IPERS is the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, and has 360,000 members. In 2017, a bill in the Senate proposed creating an alternative defined contribution plan for new state employees, but it didn’t go anywhere. Democrats have expressed concerns about any change to IPERS and it was often a talking point during last year’s election. During a House State Government Committee meeting the chair Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, took the opportunity to make a statement. "There is not going to be any changes to IPERS this year or next year," says Kaufmann. "That is an omnibus statement. That includes amendments. That includes budgets. That includes standings. That includes everything. There is very simply and unequivocally not going to be changes." Ranking member of the committee Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, says she appreciates Rep. Kaufmann’s adamant words about making no changes to IPERS, but she would also like to hear it from the Senate. "They have been bringing in the Reason