Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack is pushing for an increase in the minimum wage.Governor Tom Vilsack says increasing the minimum wage by a dollar per hour over the next two years would be one way to boost the economy.Vilsack says just over 100-thousand Iowans are earning the minimum wage, and many of ’em are women trying to raise a family. It means that while they’re working, they still qualify for welfare at a time when state budgets are struggling to keep up with welfare programs.Republican legislators and the Governor are talking about an economic stimulus package that’d include tax advantages for investors who put their money in high-risk ventures as well as a tax credit for employees who get paid in stock options. Vilsack wants to make an increase in the minimum wage part of that package. Vilsack’s predecessor, Republican Governor Terry Branstad, signed a law that made Iowa’s minimum wage higher than the national rate, and Vilsack points to that as proof small businesses can survive if the Iowa minimum wage is higher.
Iowa's Radio News Network
