LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Political success requires a full-time commitment
On March 26, the halls of the State House should once again be filled to capacity with State PBA members.
State PBA Day in Trenton has grown over the years to coincide with the expansion and success of the PBA’ s political activity. The positive reaction from legislators and government leaders to the overflowing crowd of law enforcement officers in Trenton on that day is further proof
ROB NIXON
– if proof were needed – that the State PBA is firmly committed to being active and engaged politically and legislatively at a moment’ s notice.
Some members might wonder why we should go through the effort of going to Trenton when there are no Senate and Assembly elections in 2018. There are two excellent reasons: The first relates to the State PBA’ s commitment to continually lobby the NJ State Legislature. It is highly anticipated that on March 26, the Senate and Assembly will vote on our landmark legislation, Senate Bill 5, to revise the management and investment powers of the PFRS.
After nearly 20 years of mismanagement and poor investment strategies, the time has come to put PFRS into the hands of independent managers who will work exclusively for the members and retirees of the system, and not the political powers in Trenton. There should be no greater cause for PBA members than the preservation and funding of your pensions. Coming to Trenton in large numbers to support this bill sends a message to your representatives that you are watching and that you expect them to support your pensions by voting“ YES” on this important bill.
The second reason we ask for your participation at State PBA Day in Trenton involves the long-range goals of political activism. As an institution in New Jersey, the State PBA has a long history of leadership in public policy and politics. But your past isn’ t enough to lead you to success in Trenton, and the past eight years should have proved that clearly enough. All that is standing between you and another attack on your pensions, benefits and bargaining rights is the continuous, focused and unified political activity of the State PBA.
Political action shouldn’ t be reserved just for election years. It is not a simple matter of Democrat vs. Republican. It should not be for the short term, for one single issue or one single election.
Success in politics requires a full-time, year-round commitment to engaging the decision-makers who hold your career and your future in their hands. Everything you have on the job, in your paycheck and in your pension will be decided through an act by a politician or an appointed government official. Considering the value of your service and the sacrifices you make on the job, there is too much at stake to sit back and wait for a few weeks prior to the next election to“ get involved.”
The NJ State PBA leadership has made a commitment to daily communication with legislators, and our lobbying efforts never stop. But your efforts, your voices and your presence must be felt to solidify that effort and leave its mark.
In that sense, March 26 is merely just another date on the calendar. This visit to the State House isn’ t designed to be a oneand-done. What you can do to support our efforts, and in essence support your career, is to be engaged every day.
Whether or not you can make it to Trenton on March 26, there are a number of things you can do to build on our success. Get engaged in your Local, if you aren’ t already, and participate in the events generating political activity. Stop by your legislators’ offices to let them know you’ re a PBA member and you simply want to introduce yourself. Write them a letter about issues we are working on( yes, letters still make an impression). Or simply send an email to support the State PBA when we are fighting for or against an issue. Every legislator’ s email, address and phone number can be found at www. njleg. state. nj. us.
These activities may just take a moment out of your day, but the impression you can make will not be forgotten in Trenton. Legislators will leave the State House on March 26 with visions of PBA shirts imprinted in their minds, and we can’ t afford to let that vision fade. If they hear from you regularly, the sounds of more than 30,000 PBA members will be ringing in their ears when they talk to State President Colligan, Executive Vice President Kovar or me when it counts. d
10 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MARCH 2018