KDSN RADIO News
House bill would raise salaries for governor, lawmakers by $10,000
A proposed 10-thouand hike in the salaries for the governor, other statewide elected officials and members of the Iowa legislature has passed initial review in the Iowa House. Legislators current 25-thousand dollar salary was set in 2007 and Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says some lawmakers aren't seeking reelection because they can't afford to serve.
"Do we want our legislature to be made up of a bunch of rich folks and retired folks?" Holt asks. "'Cause that'll be the only ones that can afford to serve up here." Republican Representative Joel Fry of Osceola is among the the House members who are not seeking reelection.
"I think it's a very modest increase, actually, what we're looking at here on this bill," Fry says. "And also believe that if we want a representation of people across Iowa to serve, we have to look at how we're paying those folks to be here."
If the bill becomes law, the higher salaries would go into after the 2024 election. The governor's salary would be 140-thousand dollars. The bill would tie future salary hikes for lawmakers and statewide elected officials to negotiated pay raises for state employees.
