A first-of-its-kind investigative documentary about the threat to public pensions across the country features SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins among dozens of pension leaders, board members, and advocates demanding greater transparency and accountability.

“Pension Fight Club,” an investigative documentary by award-winning filmmaker Doug Orchard, takes a hard look at how, over the past 30 years, private equity and hedge fund managers have moved public pension money into what the filmmakers call “secrecy accounts” — agreements between pension fund staff and Wall Street firms that are hidden even from the board members who are legally required to oversee them.

According to the film, nearly half of all public pension money is now invested this way.

That matters directly to SEANC members. We have led the fight for transparency and accountability in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) for 15-plus years. It’s what you have been promised for decades of public service, and this film puts that fight in a national context.

We discussed the documentary on this week’s episode of The SEANC View Podcast. We also discuss the state budget, which legislative leaders insist will be completed by the end of June, as well as the horrific story of a 6-year-old who died in Charlotte in December after extensive abuse, and an expected audit of the private school voucher program by State Auditor Dave Boliek. Click below to listen.