Republicans want to get rid of the law and set up a different timeline for making those kind of decisions. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, says their idea is “sounder” financially because the decision gets pushed to later in the spring when legislators have a better idea of what state tax revenues may be.

“We think we can make a better decision and with greater confidence at that point,” Paulsen says.

But Democrats like Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City say regardless of whatever alternative has been proposed, legislators need to follow the law that currently exists.

“I think at this time when schools are worried about the reform package is going to be like — there’s lots of variables out there — we need to give them the stability in at least knowing where their funding is going to be at,” Steckman says.

There is no penalty in the law for legislators who fail to meet this school funding decision deadline, and in the past this deadline has been missed. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal says when it’s happened before, legislators passed another bill spelling out an exception for the situation, but there’s no such bill pending today.

“I think it’s really kind of fascinating,” Gronstal says. “I guess this is their new attempt at regulatory reform: If you don’t like a state law, don’t obey it.”

Paulsen, the top Republican in the House, shoots back, accusing Democrats of over-promising to schools in the past.

“They ended up not being able to afford it. The governor ended up having to do a 10 percent across-the-board cut, which was more devastating to the schools,” Paulsen says. “I mean, that was crushing to them.”

The state law legislators are violating suggests the House, Senate and governor must agree on the general level of state aid for public K-12 public schools by a certain date. Under the calculations in that law, the date is 30 days after the governor submits his budget plan to lawmakers, and this year that 30 day period expires today.

First Lady Michelle Obama in Des Moines.

Around 10,000 school kids packed Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines this morning for an event featuring First Lady Michelle Obama.

Her stop in Iowa started a four-state swing to celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of her “Let’s Move” initiative.

Mrs. Obama asked for the kids’ help to make Iowa and all of the states the “healthiest they can be.”
Audio First Lady :20

The nearly two-hour long event closed with the First Lady and everyone in the arena performing the Interlude Dance. The Interlude has become a dance craze at the University of Northern Iowa – with fans and students performing the dance during basketball games.

World figure skating champion Michelle Kwan and NASCAR champ Carl Edwards talk to kids in preparation for the First Lady's event in Des Moines event.

Around 10,000 school kids have packed Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for an event featuring First Lady Michelle Obama. She’s in Iowa starting a four-state swing to celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of her “Let’s Move” initiative.

The kids are hearing from the likes of Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and I.S.U. basketball coach Fred Hoiberg about the importance of physical activity. They’re also being entertained by American Idol Season 9 finalist Katelyn Epperly.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also spoke – asking the kids to insist their schools offer healthy lunch and breakfasts.

“So we can improve what you eat at schools because we want more fruits and vegetables and more whole grains and low fat dairy in your diet. And less fat, and less sodium and less sugar, so that you can be healthy and active and the very best students you are intended to be,” Vilsack told the kids.

Mrs. Obama will be speaking soon and will be introduced by Governor Branstad, who is leading an effort to make Iowa the Healthiest state in the nation by 2016.

Miller released a statement saying Iowa’s share of the settlement is just over $40-million  for relief, and to address future loan servicing. Miller says Iowa borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure through abuse by loan providers between January of 2008 and December 31 of 2011, will be eligible for $7.4-million dollars in payments.

The statement also says the state will receive a direct payment of just over $15-million. Miller and others plan to talk with the media about the settlement in a conference call later today.

Students from Iowa City West High School talk with legislators about a helmet law.

Four eastern Iowa high schoolers grieving the loss of a friend who died in a moped accident last fall are urging state legislators to pass a bill that would require kids under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.

The four made a direct pitch to three senators this morning. Seventeen-year-old Caroline Van Vorrhis, a senior at Iowa City West High School, gave the senators a pamphlet explaining their aims.

“We want to prevent other communities from going through the loss of a loved one that we’ve had to go through the past few months and, after doing some research, we are convinced that a helmet law would save lives,” Van Vorrhis said.

Caroline Found was riding a moped on an Iowa City street at about 9:30 at night this past August when she struck a curb, hit a tree and died from the impact. She was not wearing a helmet. She would have been a senior this year at Iowa City West. Her classmate, 17-year-old Leah Murray, argued a state law requiring helmet use would be more effective than any parental edict.

“As teenagers, we know first hand that our peers don’t always listen to their parents,” Murray said. “No matter how many times your parents tell you to wear a helmet, teenagers would be more likely to do so in order to avoid a smudge on their driving record or a fine than to appease their parents.”

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Lofgren, another Iowa City West senior, cited research suggesting helmets do not reduce visibility or impair the hearing of moped riders.

