After one-month of overtime, we wrapped up the 2015 legislative session in Des Moines on June 5. While extended sessions have become the norm in Iowa, I’m glad House Speaker Paulsen, Senator Gronstal, and Governor Branstad eventually chose compromise over gridlock. It is unfortunate many rank-and-file legislators are not more involved in final negotiations.
Most legislators went home and waited for Senate and House leaders to make deals with the governor during the additional weeks. I don’t believe this is in your best interests, so, as in past years, I worked at the capitol every day of the extension. Sitting at home does nothing to help reach consensus. By being at the capitol during extra days, I had input on budget negotiations which led to adequate funding for a program to protect victims of domestic abuse, and rejection of a nearly quarter million dollar request from the governor to increase his day-to-day spending.
The governor is currently considering bills that reached his desk by passing both the House and Senate. As he determines what he will approve and reject, I’ll keep you informed on how his decisions affect you, your family and employer.
Several ideas were offered this legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s working families. Some of the common sense ideas offered this year included: raising the minimum wage, stopping wage theft and paid maternity/family leave. Unfortunately, those ideas were voted down by the majority party, but could be considered during the 2016 legislative session. I will continue to fight for these ideas, and others, to help Iowa’s working families.
There are more than 216,000 Iowans earning minimum wage who have not had a raise in nearly a decade. Over the last 30 years, the minimum wage has failed to keep up with the struggles working families face. If the minimum wage had kept up with inflation, it would currently be $10.74 an hour. Today, working full time, 52 weeks a year leads to a salary of $15,080, below the poverty line for families of two. In Iowa, women make up 58 percent of minimum wage workers. Clearly, a reasonable increase is needed.
Also needed is legislation providing protection from wage theft to Iowa’s workers. Wage theft costs Iowans an estimated $600 million annually, disproportionately affecting low wage workers. Employers violating Iowa’s wage payment laws underpay employees, make unauthorized and illegal deductions from paychecks, misclassify employees and sometimes simply do not pay what is owed. Preventing wage theft is a top priority of many lawmakers and the measure was voted on this year, but it was rejected on a party-line vote by the majority party.
In conclusion, I want to congratulate and thank attendees, fundraisers, sponsors and organizers of the Relay for Life of Jasper County. By attending or helping with this recent event, you became part of an organized movement to put a cure for cancer and effective care at the top of our agenda. Money raised will be used to fund research projects and provide care to cancer patients in need. Much of this work takes place locally, at Skiff, and at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. Work will begin shortly on next year’s Relay for Life of Jasper County. If you are interested in joining this movement, contact me and I will put you in touch with organizers.
Serving as your state representative is a year-round job. While the session ended June 5, and pay ended May 1, I’ll keep working year-round at home and the capitol. I’m always accessible to you and welcome hearing your ideas to make Jasper County a great place to live, work and raise a family. Our comeback belongs to all of us. Call me at home, 641-521-9260, or email to dan.kelley@legis.iowa.gov