MN Lawmakers fail to pass bills before end of session

The Minnesota Legislature had until the end of session, midnight Sunday to wrap up their work.

According to Fox 9 "Lawmakers on Saturday agreed to a $4 billion tax relief package that calls for the elimination of state taxes on Social Security income, a small income tax rate cut, and an expansion of the renter's credit and an expansion of the renter's credit. But the tax bill won't pass until all spending bills are settled, because they're all part of a larger agreement."

They had agreed to eliminate the tax on Social Security and an additional $4 billion in tax relief. After all a $9 billion surplus means we are over taxed. MNCORA had supported the elimination of tax on Social Security as this would have benefited all PERA Correctional Plan members. But it didn't get finished.

Why? The tax portion was settled and signed by both parties in committee, but the Democrats in the House refused to pass those bills unless they got ALL of their spending!

The Governor may call for a Special Session but the House and Senate do not have to agree.

If that doesn't happen all of these bills are dead.

They did pass and and the Governor signed Pension legislation, but it did not include exempting PERA Pensions from State income tax.

MNCORA is very disappointed but will keep on fighting.

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BREAKING NEWS

I am updating this post after learning that according to Alpha News

"that the governor’s office instructed him to “hold off on” major spending agreements over disagreements on “Zuckerbucks and vaccines.”

Vaccines being requiring Poll Workers to have a Covid shot and Zuckerbucks being allowing outside dark money like from Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg to continue to flow into the State elections. THERE IS VIDEO.

If true as reported this would seem that Governor Walz and those going along with him were willing to deny Minnesotan's $4 Billion in tax relief including a break for Retirees on Social Security. Party above people! Disgusting.

Session summary, wins and lossses

Governor Walz signed into law the Pension Omnibus Bill yesterday, May 15. It was a busy year for MNCORA and PERA Correctional Plan Legislation. MNCORA with your help was able to stave off yet another attempt to add dispatchers to our pension. Your petitions, calls and thousands of cards mailed to legislators was a success. Sadly we are not out of the woods. Rep. Wolgamott and Rep. Her both told MNCORA that the bill to add dispatch to our pension wouldn't be added to this year's Pension Omnibus Bill, but did not say the issue was dead for next session. MNCORA had a Bill to add a Correctional Officer to the PERA Board authored by Representatives Niska , Scott and Novotny on the House side, and a companion Bill in the Senate by Senators Bahr , Abeler and eventually Frentz . Sadly Pension Commission Chair Kaohly Her did not even allow our Bill a hearing. We will be back with this next year! Another bright note was the passage of a Bill raising the high 5 multipl...

Victory on keeping Dispatch out of Correctional Pension?

It's too early to declare victory as the Legislature is still in session. However there are signs the petitions from jails across the State and Cards to the Pension Commission are having the desired effect. Chair of the Pension Commission, Rep. Her wrote us saying- " Thank you for the letters. I always appreciate feedback. HF4796/SF4958 was not included in the Pension Omnibus bill. " Author of HF4796, Rep. Wolgamott wrote us and said- "Thank you for sharing your input regarding HF 4796. The bill will not receive a committee hearing and will not be moving through the legislative process this session. I hope you will continue to stay in touch and keep me updated with MNCORA’s perspective on issues and legislation affecting your members." There are still ways to sneak it in so we won't rest until the session is over, but we are cautiously optimistic. We thought the issue was settled after the Workgroup two years ago, but here it is again. Our hope is they ge...

PERA Correctional seat on the PERA Board, next step

Bill HF4342 authored by Rep. Niska and Scott now has a companion bill in the Senate, SF4464 authored by Sen. Bahr and co-authored by Sen. Abeler. MNCORA is thankful for the support of these Representatives and Senators. If passed for the first time a PERA Correctional Officer will have a seat on the PERA Board. The next step is for the Pension Commission to give it a hearing. If it is not heard the bill will die. What can you do? The Chair of the Pension Commission is Representative Her. This is her contact information: Phone 651-296-8799 E-mail: rep.kaohly.her@house.mn.gov The Vice chair on the Senate side is Senator Frentz. This is his contact information: Phone 651-296-6153 E-Mail sen.nick.frentz@senate.mn PLEASE contact them and ask them to have the Pension Commission give it a hearing and then contact your Representative and Senator and ask them to support these Bills. Make your voice heard!

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