N.J. lawmakers move to block lobbyists from collecting state pensions

Some Republican lawmakers are urging the Democrat-controlled New Jersey Legislature to approve a measure to prevent lobbyists from collecting state pensions.

The bill would eliminate eligibility in the pension system for employees of the New Jersey School Boards Association, the League of Municipalities, and the Association of Counties who have less then 10 years of service.

Lobbyists simply should not be in the pension plan, said Sen. Steve Oroho, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

“This is something where the taxpayer is paying for it, but they’re not receiving any direct benefit out of the employment status of the person who is receiving the benefit,” said Oroho, R-Sussex.

It’s unclearhow much money the measure would actually save, according to Assemblywoman Allison McHose, another sponsor of the legislation.

“It will be significant in the sense that every dollar that we save — and every dollar that can assured to be going to the state employees who have paid into the system and are expecting those benefits when they retire — that that pension will be there for them,” McHose said.

The Republicans are hoping the bill will be passed before the end of the legislative session. It’s been stalled in the Legislature since it was introduced in February of last year.