The purpose of the state pension fund is to make investments and earn money to cover the costs of retiree's pensions. It is run by a politician - the state comptroller - but is supposed to be free of politics. However, at around $200 billion, it is one of the largest investors on Wall Street, and that gives the comptroller a lot of power to influence companies and even industries. So lately, we have been seeing calls for the fund to divest from things like fossil fuels. Senator Brian Benjamin is calling for divesting from private prisons.