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.”
11 thoughts on “Branstad demands pay cut on top of sacrifices state employees have already made”
When the Iowa house goes back into session, Branstad and the rest of the lawmakers might consider this….Lets all share the burden, change the law that allows recieving pension and wages for state service. Make it illegal to collect both like evryone else who doesn’t get to make laws that only benefit themselves . When I take a job I consider the advantages and disadvantages so should they.
Here is a thought on campaign funding. Since alot of money is being contributed by out of state sources and the wealthiest, those funds should be taxed by 40% or more and put into social security and state retirement systems. Seeing less commercials and taking advantage of corporate greed and excess would make sense . Just a thought.
I’m confused, where are all these high paying government jobs and how do I apply. If they are so great, where are they and what do they pay? salary freeze, furlough days, hiring freeze, all part of it. means working more for less to cover 2 jobs.
As for just getting by on social security, that was not meant to cover your full retirement.
Fred-who the hell are you to say Social Security is not meant to live on. I spent over 50 years paying into the damn thing and will tell you I make a hell of a lot more than most of the people drawing food stamps. I am not even close to being able to draw food stamps or any other so called entiltlements. I pay my own way and only ask that people quit taking more and more away when I am on a fixed income. Where the rest of my income comes from is also none of your business. We have lost tons on the damned market and don’t have any more to give to people that think they should make 110K a year for doing labor work or like the auto workers making 75K for putting in a screw. Bullshit, pay them what they are worth and make them pay their own expenses like I had to and still have to do.
Social security was never meant to be totally lived on. It was meant to be an aid, a help for people to make ends meet. People have always been expected to help take care of their own later years. It’s an “the govt owes me a living” kind of attitude that has gotten us in the trouble we are in today. People are responsible for themselves and their own actions, and should quit always asking for help. Take control of your own life. You should have been doing this since you started working, It’s called being a mature adult.
Yeh, this Senatore Fraise is one to talk about being out of touch. These damn liberals just can’t get it through their heads that we are tired of paying for these underworked, overpaid state employees. It’s hard for us to justify paying someone all that money and benefits when we are just scraping by on Social Security. Bring them down to the level they should be for the work they do.
How can anyone compare Iowa to Kalifornia? Kalifornications problem is the 10 million illegal immigrants that have not paid anything into the system that is sucking the state dry. You’ll really be happy when they finally migrate to Iowa like they have Kalifornia and other states. Working people, wether they are union or not, cannot keep paying the way for these blood suckers. Now that they have gotten the OK to stay here, it won’t be long. Remember, they will do the work that the “lazy” white man won’t do, and cheaper. So be careful what you wish for, because it’s coming…
If they would make E-Verify for every employer in the state. And slap big fines on the companies that hire them they would not come here. They have to buy tacos you know. Indiana just sent a bill to congress for there yearly cost to support Illegals. It came to 130 million dollars. I thought Terry Branstad promised to do something about them. Another politician making promises he can’t keep. Maybe he’s taking bribes from packing plants and hen house owners.
I hope the state goes bust and makes all state employee contracts null and void! If they are unwilling to take pay and benefit cuts like the rest of us,then its time to start from scratch. Huge pentions and benefits for life are unrealistic. The broke private sector can no longer float the bloated public. Start over!!
WELL STATED ! That is the direction the entire nation is headed – BANKRUPT
Look at California, we are all headed in the same direction – scary isn’t it – but not to the Liberal Machine
The U.S. needs a balanced budget ammendment!!!!!
I pay into my pension just like social security and do not receive benefits for life. when I retire I will be responsible for my own health insurance. Politicians are the only ones that get benefits for life while they complain about everyone else getting too much!
I just knew there was more to this! 20% of insurance premiums does NOT equal 20% of health care costs! It’s a start but not nearly enough.