Democrats Divided on Ending the Tax on Social Security Benefits

A new report from MinnPost is highlighting the growing divide between DFL leadership and the few swing-district Democrats that got them their narrow majority. 

It’s been less than a year since Democrats used the position of eliminating the tax on Social Security benefits as a cornerstone of their campaigns. However, the prospects of a narrow majority had Governor Tim Walz and House and Senate leadership changing their tune on the policy, flip-flopping on the tax elimination and putting many swing district Democrats in an uncomfortable position. 

Now one senate Democrat is saying the legislation isn’t dead, despite party leaders still not being on board. 

From MinnPost: 

“Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, said a bill to eliminate the state tax will be part of a larger tax plan advanced by Senate Democrats in negotiations with House DFLers and Gov. Tim Walz. Key Democrats, including Walz, still oppose the idea.” 

If anything, it’s clear Democrats are divided between keeping the few legislators who campaigned on ending the tax on Social Security benefits happy and ensuring the party’s dream wish list becomes a reality. The concept of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits is a widely accepted practice, with Minnesota just 1 of 11 states left double taxing its seniors. Combine that with a $19 billion surplus generated from overtaxing working Minnesotans, DFLers refusing to alleviate the burdens facing seniors is just another example of the greed adopted by left-wing lawmakers in St. Paul.