Sandy Pappas

Oct 14, 2015

Commission dives into arcane world of pensions

Lawmakers wrestle with ensuring benefits for state retirees

May 9, 2014

The Capitol Note: House and Senate have deal on second round of tax cuts

The legislation would cut an estimated $103 million in revenue during the current biennium, with an out-biennium tax reduction of $118 million for 2016-2017. An initially slow-moving conference committee, kept many of the House's property tax cut proposals intact, but drifted closer to the Senate tax reduction target.

Apr 24, 2014

The Capitol Note: Senate passes WESA, now negotiations begin

Questions were piling up, and progress on a long agenda was beginning to drag during Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement. Commission co-chair Rep. Tim ...

Sep 13, 2013

Pension board wrestles with long-range returns

State lawmakers who focus on pension issues are faced with the thankless task of trying to predict the financial future as they weigh the health of the state’s public pension plans.

Jun 5, 2013

Day care providers file second lawsuit seeking to halt unionization bill

A dozen child care providers filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to have legislation that allows them to unionize tossed out as unconstitutional. The legal complaint argues that the controversial law, which is set to take effect on July 1, violates the First Amendment rights of day care workers by potentially requiring them to pay union dues.

May 15, 2013

Unionization bill clears Senate after epic 17-hour debate

DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas (Staff photo: Peter Bartz-Gallagher) Following an extraordinary overnight debate, the Senate passed legislation Wednesday morning allowing child care providers and personal care assistant to join labor union . The controversial proposal carried by a 35-32 vote after 17 hours on the floor, and four DFL senators ultimately joined all Republicans in voting against it.

May 8, 2013

Unionization bill clears Senate committee on second try

Legislation that would allow child care providers and personal care assistants to join labor unions was sent to the Senate floor on a 12-10 vote Wednesday evening. The bill cleared the Senate Finance Committee without a recommendation of support, the third committee it has advanced out of without explicit backing from its members.

May 8, 2013

Day care, PCA unions bill meets resistance

No bill has faced a more tortuous path this legislative session than a proposal to allow child care workers and personal care assistants to unionize.

May 6, 2013

Child care, PCA unionization bill fails in finance committee

Legislation that would allow child care providers and personal care assistants to unionize was defeated in the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. The surprise legislative setback came in the final committee before the bill would have been taken up on the Senate floor.

May 1, 2013

‘Prosperity Act’ clears Senate chamber

The Minnesota Senate has passed the “Prosperity Act” -- better known as the “Dream Act” -- which would allow undocumented immigrants to receive instate tuition rates. The bill would also allow undocumented students to receive financial aid and scholarships if the students go to a Minnesota high school for at least three years and graduate.

May 1, 2013

Take two: Senate defeats, then passes, its tax bill

In an embarrassing misstep, the Senate’s omnibus tax bill was initially defeated on a 34-32 vote Monday. But after a brief caucus meeting, DFLers returned to the floor and passed the bill on a 35-31 vote.

Apr 29, 2013

Conference committees on key finance bills take shape

With most major finance bills clearing the House and Senate floors, attention will now turn towards conference committees this week. Conferees on several bills have already been appointed by legislative leaders.