DES MOINES -- As Iowa lawmakers press ahead this week with approval of parts of the state budget, one major spending initiative for the University of Northern Iowa hangs in the balance.

Gov. Chet Culver has proposed creating the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics center, or STEM center, at the University of Northern Iowa that would train college students to become science and math teachers.

But the $5 million proposal is not yet a part of the spending plan by legislative Democrats, who will focus in the coming days on finalizing spending bills with an eye on adjourning for the year.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said lawmakers will be looking for agreement with Culver on the budget and talks with the governor continue.

"We'd like to do them all if we had the money," McCarthy said of the governor's education proposals. "It's just a question of resources."

McCarthy is hopeful the STEM Center is funded this year, and said they're looking for the dollars to pay for it.

Legislators heard positive economic news Friday, when a state panel of budget experts predicted state revenues would rise $79 million in the current fiscal year.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, believes lawmakers should find money for the STEM center. He said the program would help relieve a math and science teacher shortage and improve student performance.

"Our competitiveness and our reputation for education Iowans hold dear, and that is one initiative that I think has universal, broad bipartisan support," Danielson said.

Another STEM Center proponent is Rep. Doris Kelley, D-Waterloo.

Kelley said after lawmakers increased teacher salaries last year, they should now focus on student performance.

"I'm really concerned about the standards. I'm really concerned about whether our children are really prepared to occupy positions that we're going to need in the future," Kelley said.

She also is in favor of requiring students to stay in school until they turn 18 or graduate. That measure, proposed in the House, still remains alive in the waning weeks of the session.

As the budget is finalized, Rep. Deborah Berry, D-Waterloo, wants to see close to $900,000 go to after-school programs.

"It's just another way of keeping our kids off the streets after school and engaged in quality types of activities," Berry said.

In the waning days of the session, Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, is concerned about the future of a bill that would make the Cedar Valley TechWorks business incubator project eligible for state grants for infrastructure improvements. The measure was pulled from the House floor last week.

Kressig was disappointed the measure hasn't passed, but remains hopeful for its prospects.

"Having these infrastructure dollars is going to move that project forward," Kressig said.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.