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PERA, Pensions, Legislators and why things don't get done

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.






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