Every single morning, Iowans wake up and work hard, taking pride in a job well done. No matter what we look like or which part of Iowa we hail from, our paychecks should support us with the ability to live our lives with dignity and respect.

Too many Iowans struggle to pay their bills. Low wages, inflation and rapidly rising housing costs are squeezing household budgets and forcing families to make hard choices. One unexpected expense - a sick child or flat tire - can send a family on the path to eviction or homelessness.  

The wage gap has been growing for decades, and instead of addressing it, Reynolds and Republicans have doubled down on policies that created Reynolds’ workforce crisis and continue to hurt working families. 

Employers should pay us the true value of our work, not hoard profit for themselves. But today, with corporate profits at their highest since the 1950s, wealthy corporations are using profits to buy back their stocks instead of paying living wages, all while raising prices on consumers.

Reynolds and Republicans reward them for it and let wealthy companies and the richest Iowans steal from the workers, farmers and small businesses that drive Iowa’s economy. Instead of requiring a minimum wage increase, they gave wealthy corporations a massive tax break and lowered taxes for the richest Iowans - removing more than $100 million
from Iowa’s general fund each year. 

When 1 in 6 full-time working Iowans did not earn enough to meet their most basic needs and more than 41% of Iowa children are eligible for free or reduced lunch, it’s clear Iowa is on the wrong track. Iowa is ranked 49th in the country for personal income growth - tied with Mississippi.

Iowa’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2008.  That’s not enough money to rent a studio apartment anywhere in Iowa.  And a modest two-bedroom unit – enough to hold your kids? That would require more than $12.50/hour in Jackson, Clinton or Scott Counties.  

Rural areas might offer cheaper rent, but workers living in rural Iowa require dependable transportation to get to their jobs. How do you pay for transportation, food, health care, AND a place to live?

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Iowa workers should be paid what they’re owed for doing the work that supports their employer and their communities. When the middle class does well, we all do well. Raising wages to $15 an hour in Iowa would boost earnings for more than 400,000 Iowans and fuel our economy with an increase of $1.6 billion in spending.

Increasing the minimum wage is a real solution that will support Iowa families, attract workers to Iowa, and give the next generation a chance to find opportunities in their hometowns. By paying workers what they’re owed we can grow our communities and give every Iowan the freedom to get ahead.
 
I pledge to work to raise Iowa’s minimum wage to a living wage so families can thrive.