I'm monitoring todays PERA Board meeting remotely by phone. This is an EDITORIAL post.
During the meeting while discussing Stakeholder Initiatives PERA discussed SF1122/HF139 a Bill "Increasing postretirement adjustments; decreasing the waiting period for a postretirement adjustment for the police and fire plan." The Bill was Laid Over by the Pension Commission, according to PERA because of lack of money. Fair enough.
MNCORA's Bill, HF708-SF1556 to add a correctional seat to the PERA Board was heard by the Pension Commission then "laid over" with no reason given. THIS BILL WILL NOT COST A PENNY! Last year the Pension Board didn't even give it a hearing. (Sources told us it was because there were no initial Democrat authors).
MNCORA realizes the State of Minnesota is in a dire financial condition. Last session the Democratic Trifecta ran through an $18 Billion surplus, increased the size of government exponentially (partly based on one time Federal Covid grants) and now is facing a $6 Billion shortfall. We're not trying to be partisan but this is a fact.
This Legislative session started weeks late because House Democrats stayed Home in a fight over control. They had a break for EID March 29-April 1st and now the entire legislature is going into an Easter/Passover break April 11-21! Another 10 days gone. The Legislative session ends May 19 and there seems to be no urgency judging from all the time off.
So to summarize, the State is facing a multi billion dollar shortfall of their own making, can't pass a Bill that costs nothing which will benefit thousands of PERA Correctional Plan members who contributed over one billion dollars to the fund, but can take weeks off work. Got it.