Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE Committee Proposal Threatens Pensions of Over 414,000 Iowa Public Workers

Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE Committee Proposal Threatens Pensions of Over 414,000 Iowa Public Workers

DES MOINES, IA – At a recent committee meeting, Governor Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE task force suggested “eliminating IPERS benefits,” including “health care and retirement benefits,” and “replacing it with a defined contribution program” more in line with the private sector, as reported by Iowa Public Radio.

Following the news on these recommendations, candidate for governor Rob Sand released the following statement:

“Police officers, firefighters, teachers, plow drivers, and more paid into IPERS and should be thanked for their service. They take salaries lower than typical private sector salaries, some because of the promise of IPERS. This proposal could result in reductions of retirement benefits that these workers have already paid into for years. Weakening IPERS will stop many people from taking public service jobs, leaving the public worse off and more key roles unfilled. The best way to protect taxpayer dollars would be to restore the State Auditor’s power to find misspent money – watchdogs of all political stripes agree the new law encourages waste and abuse. As governor, I’ll do that, and honor IPERS.”

One in 10 Iowans rely on IPERS as part of their retirement income. This proposal could put the pensions of over 414,000 Iowa public workers at risk, impact public employees directly as well as any Iowan who does business with them, and leave taxpayers on the hook to cover any budget shortfalls as a result.

Since the committee’s proposal was reported, there has been wide, bipartisan opposition. Public sector employees usually have lower salaries, and are underpaid by about 10 percent after including pensions. In 2018, Gov. Kim Reynolds ran for reelection touting her support for IPERS, promising she would “protect and defend” IPERS and calling claims otherwise a “scare tactic.”

As State Auditor, Rob identified record amounts of misspent taxpayer money – uncovering the most waste, fraud, and abuse in a single term than any other State Auditor in Iowa history. In return, the Iowa state legislature passed – and Governor Kim Reynolds signed – a bill gutting the ability of the Auditor’s Office to find misspent money.

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