DISAGREEMENT, THOUGH, IS  BOOSTING PAY FOR PARAEDUCATORS  IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FUNDING  FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.  $14 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED FOR  THAT IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT  IT'S NOT IN THE PROPOSAL FROM  SENATE REPUBLICANS AND THE  GOVERNOR.  HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY SAYS  THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST  ROADBLOCKS SO FAR.  AND I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU,  THAT'S ONE OF THE PIECES RIGHT  NOW THAT I WOULD SAY IS ONE OF  THE BIGGEST STICKING POINTS.  OUR CAUCUS FEELS EXTREMELY  STRONG THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO  PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT  THAT WE DID WITH THAT BILL LAST  YEAR, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO  BACK AND JUST CUT THAT AND LEAVE  OUR SCHOOLS IN A SITUATION TO  FIND THE DIFFERENCE.  LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE  WORKING AT THE STATE HOUSE UNTIL  A BUDGET AGREEMENT IS REACHED,  AND TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY  LAWMAKERS GET PER DIEM, WHICH IS  A DAILY ALLOWANCE THAT PAYS FOR  EXPENSES LIKE FOOD AND COST OF  LIVING.  IF LAWMAKERS DON'T PASS A BUDGET  BY TOMOR"}]