Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — An Iowa Senator is proposing a 50 percent reduction in the payments members of the Iowa House and Senate get to cover living expenses during the annual legislative session.
In addition to the annual $25,000 base salary for lawmakers, legislators this year are eligible for up to 100 days’ worth of expense money.
Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny has introduced a plan to cut that in half, to 50 days.
There is no official date when the legislature has to conclude its work in current law and there’s no hard deadline in Bousselot’s bill.
He argues, however, a 50 day limit on expense payments would put pressure on legislators to complete their work earlier.
Bousselot says it’s a different way to address concerns that fewer Iowans are willing to run for seats in the legislature because the responsibilities do not match the $25,000 salary.
2017 was the last time the Iowa legislature adjourned before the daily expense payments ran out.
Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says he doubt’s Bousselot is making a serious proposal. He points to Bousselot’s bill from last year that suggested Iowa try to buy part of southern Minnesota.
Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, is chairman of the Senate State Government Committee. He says Republicans and Democrats on the panel will meet privately today to decide whether to vote on Bousselot’s bill or table it.
In January, House Republican Leader Bobby Kaufmann promised to push to raise legislators’ pay which hasn’t increased in 18 years. Kaufmann says without action, candidates for House and Senate seats will be retired or wealthy people because a $25,000 base salary is just not enough for a lawmaker with a young family.
KIWA Staff Photo
