Kim Reynolds Walks Back Campaign Promise to ‘Protect IPERS’

Iowa’s Republican-Only DOGE Task Force Looks At Cuts to Teacher and Public Employee Compensation

Des Moines – Already consistently polling as the least popular governor in America on her way out of office, Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans are gearing up to make cuts to Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS), which Reynolds vowed to protect when she first ran for Governor.

“As a local elected official for 19 years, Gov. Reynolds understands that promises made must be promises kept. Kim Reynolds, like thousands of Iowa public servants, including her daughter, an Iowa teacher, depends on the IPERS retirement system to remain healthy and strong,” Kim Reynolds said on a campaign flyer from 2018.

Reynolds must’ve known back then that the majority of Iowans believe IPERS should be left alone and messing with public employees’ retirement is a losing issue.

“Thanks to Republican leadership, Iowa’s economy is already tanking – with our state being ranked 49th in the nation in economic growth, 48th in personal income growth, and with Iowans being saddled with medical debt faster than any other state in the nation,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. “Messing with people’s retirement income will not help Iowa’s economy. Our small businesses depend on retired public employees who live here in Iowa and spend their money in their local communities. Iowa’s public employees keep our streets safe, our children educated and our communities vibrant. They deserve a strong pension system like the one they currently have.” 

ICYMI:

• State worker groups oppose suggested IPERS cuts, new teacher pay model

• Labor unions push back against latest Iowa DOGE recommendations

###