Exclusive: Iowa's state medical director received 45% pay raise

[progressoid]

The base pay for Iowa’s medical director and state epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati increased by 45 percent as the current fiscal year began on July 1, records obtained by Bleeding Heartland show. The additional $3,144 that Pedati began receiving per two-week pay period would translate to an extra $81,744 in base salary over twelve months.

The doctor leading the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response also received more than $55,000 in overtime pay from March through early July, even though her job class would not normally be eligible for overtime compensation.

AN UNUSUALLY LARGE RAISE FOR STATE GOVERNMENT

Pedati’s base pay was $7,050.40 per two-week pay period from March through late June. It rose to $10,194.40 during the pay period that ran from June 26 through July 9, according to Department of Administrative Services records. That agency’s spokesperson Tami Wiencek confirmed via email the information reflects raises in the pay period including July 1.

State employees typically receive modest salary increases at the start of a fiscal year. Pedati’s biweekly pay had increased from $6,844.80 when she joined the Iowa Department of Public Health in 2018 to $7,050.40 the following fiscal year. The 30 other state employees whose recent records Bleeding Heartland reviewed–all of whom earn more than $100,000 annually–saw their biweekly pay increase by amounts ranging from $85 to $122 as the 2021 fiscal year began.

more...https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2020/08/03/exclusive-iowas-state-medical-director-received-45-pay-raise/?fbclid=IwAR3lsyGq18KYbU661ImxlG91zRWb7MGJgYXskHLDYONN9t35fv5UUPJAtfQ

[Cairycat]

1. you should read the article

it's long, detailed, jaw-dropping, and scary.

I think if mainstream Iowa media dug half as deep as Laurie Belin, the R's would not get away with nearly so much sneaky shit.

[progressoid]

3. It's no wonder that Kovid Kim and the IA GOP don't want Belin to have press credentials.

Laura would tear them apart.

https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2020/02/14/am-i-a-member-of-the-media-iowa-republican-leaders-still-say-no/

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. I'm guessing this person is willing to tow the Party Line on public health in return

for a substantial income boost. Such is the way of Republican politics. Ideology over science.

[rurallib]

4. Thanks so much for posting this. I usually do not read bleedingheartland

because she goes so deep in the weeds. But that is really what blogging is supposed to be about and Belin is great at what she does.

I have been wondering how Pedati has been able to keep he job. Her job seems to be little more than to make Reynolds look good. Apparently that is just what Reynolds wants.

Looks like in the Reynolds administration following the boss is job #1.