Republican leaders in the legislature firmly reject Governor Tom Vilsack’s call for an increase in the state’s minimum wage. Vilsack, who’s a democrat, suggested this morning he’d accept a bill republicans want if they attach a minimum wage increase. Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows and House Speaker Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs have other plans in mind. Republicans will press their bill which would force economic development officials to tout Iowa’s “Right-to-Work” law. It’s a law that bars forced union membership in a business where there’s a union that bargains for all wages. Governor Vilsack presented U-S Labor Department statistics which indicate states which do not have the “Right-to-Work” law have higher wages. Senate President Mary Kramer, a republican from West Des Moines, says she could put forward stats which refute that. Iowa is one of 21 states which do have a “Right-to-Work” law. 29 states and the District of Columbia do not have a “Right-to-Work” law.
