Candidate Comparison:

Iowa Senate

Michael-Franken

Michael “Mike” Franken (D)

Chuck-Grassley

Chuck Grassley (R)

Wages

Franken supports raising the minimum wage. He said, “I think we need to bump up our minimum wage,” noting that worker most impacted by a $15 minimum wage “work in day care, food service, and other crucial forms of labor.” [1]	Grassley has consistently voted against raising the minimum wage to $15. Grassley voted to block the consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthened penalties against sex discrimination in wages. [2]

Paid Time Off & Sick Leave

Franken said that men and women should have access to paid family and sick leave, and he believes it should be secured at the federal level. [3]	Grassley has voted against expanding paid sick leave and paid family leave again and again, even in the middle of the pandemic. He voted to end federally mandated sick pay and family leave. He also voted against funds to allow workers to earn paid sick leave. [4]

Helping Essential Workers

Franken has supported President Biden’s pandemic recovery efforts. He said that the federal government should provide accessible testing to essential workers. Franken advocated for better standards for meatpacking workers and said that “we need to slow the plant, require PPE, and do more to protect workers.” [5]	Throughout the pandemic Grassley has stood firm with businesses over working families. He voted against numerous pandemic recovery bills, and he argued that businesses and other groups should be shielded from legal responsibilities related to COVID-19. to Iowa’s unemployment insurance fund. [6]

Health Care

Franken has said that one of his top priorities in the Senate would be health care access, saying that people “can’t work and not [be able to] afford healthcare.” He supports a “healthcare system designed to provide quality, single payer healthcare— for everyone,” including vision and dental care.” [7]	Grassley voted against the Affordable Care Act and has voted for multiple efforts to repeal all or portions of it, including protections with pre-existing conditions. [8]

Economic Insecurity & Inflation

Franken applauded President Biden’s signing the Inflation Reduction Act, noting “It’s a good-news bill, unlike previous bills that have been passed, or handouts that have been given to mostly corporate entities or those industries that are hazard by bad trade policy in the previous administration.” Franken said the new law will also modestly reduce the federal budget deficit. [9]	In 2017, Grassley voted to reduce the corporate tax rate, resulting in at least 60 companies, including Amazon, Chevron, Starbucks, and Darden Restaurants paying zero federal taxes the following year. [10]

Unions & Labor

Franken received an endorsement from Laborers’ International Union of America (LiUNA!)	Grassley voted against the PRO Act in 2019 and in 2021. [12]
Franken stood in solidarity with United Auto Worker members on strike at a John Deere facility in Iowa, saying that “hardworking employees have earned & deserve good wages, health care, and good benefits.” [11]

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