As Iowans face rising costs and economic uncertainty, lawmakers should focus on helping working families get ahead. Grocery and gas prices are skyrocketing, wages are stagnant, and Iowans are feeling it. Instead of growing Iowa’s economy for working families and making our state a place where people want to live and work, Republican lawmakers have prioritized tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Iowans.
Iowa House Democrats have consistently fought for working families across this state. This past Legislative Session, Iowa House Democrats introduced a Working Families and Affordability Plan that would:
- Increase Iowa’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
- Help more families buy a home through first-time homebuyer assistance.
- Restore collective bargaining rights for Iowa workers.
- Crack down on wage theft to ensure workers are paid what they earn.
- Expand paid family leave for new parents or a sick loved one.
- Help Iowans save for retirement by expanding access to retirement savings options.
- Relief from rising utility bills by freezing residential electric and natural gas rates through 2030.
- Protect affordable health care by funding expiring ACA premium tax credits.
Throughout the legislative session, Iowa House Democrats advocated for solutions for working families by voting to pull parts of their Working Families and Affordability Plan out of committee for a vote. Republican lawmakers immediately moved the proposals back to committee, ensuring they will not even have a chance to be considered.
These common-sense solutions would take Iowa from one of the least worker-friendly states to one of the most worker-friendly states in the nation. House Democrats will keep fighting for Iowa workers, not corporations, hold Republican lawmakers accountable, and show Iowans who is truly working for them.