The minimum amount of money an employee can be paid is something that tends to make headlines at least every few years.  Federal lawmakers and other states across the nation are exploring options, with some taking action this session.

State Senator Jake Chapman is on the Senate Labor and Business committee and says while it was brought up this session, he doesn’t believe it will come to a floor vote this year.

Senator Chapman says he thinks the minimum wage issue stems from a much bigger problem.

” The concern that I have is not minimum wage, but having adults stuck at minimum wage jobs.  What we need to do as a state is create opportunity both from a job perspective, as well as the apprenticeship program and the job training program, to help these folks advance, move up the ladder and earn more” says Chapman.

Though he says the economic issue associated with raising minimum wage also concerns him.

“There are numerous studies that show while you’re trying to help those folks you could actually hurt those folks because you typically don’t get laid off, but their hours change.  So if you’re in the hospitality industry or in a restaurant for example, your margins of profit are so slim that to offset a mandate in increased wages, you offset that by changing full time to part time to reduce your benefits for example.”

Chapman says he thinks the first action shouldn’t be taken at the state level.  He says since the federal government is discussing this right now he doesn’t feel it would be wise for Iowa to “jump in front of that cart”.

Overall, Senator Chapman says the goal is to keep Iowa competitive, bring good jobs to the state and make sure residents have a good quality of life.