DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill to boost Iowa’s minimum wage has won preliminary approval in the Iowa Senate.
A three-member subcommittee backed the bill Tuesday, with two Democrats and one Republican voting in favor. The bill would gradually raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.75.
Burlington Democrat and Senate Majority Whip Tom Courtney told KBUR it’s not the increase he was hoping to get.
“I wanted to increase it to $10.10 and I was willing to take three years to do it,” Courtney said, “The feeling was, in this building was that $8.75 is something we could get through the house and get the governor to sign. I’m not convinced that’s the case, but a little bit is better than none.”
Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Des Moines Democrat, says the bill was an overdue effort to help low-wage workers. And Sen. Rick Bertrand, a Republican from Sioux City, said the increase would keep Iowa wages in line with neighboring states.
The bill is expected to win approval in the Democratic-majority Senate, but prospects are less clear in the Republican-controlled House. Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, said last week he was more focused on attracting high-paying jobs to the state than raising the minimum wage.
