NJ Cops March2018 | Page 7

Marc Kovar Executive Vice President NJSPBA relationships help legislation to take control of PFRS move forward Nothing is more important to the NJSPBA than the fair and proper handling of our pension funds. We continue to work on legislation that would allow law enforcement officers and fire- fighters to control investment decisions, benefits and contribu- tion levels for our pensions. The pension system for law enforcement officers and fire- fighters is healthy. On a local level, PFRS is being 100 percent funded by employers and employees. When looking at the PFRS system aside from the state’s other public pension funds, every actuary report shows a healthy system that needs continued payments and smart investments to grow. Public safety officers should be the people with responsibility for their own retire- ment assets. Chris Christie’s failure A similar bill to create independent management of PFRS passed the state legislature in 2017, but former Governor Chris Christie vetoed it. The same Governor Christie, by the way, who felt comfortable giving control of our pension funds to political supporters and donors (while, as most of us recall, also publicly calling our PBA president a “pension pig”). PBA members are tired of hearing that PFRS benefits are “unsustainable.” The message of sustainability is the product of years of misleading information from the former governor and others who played games with contributions to the pen- sion system, including giving political supporters millions of dollars in advisory fees from our p ension funds. New governor, new direction for PFRS There are currently 85,000-plus active and retired public safety officials who are now relying, or will rely, on their PFRS retirement funds. And with Governor Phil Murphy in office, the NJ State PBA is again lobbying to take control of PFRS and pen- sion management. State President Pat Colligan and I have met with successful national public employee pension fund managers and state and local government leaders looking for ways to keep the PFRS secure. These are our pension funds, so it makes sense for us to control these assets and keep our pension funds out of the hands of Trenton politicians. The current legislation, Senate Bill 5, was reintroduced and has been approved in two Senate committees: Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Com- mittee and the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Senate President Steve Sweeney, the bill’s sponsor, told the media in February that law enforcement officers and firefight- ers would be entrusted as fiduciaries of the pension fund and, as such, would be deeply invested in its well-being. NJSPBA political relationships matter As with most of our important legislation, keeping it moving through the legislative process is time-consuming and inevita- bly controversial. Currently, some elected officials are attack- ing this bill, and, at the same time, saying that their opposition is not “anti-police or fire.” This is the same BS from politicians who have failed us and our pension system in the past. On this NJ State PBA Day at the State Legislature March 26 NJ State House 125 W. State St., Trenton Meet at 9 a.m. issue and other important NJSPBA issues, legislators such as Senator Declan O’Scanlon, NEVER support us. On the flip side, the relationships we have created through our political campaign operation — including NJSPBA mem- bers who have made campaign phone calls or walked door-to- door during election season on behalf of our political allies –- continue to pay dividends toward our legislative goals. Our political relationships have grown during the past four years and these relationships are helping beat back opposition to our efforts to take control of PFRS. In fact, Pat and I were quickly able to set up meetings with Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Governor Murphy’s staff as soon as any controversy arose about our pension efforts. The fact that these meetings were quickly and easily set up is a cred- it to all our efforts supporting elected officials who support law enforcement. New Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito spoke at our Mini Convention in Atlantic City. Attorney General Grewal and U.S. Attorney Carpenito both mentioned the importance of con- tinuing to build relationships. Attorney General Grewal made it clear that his office will continue to reach out to our leadership on issues that impact law enforcement and our members be- cause of the relationship that has been established. NJSPBA Trenton Day After multiple meetings with legislative leaders, S5 is moving again. Pat and I are confident that the legislation to take back control of our pension will be voted on sooner rather than later. In order to show our continued strength and resolve, I am also asking everyone to take time to join the NJSPBA at our an- nual NJSPBA Trenton Day on March 26. Trenton Day is an important part of our legislative activity. A large turnout of PBA members will send a message to leg- islators that the NJSPBA speaks and acts as one and is active, engaged and ready to march on Trenton at a moment’s notice. PBA Day in Trenton is only one time per year. It is not a lot to ask members to join us to support our union. There is no excuse. During PBA Day, members will have a chance to sit in on leg- islative committee meetings and talk with your legislators. I am encouraging all active and retired members to set time aside on March 26 to join us in Trenton. If you plan to join us, please make an appointment to meet with your state senators and as- sembly reps. Please contact me if you need help reaching out to your legislators. I also recommend wearing PBA apparel to Trenton. If we do this right, there shouldn’t be any spot in the State House that isn’t lined wall-to-wall with PBA members. d www.njcopsmagazine.com ■ MARCH 2018 7