Lowering costs, raising wages: Iowa House Democrats release 2024 economic agenda

Brianne Pfannenstiel and Galen Bacharier, Des Moines Register
·2 min read

Iowa House Democrats released an economic agenda Thursday focused on lowering costs and raising wages for Iowans — a key message they say will help them persuade voters in an election year.

“We as Iowa House Democrats are proud to remind Iowans that we are focused on the things they care about,” said House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights. “And we are focused on putting people over politics. So we are focused on ensuring that when Iowans are telling us what they need, we're listening and we're responding.”

The package of bills would raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2026; expand the annual sales tax holiday from two days to two weeks; eliminate the waiting list for Iowans with disabilities seeking services through Medicaid; and provide subsidies to child care works so they can find care for their own children.

But the bills are likely going nowhere. Republicans hold the governor’s mansion and control both chambers of the Legislature by wide margins.

Regardless, Konfrst said it’s important for voters to know where Democrats stand.

“Voters are also sick and tired of divisive language and divisive concepts and divisive bills that seek to separate us instead of bringing us together,” she said. “That's what Republicans bring to the table. And we're bringing things that can help people actually move their lives forward, lower costs, address the problems Iowans tell us.”

Democrats unveiled their plan just hours after a GOP-led bill banning local governments from creating guaranteed income programs such as Polk County-based UpLift, was approved by a committee.

A new program for central Iowans plans to offer $500 a month for the next two years. Materials promoting the new program, UpLift — the Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, were on display in different languages at a launch event Feb. 15 at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center.
A new program for central Iowans plans to offer $500 a month for the next two years. Materials promoting the new program, UpLift — the Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, were on display in different languages at a launch event Feb. 15 at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, decried the program as "socialism on steroids."

UpLift — The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot Program will provide 110 individuals $500 a month for two years. Eleven public and private entities raised $2.5 million to fund the program. The program is designed to see if the guaranteed cash assistance program with no-strings-attached monthly checks is an effective way to reduce poverty.

Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, said the Legislature had "failed" in continually declining to address the state's minimum wage, arguing that local governments have instead looked to programs like UpLift to fill the gaps.

"Local jurisdictions have had to take this into their own hands, this issue," Meyer said. "Because we have policies at the state level that impoverish people across this entire state.

An amendment to Holt's bill would allow any currently operating guaranteed income program in Iowa to remain in effect until Jan. 1, 2025 (UpLift's pilot period is set to end in summer 2026).

The legislation was approved in committee by a 13-6 vote, with one Republican, Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant, voting no alongside Democrats.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Democrats’ 2024 economic agenda includes raising minimum wage