From State Senator Gene Fraise:
“I am sorry that Governor Branstad is so out-of-touch that he would ask public employees to cut their own pay.
“I suppose it made some sense to the Governor when he made this outrageous request, especially considering his own $130,000 salary, $50,000 state pension, free housing and transportation, and a state-funded personal chef.
“But the Governor is ignoring the sacrifices that correctional officers, social workers, home health care and child care providers, mental health workers, and many other state workers have made during the national recession. Unlike the Governor, these state workers have experienced furloughs, layoffs, pay freezes, and doing more work for no additional pay.
“Finally, the Governor needs to be straight with Iowans. Contrary to his news release and other public statements, he is not agreeing to pay 20 percent of his overall health care costs. Instead, he is agreeing to pay 20 percent of his insurance premiums.”
