Jim Hood in U.S. News and World Report

On Social Security: Encourage more state retirees to run for state legislature

The Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System is on track to update its rules to let retired state government workers collect pension benefits while serving in the Legislature. The new rule would affect people who win legislative seats in this year's round of state elections. For years, the Mississippi retirement system had a rule that state elected officials could not receive salaries and pension benefits at the same time. Attorney General Jim Hood issued a legal opinion contradicting that rule.

The once obscure question of whether retired public employees can collect state pensions while serving in the Mississippi Legislature looms large in some Democrats' electoral hopes for 2019 [by allowing more experienced candidates to run for the state legislature]. Hood accused Republicans of trying to pressure the pension system board to flout his opinion or delay complying until after the March 1 election qualifying deadline. That could cut retired public employees running for office.

Source: US News & World Report on 2019 Mississippi Governor's race Feb 12, 2019

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Page last updated: Aug 01, 2023