Turlock Firefighters

IAFF: Pension Facts Reveal Political Lies

Feb 7, 2011

Newly released data about state and local government pensions sharply contradict statements by politicians who are attacking fire fighters and paramedics with scurrilous statements about pension funding, the International Association of Fire Fighters said.

A fact sheet and issue brief released jointly Feb. 1 by 10 nonpartisan national, state, and local government organizations pointed to the solvency of the overwhelming majority of pension funds, which have more than $2.7 trillion in assets held in trust for current and future retirees. “These funds are sufficient to continue paying promised benefits well into the future,” the groups stated.

Retirement systems also remain a small portion of state and local government budgets, amounting to about 3 percent, according to the fact sheet, released by the National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties, United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, International City/County Management Association, National Association of State Auditors Comptrollers & Treasurers, Government Finance Officers Association, International Personnel Management Association for Human Resources, National Council on Teacher Retirement and National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

“Firefighters and paramedics contribute the vast majority of the funds for their pensions, with an assist from a healthy market over the years that has protected our investments,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The market went in the tank in 2007, soaking all kinds of investments, but most pension funds remain very healthy today.

“A few funds are in trouble because states like New Jersey and Illinois have not been making their required contributions and have used that money to fund other programs or balance their budgets,” Schaitberger said. Despite these unfunded liabilities, most state and local pensions are well funded--including in Florida and New York, where politicians have threatened to slash pension benefits. New York’s pensions are more than 100 percent funded, even as Gov. Anthony Cuomo is pledging cuts.

Key facts about pensions cited by the 10 governmental organizations include:

• State and local governments are already taking steps to secure their pensions for the long term;
Pension dollars help the economy of every jurisdiction;
Long-term investment returns of public funds continue to exceed expectations;
State and local government retirement systems do not require, nor are they seeking, federal financial assistance.

Schaitberger said firefighters and paramedics are being victimized not only by deceitful politicians, but also by Wall Street opportunists who are lobbying to force firefighters into retirement plans that will cost workers more in fees and other costs, driving up profits for Wall Street. “The Wall Street speculators created the worst recession since 1929 and now they and their political allies are looking to take advantage of the situation to shake down worker pension funds.”

“Firefighters are out there in their communities, risking their lives and improving the quality of life for their neighbors,” Schaitberger said. “We do not deserve to be attacked by politicians looking for a convenient scapegoat for their fiscal problems. Fire fighters are part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

For additional information, the public pension fact sheet is available at:
http://www.nasra.org/resources/PublicPensionFactSheet110125.pdf

The issue brief is at http://nasra.org/resources/ERContributions.pdf

The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 298,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics and is the leading advocate for the health and safety of first responders. More information is available at www.iaff.org.

Dallas Jones Cancer Presumption Bill is Signed into Law

Late CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones

With the stroke of a pen, California’s firefighters have won new protection from the painful effects of job-related cancer. The CPF-sponsored William “Dallas” Jones Cancer Presumption Act — signed into law by the governor — doubles post-retirement coverage under the firefighters Workers’ Comp presumption from five years to 10 years.

AB 2253, authored by Assemblyman Joe Coto (D-San Jose), builds upon our state's first public safety cancer presumption safeguard, which was signed in 1982 by then-Governor and current CPF-endorsed gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown. The landmark legislation signed by Jerry Brown was the first of its kind in the nation.

"This is a monumental achievement for firefighters across our great state," said CPF President Lou Paulson. "As firefighters, we know that many of our exposures on the job don't manifest themselves into cancer until years later. This legislation will provide further protections for all who put themselves in harm's way each day to protect the lives and property of all Californians."

AB 2253 enjoyed broad bi-partisan support as it made its way through the Legislature, including several co-authors from both sides of the aisle: Kevin Jeffries and Jose Solario (principal co-authors) and Assembly Members Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Robert Blumenfield, Wes Chesbro, Paul Cook, Nathan Fletcher, Felipe Fuentes, Curt Hagman, Ted Lieu, Tony Mendoza, Pedro Nava, Anthony Portantino, Mary Salas and Mike Villines, as well as Senators Ellen Corbett, Mark DeSaulnier and Curren Price.

AB 2253 was named for the late CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones, a legend in the firefighter labor movement, who lost his own battle with job-related cancer in 2008.