SAINT PAUL, MN – Late yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed its Omnibus State Government Finance bill. The bill deeply cuts state government by $90 million and includes a controversial provision, removing the state’s contribution to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Association (MERF) by 62.5%.
State Rep. Raymond Dehn (DFL- Minneapolis), who opposed the legislation issued the following statement:
“Yesterday’s State Government Finance bill is yet another example of the GOP’s hypocrisy when it comes to local control. Forcing the City of Minneapolis to foot the bill for their city employees’ pensions is unconscionable. With their ALEC backed preemption legislation, Republicans aimed to take away local government control. Now, they are shifting a large portion of the state’s share of local pensions back onto the city. This is evidence that Republicans only like local control when it benefits them and their wealthy corporate friends.”
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