Des Moines, Iowa — The minimum wage hike that was to go into effect this Saturday in Iowa’s largest county will likely be cancelled. That’s because Governor Branstad is likely to sign a bill into law that nullifies local minimum wage hikes in Polk County as well as Johnson, Linn and Wapello Counties. The bill cleared the Iowa Senate Monday night.
Republican Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull was the point person arguing in favor of the bill during senate debate.
Critics say the various wage rates create a bookkeeping problem for businesses with outlets in various cities. Feenstra says statewide “uniformity” is key for the base wage rate.
Feenstra was the final speaker during the debate.
Feenstra and the rest of the Senate Republicans passed the same bill on this subject that House Republicans endorsed earlier this month. The legislation now goes to the governor. Branstad has said he supports the “uniformity” of a statewide minimum wage, but he also signaled again on Monday that he’d like legislators to consider raising the state’s minimum wage by a “modest” amount.
