Independence Day
Governor Murphy finally signs the bill
to give control of PFRS to public safety unions
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
The joking, extolling and statements of declaration might
not have adopted the exact tenor as what the Founding Fa-
thers experienced some 243 years – less one day - before. On
July 3, when NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan, Executive
Vice President Marc Kovar, FMBA President Ed Donnelly and
members of other New Jersey public safety unions watched
Governor Phil Murphy sign Senate Bill 5 into the law that
makes the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) and its
pension independent from state management that has run it
aground the past 20 years, it was no less historic.
Three years of relentless and groundbreaking bill-making
and lobbying nearly stalled at the 2-yard line as the governor
explained about circumstances a couple of months ago, when
he conditionally vetoed the bill that passed the General As-
sembly and State Senate all but unanimously. As Murphy stat-
ed before the signing that “New Jersey is in a better place for
this,” he apparently validated a right that dates back to that
declaration signed on July 4, 1776: “In the course of human
events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bands which have connected them with another and
to assume among the powers of the earth.”
Before putting his John Hancock on the bill, the governor
cracked a few jokes, including musing that the set of four
modern-day quills included in the ceremony were official
Phillip D. Murphy pens. Colligan and Donnelly stood in for-
mation behind Murphy with representatives from the state’s
two other law enforcement and fire unions to provide a proud
backdrop for this event – and perhaps keep an eye on the gov-
ernor to make sure he signed the bill.
At the end of the day, the PBA was able to hold these truths
to be self-evident that they were now endowed by the state
with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, lib-
erty and the pursuit of a PFRS system that will work to ensure
its members will always have their pensions.
“It’s finally getting the touchdown,” sighed President Colli-
gan as he walked out of the governor’s office in Trenton, fur-
thering the governor’s apropos analogy. “It’s been 745 downs
over three years of inching toward the goal line. With the way
pensions are under attack, to have one preserved and en-
hanced and know that it’s going to be well-managed and not
taken away with the swipe of a pen, this is groundbreaking
pension news around the country.”
Independence Day came a day early for PFRS members,
and Kovar confirmed why it was an historic day.
“Because years from now – long after I’m gone – our mem-
bers will still be getting their pensions,” he accentuated.
“Members should focus on the fact that they are going to have
their pensions for the rest of their lives.”
Amidst all the back-slapping, enthusiasm and posing for
historic photos, Governor Murphy declared, “This is a big
Governor Phil Murphy signs Senate Bill 5 in front of representatives from
New Jersey’s public safety unions, including NJ State PBA President Pat
Colligan (second from left) and FMBA President Ed Donnelly (second from
right).
From left, NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan, Governor Phil Murphy and
Executive Vice President Marc Kovar pose for a celebratory photo after the
signing of Senate Bill 5.
one.” And by making good on a declaration he made to the
PBA when campaigning last year, he had reason to be so up-
beat.
“It shows if you do right by pension housekeeping, wheth-
er it’s governance or keeping the investments up to snuff,
you can get to a good place,” the governor explained. “But it
had to done right. It had to work for everybody to make it as
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