New Jersey Education Association President Wendell Steinhauer says the quarterly pension payments law signed Thursday is an important step toward greater state responsibility on pensions.

Gov. Chris Christie had repeatedly vetoed the legislation but relented and signed it.

The NJEA says requiring quarterly pension payments ensures greater fiscal responsibility and is a smarter investment strategy.

But the teacher's union says that still leaves the open question of how much the state will have to pay. Stenhauer says a long-term, consistent commitment to full pension funding is needed so New Jersey can "dig out of the hole it's created for itself".