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.

Correctional Officers Federally Recognized as Public Safety Employees

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New Bill for Corrections seat on the PERA Board

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MAPE and Teamsters gearing up for pension raid?

Currently there's an MSRS Correctional Plan Eligibility Work Group looking at who and should and should not be in the MSRS (State) Correctional Plan. The recommendations are due to the LCPR by January 10, 2025. As always there's a letter citing MAPE and Teamsters desire to add Probation Officers to both the MSRS and PERA Correctional Plans . Because why wouldn't they try this again out of our sight? Last year of course there was the Bill to add Dispatch to our Correctional Plan, and Rep. Wolgamott (the author) stated the issue was not dead. We fully expect another attempt this year. The last line of MAPE's letter says it all: This upcoming session will be challenging with possibly probation and dispatch both making a run at our pension. MNCORA will be watching. We plan to again submit a Bill to add a CO to the PERA Board (Something State CO's have). Last year Representative Niska authored it, but the LCPR declined to give it a hearing. This session Rep. Niska w...

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