Making Your Voice Heard
Advocating for what is important to our members and giving you a voice at the state and federal levels is a priority for AARP Minnesota. Your voice matters. We work with local organizations and town and city officials on making our communities more livable and greater places to age with dignity and purpose.
In a historic win for family caregivers and workers, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a state-administered insurance program allowing workers to take time off to care for themselves, a family member or a loved one. AARP also pushed for new laws to help workers save for retirement, lower drug costs, increase investments to help seniors age in place, and Social Security and property tax relief.
AARP Minnesota lists ending taxation of benefits as one of its top legislative priorities for 2023. “With a historic $17.6 billion [budget] surplus, it’s time to stop taxing these hard-earned benefits,” AARP State Director Cathy McLeer wrote in a Jan. 10 letter to lawmakers.
AARP has long advocated for Social Security tax relief. While we have appreciated past legislative actions that have provided some state relief for beneficiaries, the fact remains that more retirees are paying taxes on their benefits. With a historic $17.6 billion surplus, it’s time to stop taxing these hard-earned benefits.
The expectation of a comfortable retirement is no longer a reality for far too many Americans, especially those who work for small businesses. Minnesota is part of a national movement seeking to reverse this trend. AARP Minnesota is calling on lawmakers to pass the MN Secure Choice Retirement Program (HF 782; Becker-Finn /SF 413; Pappas), which allows workers to set aside wages through an easily accessible savings program.
AARP Minnesota commends Governor Walz on the proposed One Minnesota budget that includes measures that will support older adults and their family caregivers to address our state’s rapidly aging demographic. However, AARP is disappointed the Governor’s budget doesn’t provide more Social Security tax relief for Minnesota retirees.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (HF2; Richardson/SF2; Mann) would allow working family caregivers in Minnesota to take time off from their paid jobs without the fear of losing their paycheck.
Advocating for what is important to our members and giving you a voice at the state and federal levels is a priority for AARP Minnesota. Your voice matters. We work with local organizations and town and city officials to make our communities more livable and places to age with dignity and purpose. Our advocacy efforts have been nonpartisan since our founding in 1958.
AARP Minnesota's 100-plus volunteers are invaluable in keeping important topics front and center with lawmakers.
President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on Aug. 16. This historic legislation will help millions of Medicare enrollees better afford their life-sustaining medications, and millions more Americans will be able to pay their Affordable Care Act premiums.
AARP Files Comments with the PUC Opposing Xcel Energy’s Request To Discontinue the In-Person Visit Before Disconnecting Electric Services. AARP believes that the health and safety of impacted individuals could be threatened by eliminating an in-person visit attempt. Requiring a door hanger to be left at the house may be the most effective way to reach many such individuals. Use of telephone or other electronic communications may not reach the vulnerable populations. Our concerns about safety in this regard are especially true since our summers are getting hotter and the disconnection of electric service could put health at risk without having air conditioning. Since filing our comments, Xcel Energy has reached out to us and is interested in seeing if there is any compromise we might reach before a hearing at the PUC.
AARP has a long history of nonpartisan voter engagement. As a nonpartisan organization, we don’t support or contribute to political candidates, parties or campaigns — and never have.
