senator rick bertrand is correct in that we've obligated a large share of that to causes. they've committed over $670 million to property tax relief. and that's important, but we have t to kee other eye on the ball. but the past several years, it's time to fund education. >> ron, is your position in the education world, not only in private sector,r, but the legislature, your take of what's happening with the education? you're in the middle of that. we've de over $500 million in additional spending. we passed an education reform initiative, in fact, the -- when you look up the makeup of the pie, tre's only two areas that haveve grown, that's medicaid and k-12 education. all have grown. we're highest percent of the budget spent,f k through 12, that's the largest it's en in over 30 years. we have prioritized education, we made great strides therere, and we'll continue to spend our money wisely and efficiently to make sure that we're not ovovercommitting. that was the problem a number of years. before we came into legislature, commitments we made to education, because we were

iowa republican senator rick bertrand says the second amendment is a bipartisan issue. "both republicans and democrats that support the second amendment can agree that president obama is overreached."president obama also wants to hire more than 230 additional fbi employees to help process background checks. as part of his push this week - he'll hold a town hall discussion on gun violence thursday. 3 key to the presidential changes, is trying to keep guns out of the hands of people who have mental health problems.our senior political reporter scott thuman examines the controversy of "privacy" versus "protection." 3 "we know we can't stop every act of evil in the world, but maybe we can stop one act, one act of violence"and one way, a tearful president obama says addressing mental health--with $500 million dollars to increase access to care and just as importantly: some health providers, courts and state officials who've been reluctant to share records because of privacy laws, are now free to do so. the goal: fill potentially dangerous gaps in the fbi's database which cou

iowa republican senator rick bertrand says the second amendment is a bipartisan issue. "both republicans and democrats that support the second amendment can agree overreached." 3 president obama also wants to hire more than 230 additional b-i employees to help process background checks. as part of his push this week - he'll hold a town hall discussion on gun violence thursday. 3 3 texas senator ted cruz is another big critic of the president's plans.the republican presidential candidate was in siouxland this morning campaigning when the announcement was made.he offered this action at a campmpgn stop in onawa. 3 "you know this morning president obama is announcing new executive orders to try to go after our second amendment right to keep and bear arms, well i can tell you right now those executive orders are not worth the paper their printed on because when you live by the pen you die by the pen and my pen has got an eraser."cruz made another stop this afternoon in cherokee. he'll be at the de yager center at dordt college in sioux center tonight starting 3 some u-s sena

iowa republican senator rick bertrand says the second amendment is a bipartisan issue. "both republicans and democrats that support the second amendment can agree that president obama is overreached."president obama also wants to hire more than 230 additional fbi employees to help process background checks. as part of his push this week - he'll hold a town hall discussion on gun violence thursday. 3 the president is also making some changes in an effort to keep guns out of the hands of people with mental health problems.our senior political reporter scott thuman examines the controversy of "privacy" versus "protection." 3 "we know we can't stop every act of evil in the world, but maybe we can stop one act, one act of violence"and one way, a tearful president obama says he'll do that, is by addressing mental health--with $500 million dollars to increase access to care and just as importantly: some state officials who've been reluctant to share records because of privacy laws, are now free to do so. the goal: fill potentially dangerous gaps in the fbi's database which cou

better understanding of hwo the process works and what budget is finally set is state senator rick bertrand who represents sioux city. with us. >> thanks for having me back. good to be home. >> i s suppose back on the road ba and forth. >> bacac on thehe road.enof the condnd week. the family is starting to get acclimated we're getting a rhythmhm. >> let's talk about the numbers there. i mentioned the budget that's where we want to start this morning. estimates continue to be less than was projected whenn t budget was put together.the agriculture community obviously is part of that. >> first thing on the budget is it is going to be a tight budgett year, but nothing that is happening this year is really not predictable. there was a five yearr plan put out there by the governor, the last three years as you know tim we have r rlly put some big things inlace with commercial property tax reform. the medicaid expansion and education reform. the one thing we didn't foresee at the end of the daye got to realize that agriculture still drives the state budget. and again with the bird flu last down and

repucan sen rick bertrand joins me to breakdown the start of this years session. caucus night i ist a week away and candidides are taking advantage of every minute they get in front of iowa voters. donald trump, ben carsonnd siouxland crowds.

iowa republican senator rick bertrand says the second amendment is a bipartisan issue. "both republicans and democrats that support the second amendment can agree that president obama is overreached."president obama also wants to hire more than to help process background checks. as part of his push this week - he'll hold a town hall discussion on gun violence thursday. 3 and we want to know what *you* think about the president's proposals. we've got an online poll at siouxland news dot com asking whether you think the president's executive order is not enough... is it going too far... is it just right? you can vote online and join the hundreds of people from across the country who've already shared their opinion. 3 some of the animals at the oregon zoo got to enjoy winter weather tuesday.snow fell o oportland sunday... and some of the zoo's harbor seals were out enjoying the weather. they flopped around the the fresh frozen precipitation.we can't really tell if they were trying to make a snow angel or not... but they looked like they were having fun! mikhail the tiger w