“No one plans to be in an accident,” Lofgren said. “Whether you drive a truck, RV, car or jeep, if you hit a moped driver, not only are they going to want to be protected, but you’re going to hope they have a helmet on.”

ABATE of Iowa represents motorcyclists who staunchly oppose mandatory helmet laws. Mark Maxwell, a member of the motorcycling group, spoke directly to the students.

“You don’t think that the responsibility lies on you kids to do what’s important for you?” Maxwell asked.

Murray, the 17-year-old, responded.

“Teenagers, we can’t always, like, think for ourselves,” Van Voorhis said. “We need the government to do it for us sometimes.”

None of the three senators who made up the initial subcommittee studying the bill supported it, however, killing its chances of becoming law this year. Senator Tom Hancock, a Democrat from Epworth, told the teens not to be too discouraged by the set back.

“I can tell by watching all of you, the expression on your faces and the moisture in your eyes that you really care,” Hancock said.

But Hancock suggested these kinds of mandates aren’t popular with legislators. Murray told reporters she and her friends won’t stop their lobbying campaign.

“They weren’t as open to it as we suspected, but they still left an opening and we’re going to sneak right in there and get this passed,” Murray said. A fourth high school student, from Solon, came to directly lobby legislators but did not testify during today’s subcommittee meeting.

“If we are going to continue to provide a quality education, we need funds just to keep up and give all the students, including these new students, the same quality education there predecessors had,” Leath said. Representative Ron Jorgenson, a Republican from Sioux City, said there’s a public relations issue about how the schools operate, and asked the presidents if they should bring in someone to do an outside evaluation.

“Do you think that would be a good idea to counter this perception that’s out there that you are too costly and too inefficient?, Jorgenson asked. University of Iowa President, Sally Mason, responded that she didn’t want to waste money to learn what she already knows. She says they have already had and outside review.

“It showed that we were a $6-billion asset to the state of Iowa, and yet people then turned to me and said ‘well I don’t believe that.’ So, tell me what would convince people of what we know we’re doing and were doing well,” Mason said. Mason says what they are doing well at is cutting costs– she says all three colleges have slashed administrative costs, while at the same time trying to maintain higher educational standards.

“We have enough data to show that it is one of the best squadrons in the entire United States,” Harkin says. “If they’re cutting F-16s, why are they cutting Des Moines? Why wouldn’t they cut some whose performance levels are much lower?” Harkin, a Democrat, says the military’s top brass are looking in the wrong place to make reductions.

Harkin says, “As we are cutting defense spending, the best way to save money and to be ready is to cut some of our standing forces, cut some of our bases overseas, cut some of the regular military and rely more upon our Reserve and National Guard.” The Des Moines-based 132nd Fighter Wing includes 21 “Fighting Falcon” F-16 fighter jets and a thousand personnel.

Harkin says the unit has proven itself time and again over the past six decades as being reliable, professional and vital. “You get more bang for the buck with Reserve and National Guard units and rather than putting money into bases overseas, we put the money into local communities,” Harkin says. “These National Guard units perform a lot more than just a call-up during wartime. They help us with floods and natural disasters and emergency situations.”

Harkin and the other Iowans will meet in Washington this afternoon with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley at 12:30 P.M. CST.

“To me the key thing is getting the right people and the calendar is important to some degree, but what’s more important I think is that we get the right people in place for this program, for this team,” Ferentz says. He says they don’t have to play until September, so they have time to pick the right people.

Ferentz says the timetable moving ahead isn’t firm, and he says it will be a tough job to fill, just like the defensive coordinator spot was. Ferentz was asked if his son, Brian, might be one of the candidates. Brian Ferentz is the tight ends coach for the New England Patriots.

“You know, we’re open to anything right now, anybody that’s out there that has a chance to really help our football team, he’s got a pretty good job right not,” Ferentz says.

Earlier this week Ferentz promoted Phil Parker to defensive coordinator. Parker had been the defensive backs coach for the past 13 years.

Drake coach Mark Phelps on his post game show on KRNT in Des Moines says a combination of things on the offensive and deffensive ends led to their loss. It was the second straight game junior forward Ben Simons missed due to mono. He will likely be out on Sunday when the Bulldogs host Evansville.

Phelps says they have three days to prepare and get better to face an Evansville team that just beat Creighton.

Drake is 6-8 in the Valley and 13-12 overall.

The legally parked vehicles belonged to a magistrate and an Adams County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher. Hastings was booked in the jail for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

She was expected to make her initial appearance before the judge sometime today.

By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic