Illinois lawmakers are considering on combining police and firefighter pension into one lump fund, in order to save local governments’ money. Reports from the Capitol said that Republican Representative Ryan Spain had proposed on creating a single board and fund for all the downstate communities, but the bill is still in a committee. Mark Fowler is the executive director for the nonprofit Northwestern Municipal Conference, and he says that having each pension board employ separate local trustees and employees is too expensive. Fowler continued by saying that combining the fund could lead to more lucrative investment opportunities. Pat Devaney, who is the President of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois. Says that local boards are more personal and efficient when reviewing applications. Andrew Bodewes, who is a representative with the Fraternal Order of Police, says that legislators could remove some regulations and bureaucratic hurdles to make the process more efficient.