A proposed $10,000 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 $25,000 salary was set in 2007 and Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison said 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 asked during a House subcommittee hearing on the bill. “‘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 said. “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 bill raises the governor’s salary to $140,000. Iowa’s secretary of state, agriculture secretary attorney general, state treasurer and state auditor would get a $10,000 hike in pay as well. The bill would tie future salary hikes for lawmakers and statewide elected officials to negotiated pay raises for state employees.