The President’s Message
NEW JERSEY STATE
POLICEMEN’S BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE BOARD
PATRICK COLLIGAN
State President
MARC KOVAR
Executive Vice-President
Peter Andreyev 1st Vice-President
Andy Haase 2nd Vice-President
Henry Werner 3rd Vice-President
Michael Pellegrino 4th Vice-President
Domenic Cappella 5th Vice-President
Mark Aurigemma 6th Vice-President
Mark Messinger 7th Vice-President
Eugene Dello 8th Vice-President
Keith Bennett 9th Vice-President
Richard Kott 10th Vice-President
Bruce Chester 11th Vice-President
Margaret Hammond 12th Vice-President
Michael Kaniuk Financial Secretary
George Miller Recording Secretary
John Monsees Treasurer
Frederick Ludd, Sr. Trustee
Luke Sciallo Trustee
Frank P. Cipully Trustee
John Cernek Trustee
Ed Carattini, Jr. Trustee
Michael Freeman Trustee
Bryan Flammia Trustee
Robert Ormezzano Sergeant-at-Arms
Joseph Biamonte Sergeant-at-Arms
Terrance Benson, Sr. Sergeant-at-Arms
Rodney Furby Sergeant-at-Arms
Charles Schwartz Sergeant-at-Arms
Patrick Moran Sergeant-at-Arms
Joseph A. Macones Sergeant-at-Arms
Sean Plasket Sergeant-at-Arms
Michael Tardio Sergeant-at-Arms
Michael Heller Sergeant-at-Arms
Keith Curry Sergeant-at-Arms
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NEW JERSEY COPS
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FEBRUARY 2016
How’s that 2-percent
cap feel, Governor?
Well, we all know that it’s virtually impossible to live on less than 2 percent. As I write this following the Iowa Caucus, our governor now knows
what a pittance 1.8 percent is. Tough to survive on less than 2 percent, isn’t
it, Governor? Believe me, we learned that lesson a while ago.
Now, let’s pretend that the GOP wanted to force you to pay up to 35 percent for some of its expenses. No negotiating; they’re just gonna change
the rules halfway through your presidential campaign. For argument’s
Patrick
sake, we’ll call them healthcare expenses. Let’s pretend the Party said, “You
Colligan
don’t have enough skin in the game, Mr. Presidential Candidate.” So now
you earn 1.8 percent and they want a third of their healthcare expenses.
I’m still a lousy mathematician, but that sounds to me like you’d be sliding into negative
territory. How do you like our world, Governor?
We’ve been stuck on that campaign tour bus since 2011. Welcome aboard, Mr. Christie;
we feel your pain. As I write this, the polls had him in seventh place out of eight in New
Hampshire. I guess they finally discovered the real Chris Christie. I was starting to wonder
if New Hampshire even had the internet. By the time you are reading this, we will know if
he stayed under the 2-percent cap in New Hampshire. I’m willing to bet how that will turn
out.
At the Feb. 2 State PBA meeting, Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar and I were proud
to announce that we have been elected to a three-year term along with our entire Executive Board. Personally, I am extraordinarily humbled in your confidence to lead this
organization and incredibly excited to continue the momentum that we started in July of
2014. We spent decades not really having to do much to receive the things we wanted
from Trenton, and it certainly lulled us into a period of being able to watch from the sidelines as the past PBA leadership tallied the successes. Then came a loud crash with
declines in the economy and the election of a governor hell-bent on destroying the hard
work, dedication and reputation of public employees throughout this state. We asked you
to help and give us a hand and I really couldn’t be prouder of the response. Trenton Day,
voting, the PAC, the phone banks… the list goes on and on. You helped make us look
good.
If you’ve been sitting and watching us from the sidelines so far, we still need your help.
If you’re wondering what we’ve been doing for you then you simply haven’t been paying
attention. Our “Second Trenton Day” will be March 3 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the State
House. If you can give us just one hour, I’ll take it. If you can give us the day, I’ll take that,
too. Help us send the message that law enforcement isn’t just watching anymore. Help us
show the legislators that it just isn’t Marc and I. Let them see that 33,000 members will no
longer accept an attack on our pensions, benefits and working conditions and continue
to watch from the cheap seats.
And finally, here is the first of “many” conversations you will see about the pension
funding constitutional amendment that will appear on this year’s ballot. If you sit out this
year’s election, shame on you. You will have no greater opportunity in your entire career
to help protect your pension. If we ever needed 30 minutes of your life, we will need you
this November. We will have the opportunity this year to truly force the state to make its
pension payments. Stay tuned for that conversation.
Once again, thank you for letting us lead you for the next three years. We are proud to
represent the sacrifice and bravery that you display every single day for the citizens of this
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