R-Phoenix Sen. Steve Kaiser has revived his long-running battle in Congress this year to stop Arizona League of Municipalities employees from receiving state retirement benefits.

The League and several other nongovernmental groups were not allowed to benefit from Arizona’s retirement system until 2004, when the law was changed to accommodate another group, but the Kaiser , like other members of Congress before him, argued that it was not a proper use of the state. funds.

he again claimed hello no in order to revenge abut of alliance opposed Some of his bills in this session and killed themalthough the league thinks differently.

“This appears to be a punitive action aimed at the league for simply representing the interests of its residents,” said Tom Berchet, the league’s executive director.

However, the question of ASRS benefits for non-governmental groups was not the beginning of this session. It spans 20 years.

2003, then-Attorney General Terry Goddard gave an opinion “Associations not established by state law and designated as political subdivisions” are not eligible to receive state retirement benefits, it said.

parliament passed House Bill 2049 The following year, it reclassified leagues and other similar groups to qualify for ASRS benefits under the umbrella of “political subdivisions.”

Ironically, it was the Maricopa Government Coalition that initially lobbied to get the ASRS, not the league, and its sponsor, former Congressman John Hupenthal, regrets the bill. said.

John Happenthal

“In retrospect, I think it was a mistake,” former Rep. Chandler said on April 11.

Huppenthal said it was “not right for me” to sponsor the bill, but MAG helped him pass a “critical transportation law” when the group was able to oppose it. worked hard for

“So it was a bear moment, you might say. gigantic It was a mistake, but in retrospect they needed it and I had the power to do it and they did me some big favors,” he said. .

Goddard said on April 11 that he didn’t remember the opinion he gave, but emailed him, “Looks like he forced me to change the law!”

Dennis Smith, MAG’s executive director at the time, said it was to help MAG compete with the Arizona Department of Transportation for talent. According to Smith and the league’s executive director at the time, Cathy Connery, other groups like the league were wiped out by the new definition.

“The MAG encouraged it because they were doing transportation planning and things like that. , employees may start at MAG and go to Maricopa, especially in transportation areas such as counties and ADOT,” Connelly said.

Smith said ASRS had been asking to join MAG for years.

MAG hired a new Chief Financial Officer in the early 2000s, Becky Kimbrough, who said the benefits of ASRS were superior to what MAG had to offer and encouraged Smith to join. In particular, MAG’s sister organization, the Western Arizona State Council of Government, was ineligible because it already benefited from ASRS.

The Arizona Federation of Municipalities and several other non-governmental groups were not allowed to benefit from the Arizona Retirement System until 2004, when the law was changed to accommodate another group, but the Senate Rep. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, said it is not a proper use of state funds.Photo by Deposit Photo

The Western Arizona Government Council and other groups participated in ASRS prior to 2004, so the Attorney General’s opinion was sought to clarify the rule.

Smith said he was surprised that the battle against ASRS’ advantage over groups like MAG is still raging. “Are you still going? Oh my god,” he said.

Kaiser’s this year SB1202 Strike Modification He died before the House Ways and Means Committee when Democrat and Republican Rep. David Livingston of Peoria objected.

“Should state retirement benefits be for state employees, or should they be for these subgroups that are sometimes lobbying against the interests of the public? I think it should be for state employees only,” Kaiser said when testifying at a committee hearing on March 29.

Berchet said in a text message Thursday that the league is a creation of cities and towns and provides cities and towns with “elected officials, lawyers and financial education” in addition to representation in the Capitol.

“With that in mind, the ability to transfer talent between state and local governments and the agencies that support them is a given,” Belshe said.

This year’s bill failed, but Mr. Kaiser was undeterred and said he plans to submit another bill next year. His legislation only affects members adopted after the bill’s effective date and only affects members of the league, while other groups such as the MAG and the Arizona Interscholastic Association both benefit from his ASRS. and is not a government agency.

“It’s better to be specific than to widen the net,” Kaiser said.

Agencies are subject to sunset reviews and audits, and members are appointed by elected representatives. Members of leagues and similar groups are neither elected nor appointed and are forced to follow these governmental review processes.

Michelle Ugenti-Rita

Former MP Michel Ugenti Rita tried several times to overturn Hupenthal’s Law.

Ugenti-Rita says the League is greedy and has found ways to milk the system, and agrees with Kaiser that non-governmental groups should not benefit from the government.

“The league is involved in gross misconduct by letting Arizona taxpayers escape,” Ugenti Rita said in a text. She, like the Kaiser, has been thwarted by Democrats and a few Republicans in their attempts to change.

Representing 91 municipalities, the league is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in parliament.

“We will continue to enthusiastically represent the best interests of our residents and the fluid transfer of talent to the league,” Berchet said.

The Kaiser was embarrassed by Livingston’s opposition to the bill. Livingston said one of the reasons he didn’t support Kaiser’s bill was because it only targets leagues when there are several similar groups with similar interests.

“The league isn’t the only one, so why pick just one?” Livingston asked.

One Republican, former Congressman Rusty Bowers, opposed one of Ugenti Rita’s bills in 2016 on opposing grounds. Huppenthal and Smith argued that MAG was most fit to participate in his ASRS.

“But one thing I can say about MAG is that when they do it for some entity, they create a lot of value and have a pretty decent track record of getting as close to one of these entities as possible. said Hupenthal.

Then rep. Doug Coleman of R-Apache Junction said he opposed Ugenti-Rita’s bill in 2016. Especially since he MAG serves an important public function. He also warned that removing so many members from ASRS would result in a high contribution rate for civil servants remaining in the system.

Livingston said another reason to oppose Kaiser’s bill was concerns about the strength of pensions. “I fight the league all the time, but sometimes the league is right with the pension issue,” said Livingston.