1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Dear Governor Reynolds: Your DOGE task force is planning to eliminate IPERS based on recommendations from corporate CEOs who will profit from managing workers' 401k accounts. I demand you protect IPERS, ensure ALL Iowans have representation, and address every conflict of interest immediately. IPERS WORKS FOR IOWA IPERS provides guaranteed retirement security for teachers, highway workers, and state employees who earned benefits through decades of service. IPERS is 82% funded with no taxpayer bailout ever needed. Administrative costs are 0.16% - among the lowest nationwide. Wall Street 401k plans consume 20-30% through fees while market crashes destroy security. Average 401k balance at retirement is $65,000 - poverty level. CORPORATE CONFLICTS EXPOSED Your task force members have direct financial conflicts: Reynolds Cramer (Fareway CEO): Benefits when state cuts employee compensation. Terry Lutz: Has relationships with 401k firms profiting from IPERS privatization. Emily Schmitt: Corporate consulting creates pension reform business opportunities. ZERO REPRESENTATION Your task force has ZERO current IPERS members, ZERO retirees, ZERO teachers, ZERO state workers deciding the fate of benefits they earned while corporate CEOs who never served Iowa make recommendations. THREE DEMANDS 1 PROTECT IPERS - Guarantee IPERS will not be eliminated. No privatization. No benefit reductions. 2 ADD REPRESENTATION - Immediately add: 3 IPERS members, 2 retirees, 1 independent actuary, 1 taxpayer advocate. 3 DISCLOSE CONFLICTS - Financial disclosure from ALL members by August 15. Independent ethics review required. PRIVATIZATION FAILURES Alaska eliminated pensions in 2006 - teacher shortage crisis resulted. Michigan's 1997 closure caused severe shortages and $7 billion liabilities. West Virginia's attempt cost $30 million in Wall Street fees before restoration. ELECTORAL CONSEQUENCES IPERS affects 375,000+ Iowa workers and retirees who will remember who protected benefits. Legislators voting to eliminate IPERS will face primary challenges and election opposition. You can be remembered as protecting Iowa workers or selling them out to corporations. I expect written commitment within 14 days to protect IPERS, add public representatives, require conflict disclosure, and submit to ethics review. Iowa workers earned their benefits through decades of service. Corporate CEOs have no right to steal what workers earned. Stand with Iowa workers. Honor promises made. Reject corporate theft. Respectfully,