Governor Tom Vilsack has signed into law a bill that provides double-digit pay increases to him, other statewide elected officials and to legislators who are elected in 2006. Governor Vilsack’s pay will increase by 21 percent. His annual salary will jump to 130-thousand dollars on July 1st. Vilsack did not schedule a ceremony to sign the salary increases into law. In early May, reporters asked him about that salary hike. “That’s a pretty hefty increase,” Vilsack said. “I can tell you I will probably substantially increase the charitable contributions and try to make sure that I use that resource to further…my church, some things back home in Mt. Pleasant.” Other statewide elected officials like the Attorney General will get a pay hike of about 17 percent. Vilsack said in early May that you can make a case for that increase. Vilsack said Iowa’s Treasurer deals with billions of dollars, but is “woefully underpaid” when compared to what a comptroller would make in the private sector. The Lieutenant Governor’s pay will go up the most — by 34 percent. Legislators’ pay will go up 16-point-nine percent pay in January, 2007. Vilsack has said it’s easy to bash legislators for raising their pay, but they’re worth it according to the governor. “This is a reasonable step and I support it,” Vilsack said. The bill Vilsack signed also provides about 50-million dollars to cover part of the salary increases for state employees.
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