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Committee OK's State Tax Exemption For Non-Contribs |
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MAY 1999 - In
a landmark first step, the Joint Taxation Committee, chaired by Senator
Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury) and Representative John Rogers
(D-Norwood), voted in favor of S-1588, which would exempt the pensions
of non-contributory retirees, who are veterans, from state income tax.
Non-contrib veterans, who currently number about 4,000, qualify for
their unique status as public retirees if they worked before July 1939.
"We
applaud this action by the Committee, and its chairs, so early in the
legislative session," says Association President Ralph White. "This is
the first time in recent history that the Tax Committee has voted in
favor of this legislation."
Among
the Association's arguments for S-1588, which we will continue to make
as we push for final enactment, has been that these veterans deserve
the same tax exempt status recently given by the Legislature to
military pensioners. Their special circumstances (i.e., military
service plus public service before 7/1/39) justify classifying their
pensions as tax exempt.
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Legislation 
