KEOKUK, IA. -- the Iowa House approved a plan to cut spending by $500 million over three years.

[The package calls for $60 million in cuts to preschool programs in the state.

Some lawmakers say those cuts would virtually eliminate preschool in many school districts.

We talked with Representative Jerry Kearns tonight.

He's among lawmakers working to save Iowa's state-funded preschool program.

Kearns told me the cuts as they are now, would mean a loss of around 200 thousand dollars to the Keokuk School District.

He says preschool is vital to Iowa's future.

But cuts to preschool aren't set in stone yet. Representative Kearns told me the bill now goes to the Democrat-held Senate.

The Iowa Senate Majority Leader says he's confident Democrats will ultimately prevent those deep cuts to preschool.