DES MOINES, IOWA (January 31, 2019) — In recent years, the Legislature has imposed policies that don’t reflect Iowa values. This includes moving millionaires, corporations and other special interests to the front of the line — at the expense of working Iowans.
In 2017, the Legislature and Governor prohibited cities and counties from establishing better wages, employment benefits and other standards than what are required by federal or state law.
A new bill in the Iowa Senate — Senate File 95 — would repeal that move, benefitting hard-working Iowans and putting the decision-making power back in the hands of locally elected leaders.
Each Iowa community has different needs, depending on its size, location and economy. Local leaders are often in the best position to assess and respond to those unique needs. SF 95 reflects that wisdom.
For example, several local governments in Iowa had adopted minimum wage standards that are higher than $7.25. Republican laws over the past two years rescinded those local changes. SF 95 would allow locally elected leaders to bring back those local pay increases and ensure bigger paychecks for 36,000 Iowans.
