If House Bill 1590 dies in the Senate, sources indicate that the House of Representatives may add political appointees to the PERS Board by amending Senate Bill 2799 or possibly Senate Bill 2685. By all accounts, these appointees would be voting members with no vested interest in protecting the system or its members. In addition to opposing House Bill 1590 which reconstitutes the PERS Board entirely, MRPEA also opposes other bills that add political appointees to the PERS Board. MRPEA appreciates the Senate Government Structure Committee’s thoughtful questions and respectful discussion on Wednesday, March 20 with the PERS Board members that were asked to speak. MRPEA welcomes having independent non-voting advisory members assisting the current PERS board as did PERS board members in attendance at the Senate Government Structure Committee meeting. You can view the webcast at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLmAgbQMuI7kLvDNV6LluA.
PERS is highly complex. The current board has performed its responsibilities in a professional, competent manner. At a time when stable leadership with decades of institutional knowledge is needed to manage PERS, the Legislature appears to be moving towards a sudden termination of the current Board, replacing it with political appointees who do not have to be members of PERS. This disenfranchises you as members and could negatively impact the sound operation of our Public Employees Retirement System.
Representative Zuber is the Chairman of the State Affairs Committee where Senate Bill 2799 is sitting right now. The names and contact information for the committee members are as follows:
- Henry “Hank” Zuber III, Chairman – 228-875-4866(H), 228-875-1097(W), 601-359-3364(Capitol), hzuber@house.ms.gov, Republican-Jackson County
- Robert L. Johnson III, Vice-Chair – 601-445-5690(H), 601-442-9371(W), rjohnson@house.ms.gov, Democrat- Adams, Franklin, Jefferson
- Willie Bailey – 662-335-5310(H), 601-359-3363(Capitol), wbailey@house.ms.gov, Democrat – Washington, Greenville, MS
- Donnie Bell – 601-359-3396 (Capitol), dbell@house.ms.gov, Republican – Itawamba, Tishomingo
- Bryant W. Clark – 662-834-4074(H), 662-834-6133(W), 601-359-2845 (Capitol) bclark@house.ms.gov, Democrat – Attala, Holmes, Yazoo
- Joey Hood – 662-547-9818(H), 662-285-4663(W), 601-359-2428 (Capitol) jhood@house.ms.gov, Republican – Attala, Winston, Choctaw, Webster
- Kevin Horan – 662-226-1817(H), 662-226-2185(W), 601-359-3311 (Capitol) Republican – Grenada, Carroll, Holmes, Leflore, Tallahatchie
- Jonathan Ray Lancaster 662-631-5065(H), jlancaster@house.ms.gov, Republican – Chickasaw, Pontotoc
- Steve Massengill – 662-815-5000(W) 601-359-3353(Capitol) smassengill@house.ms.gov, Republican – Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Union
- Jansen Owen – 601-746-5201(W), 601-522-3337(Capitol) jowen@house.ms.gov, Republican-Lamar, Pearl River -From Poplarville
- Omeria Scott – 601-649-7677(H), 601-359-4084(Capitol) Democrat – Clarke, Jasper, Jones
- Fred Shanks – 601-540-0041(H) fshanks@house.ms.gov, Republican – Rankin
- Shanda Yates – 601-487-6997(W) syates@house.ms.gov, Independent – Hinds, Madison
Please continue to make calls to the House State Affairs Committee, your local representatives and senators, Lt. Governor’s office, and Governor’s office immediately. Just because you acted last week in helping educate your Legislators on House Bill 1590 does not mean that you do not need to ACT NOW! Please specifically mention your opposition to any legislation that adds political appointees as voting members to the PERS Board. In addition, ask legislators you contact to provide necessary funding to maintain current retirement benefits for retirees, active employees, and future members of PERS.
Please also call your family and friends who are PERS members – both active and retired – and share this information. We will continue to post updates on the MRPEA website and Friends of PERS on Facebook.