If we make the choice to invest in our schools and our families, we can be the best in the land, but Gov. Kim Reynolds and the conservative leaders in the Legislature are taking Iowa in the wrong direction by making dramatic cuts that will hurt us all.

From reduced mental health services to underpaid teachers, our public services need to be strengthened, not starved for resources. That idea should be common sense. But instead of making sure that the wealthy pay their fair share to fund our programs and services, Reynolds has just ripped a $35.5 million hole in our budget and now she is proposing tax cuts that would yank up to $299 million more from our services.

Reynolds has already made these cuts:

• An $11.5 million cut to educational services including University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and special schools for deaf and visually impaired children, as well as community college and programs run by the Department of Education

• A $10 million cut to our High Quality Jobs Program

• A $4.3 million cut to the Department of Human Services, which helped 365,366 Iowans avoid going hungry last year, and administered hawk-i programs for Iowa families

• A $5 million cut to our justice system, including pulling money from the courts system and Department of Corrections

State budget cuts to our mental health services have already forced hundreds to seek help elsewhere and caused misery to vulnerable Iowans. But now Gov. Reynolds is planning more yet more cuts. We cannot sustain these attacks on our services.

Sign the petition and join us in standing up for hard-working Iowans.