WATERLOO -- This year's legislative session allocated money for some high-profile projects in Waterloo and Cedar Falls and added funding to other broader initiatives.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, likes what he and his colleagues accomplished, locally and across the state.

From his view across the political aisle, Sen. Mark Zieman, R-Postville, offers a different perspective.

"All this stuff sounds great. Every single one of them costs a whole bunch of money," Zieman said.

Local legislators helped secure additional funding for the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum -- $968,000 -- and for a community-based correctional facility in Waterloo -- about $6 million.

The University of Northern Iowa's proposed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Center also picked up $4 million, and about $1 million will likely be available for Waterloo's riverfront redevelopment project.

Danielson said money going to the museum will help provide touch screens and other technology that will personalize experiences by allowing visitors to follow an individual's story.

Money going to the 1st Judicial District Department of Correctional Services will expand the bed count at its facility in Waterloo, which Danielson said may help reduce the number of blacks in prison.

A study last year found the rate of blacks incarcerated in Iowa leads the nation.

"There are people that have done their time who can't transition out because there is no bed available," Danielson said.

Gov. Chet Culver this week also signed into law a $12 million grant program, called the River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism Initiative.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, was a leading advocate for the program. He said if Waterloo applies for funding, the city stands a good chance of receiving money for trails, an amphitheater or work on a dam.

Though not a particular fan of UNI's math and science center, Zieman said the bigger issue is the overall portrait painted by Democrats during the session.

"We'd probably give it an 'F'. It's a classic tax and spending Democrat Legislature," Zieman said.

He singled out $30 million allocated for health insurance for children in Iowa, which Zieman said is "a noble cause" but will do little to make kids feel better.

"It's apples and oranges -- health care versus health insurance," he said. "There is no one that I know of that has been denied health care in Iowa."

Zieman also panned the Iowa Core Curriculum, which Gov. Culver signed into law Thursday.

The mandate will require public and private schools accredited by the state to follow a model curriculum set by the Iowa Department of Education.

"That's teaching methodology and they're calling it standards. And it's not," Zieman said.

Previous attempts to incorporate "new math" and "outcome-based education" in Iowa failed, he added.

"The results those two times were disastrous," Zieman said.

Zieman, said estimates he has seen suggest the Democrat-controlled Legislature will boost spending by at least $700 million.

"If in fact that's accurate, they will have increased the budget by 20 percent in two years," Zieman said.

Though not entirely pleased with the bill, Zieman voted for TIME 21, which will provide money for road projects.

Danielson predicted the measure will generate about $120 million next year.

"We had to start somewhere," Zieman said.

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad

at (319) 291-1580

or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.