Every two to four years as we approach an election, you hear that we want to “take your IPERS away.”  It couldn’t be further from the truth.

 

To those state and local government employees who care deeply about this issue, let me be crystal clear: Under my watch, your IPERS is safe. It will not change; it will be protected; and you will have the retirement you were promised. Period.

I understand that these Iowans are basing their retirement on this. I am one of those individuals. I spent 19 years as a local government official; I spent two years in the Iowa Senate; my daughter is a public school teacher. We’re all counting on IPERS. The public servants are counting on the system they were promised when entering public service.

 

As governor, I am reiterating that this promise will be kept. We will maintain and honor the commitments made to people in the IPERS system.

 

I am also proud that Iowa’s financial position will keep IPERS strong for many years to come. Everywhere you look in our state, you see wages going up and taxes going down. Iowa’s state budget is balanced and we have a $127 million surplus. There’s more money in our state’s rainy day fund than when I first took office in 2011. Because of fiscal responsibility, we will keep taxes low and maintain important priorities like IPERS.

 

The fact is Iowa is moving in the right direction, and a vote for me is a vote to keep Iowa moving.