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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JULY 2014
Government Affairs
New PBA leadership
well-prepared for Trenton
As the PBA lobbyist for nearly 20
years, I have witnessed a tremendous
amount of change and growth within
and around the organization in that
time. Each of those years has certainly brought out its share of challenges, none
more so than in the last few. But those challenges have always been met by tremendous
leadership in the legislature, in court or in the
Board of Delegates meetings.
State House
Report
Rob Nixon
So it stands to reason that the new leadership at the top of
the PBA will also soon be faced with addressing challenges
with the state and local governments. What I have seen since
July 1 is a leadership with a strategy, a purpose and a loyalty
to the men and women of the NJ State PBA to take on any
challenge that lies in our path. Pat Colligan and Marc Kovar
know what they want to accomplish in Trenton and they have
already hit the ground running.
Every PBA member knows by now the issues that the state
and local governments are pursuing relating to eliminating
pensions, benefits and collective bargaining rights. There has
never been a period when these things have been more
under attack. As it stands today, talk of “hybrid pensions” and
retiree health benefit cuts remain only talking points. But it is
clear from his own comments, and my talks with his staff,
that the governor is working on another set of pension and
benefit proposals. What these will be remains to be seen. The
legislature certainly has expressed little interest in revisiting
pension reform, especially after the governor failed to make
the legally required pension payment as part of his deal on
Chapter 78.
Fortunately, Pat Colligan and Marc Kovar are not novices
in need of a learning curve in dealing with these issues. Few
PBA members know PFRS and its process better than Pat Colligan. As the PBA Pension and Benefits Coordinator and as a
member of the PFRS Local Government Committee established by Chapter 78, Pat was already an integral part of the
State PBA strategy discussions over the last few years. Pat has
been a leader in the internal review and implementation of
the PBA Voter Registration process and he has spoken strong-
ly for years about the role PBA members could play
in elections.
Marc Kovar knows the nuances of collective bargaining like few around him. As chairman of the PBA
Collective Bargaining Committee, he has a keen
understanding of the strategy that is occurring on both sides
of the table. Marc is no stranger to our federal, state and local
elected officials either, and his experience in North Jersey
political circles has been marked by fierce loyalty and an ability to deliver in close elections.
The State PBA President and Executive Vice-President
therefore have already been baptized by fire in the two most
critical topics the State PBA must fight to protect and that
some in government wish to deny PBA members.
Though summer is traditionally a slow time in Trenton, it
will be anything but slow for the State PBA. Meetings have
already started to take place with each of the Democratic and
Republican leaders of the NJ State Senate and General
Assembly. But more than just a meet-and-greet road show,
these meetings will serve as an information-gathering session, as well as a chance to establish the State PBA agenda for
the remainder of the Legislative Session. By the end of August,
nobody in Trenton will question where the PBA stands under
the new leadership.
PBA President Colligan has directed me to take a very
aggressive approach in strengthening our relationships and
rebuilding those broken the past few years. By fall, the PBA
President and State Delegates will be advised to urge their
members to join us in Trenton for special events in the State
House. November will bring an election for members of Congress, and PBA members will be challenged to hit the polls to
support our friends.
It is only by political activism in the legislature and in the
voting booth that the State PBA can influence the process that
governs your job and your retirement. PBA President Colligan will certainly have much more to say on that over the next
few months. If the PBA wants to turn the corner and restore
the rights its members have earned, every member must listen carefully when the President sounds the call to action. d