| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! Now that the Election Law Enforcement Commission’s window for completing investigations into campaign finance violations is a fifth of what it was before, you’d think state lawmakers might give the agency some more money to hire some more lawyers and staffers. Nope. Now that the opaque budget process is over, we’re all reviewing policies that did and didn’t make it through the budget process. And a $1.5 million supplement for ELEC proposed by Assembly leadership was one of the casualties. It never moved in the Senate. The budget appropriated $5.753 million for ELEC compared with $5.467 million in the previous fiscal year — a $286,000 difference. Even though campaign contribution limits are now doubled, and political parties are allowed to set up new accounts, ELEC’s funding is basically flat from last year. ELEC’s funding bump barely keeps pace with inflation, and that’s before taking into account that $120,000 of it will pay for salaries of the four new ELEC commissioners. Senate President Nick Scutari didn’t get back to me on this issue. But he expressed skepticism about the extra funding in May, saying ELEC will have “less work to do, not more” because “they don't have to fool around looking back for 10 years.” Considering that the bill opens the campaign funding spigot wider, I doubt the agency will really have less to do. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The biggest policy mistake of the past 50 years in New Jersey was [Chris Christie’s] decision to kill the predecessor to this project.” — Gov. Phil Murphy on Meet the Press HAPPY BIRTHDAY — John Appezzato, Heather Haddon, David Bander, Synnove Bakke, Margaret Morgan WHERE’S MURPHY? — In West Orange for a bill signing at 11 a.m.
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MURPHY: NO BEER BEFORE LIQUOR — “Brewery bill in jeopardy, but liquor license laws deserve 'comprehensive' reform: Murphy,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “When Gov. Phil Murphy addressed the Legislature for both his state of the state and budget addresses earlier this year, he vowed to reform the state’s ‘antiquated’ liquor licensing laws. Sources close to the administration confirmed Friday that he still intends to do that. But Murphy is looking for ‘comprehensive’ reform and doesn’t intend to sign the bill currently on his desk that would allow breweries further opportunities to host events and participate in events off-site. The governor instead plans to issue a conditional veto so that it can be included in a ‘larger liquor license reform initiative” because he is still "fully committed to working with the Legislature on.’”
—“ABC pauses enforcement on select NJ brewery restrictions” GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE STATE — “Murphy just signed new laws aimed at fighting car thefts in N.J. despite concerns,” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson and S.P. Sullivan: “Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed four laws to further combat auto thefts in New Jersey, saying that while a recent surge in stolen cars has been subsiding, more action was needed. The Democratic governor approved the bills during a ceremony at Long Branch City Hall attended by law enforcement officials and lawmakers from both major parties. That’s despite objections from progressive advocates who warn the legislation is antiquated, won’t reduce crime, and risks rolling back criminal justice reforms and increasing racial disparities. … This comes as all 120 seats in the Democratic-controlled New Jersey Legislature are on the ballot in November.” THE LATEST REVENUE PROJECTIONS LOOK LIKE STEPHEN KING WROTE THEM — “Bill calls for annual financial report that public — and lawmakers — can understand,” by NJ Spotlight News’ John Reitmeyer: “Amid the latest rush to enact an annual budget, lawmakers found time to send Gov. Phil Murphy legislation that would require a more “user-friendly” version of a key state financial report be drafted and published each year. Sponsors of the bipartisan bill that easily cleared the Legislature late last week say their goal is to improve the public’s understanding of the state’s broader financial health, beyond the scope of just one fiscal year. To do so, their legislation calls for a “plain language” version of the state’s annual financial report prepared by the Office of the State Auditor to be made public each year and available online. … By law, key information about New Jersey’s overall fiscal condition is disclosed annually by the Office of the State Auditor. But the annual report is considered by many to be difficult to decipher, including for many lawmakers serving in Trenton. Its release is also routinely overlooked or ignored, even though the report itself keeps tabs on assets and liabilities totaling billions of dollars.” LESS THAN THE POMPIDOU CENTER, SO FAR — “Here’s how much the deal that ended Rutgers faculty strike cost (and what Murphy added in state aid),” by NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson: “The new contracts that Rutgers University recently agreed to give three employee unions, settling the first faculty strike in its 257-year history, will cost the public school nearly $184 million over the next four years, NJ Advance Media has learned. To help cover that, Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration increased state aid to the state university by tens of millions in the state budget that just went into effect for the new fiscal year, while also boosting money to other public colleges and universities in the Garden State. Ultimately, Rutgers — New Jersey’s largest university — got $33 million more in operating aid that it can potentially use for salaries compared to the last state budget, according to a school spokesman.” RATEMYSURPLUS.COM — Murphy compromises on budget surplus, but Wall Street doesn't mind, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: Gov. Phil Murphy had planned for a historic $10 billion surplus this year to tell credit rating agencies that New Jersey's financial foundation is strong and to let taxpayers know state leaders are watching their dollars. Four months later and with revenues dropping off drastically, Murphy on Friday settled for a smaller surplus while agreeing to more than $1 billion in new spending on programs and projects. Signing a budget with more spending and less savings might be damaging in administrations past — not just with the public but with Wall Street. But at this point, the ratings agencies and financial experts who closely watch New Jersey's finances remain positive about the direction of a state that long has been described as a financial basket case. BISTATE AGENCY NOT BLOATED ENOUGH — “Port Authority to consider creating its own firefighting force at Port Newark after fatal blaze,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino and Jackie Roman: “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering creating its own firefighting force for Port Newark after a huge cargo ship fire led to the deaths of two veteran firefighters. ‘As the investigations unfold, and we get lessons learned from this, everything is on the table for consideration,’ Beth Rooney, port director with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, said during a press conference in Elizabeth on Friday. … There was no discussion about staffing or response issues on Friday morning, but Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said during a press conference on Thursday that firefighters did not have adequate training or equipment to fight a fire aboard a towering ship. NOT SO GREATWAY — “Finally, big bucks for a new Hudson rail tunnel. But is it too late?” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “So, what happens if it all does fall apart? The trains now travel through two ancient tubes, one for traffic moving west and the other east. Engineers warn that the tubes need an overhaul, that they must remove and replace everything -- the old rails, the bedding, the wiring, the signals – all of it old, and damaged by flooding during Sandy. The plan is to do that in 2035, when new tubes are up and running. But what if we don’t make it? What if the old shack we’re living in collapses before the new home is built? Then we’re screwed. It would be Transit Armageddon. If one of the tubes gives out, the traffic moving east and west will have to take turns, cutting capacity by 75 percent. That would send an army of commuters fleeing in a mad rush to overcrowded ferries and buses and cars. Economists warn that would choke the regional economy, and cause home values in New Jersey to plummet.” —“Bucco: ‘The administration will be coming to me’” —“Medical marijuana sales are dropping in N.J., but is that a bad sign?” —Rutgers set to vote on medical school merger as unions, lawmakers push back —“New property tax relief for N.J. seniors is now law. But will full payments ever happen?” —“Video shows New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy booed at Red Bank's Red Rock Tap and Grill” —“To end New Jersey’s teacher shortage we need the community’s help | Opinion”
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GOLD STAR FAMILIES — “Former Army staffer accused of fraud scheme targeting Gold Star families,” by The Washington Post’s Alex Horton: “A former Army financial counselor was charged Thursday with defrauding grieving military families out of life insurance payments for their dead loved ones, allegedly using investment trades to bleed their accounts and fatten his own. The U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey charged Caz Craffy on 10 counts, including wire and securities fraud, accusing him of swindling two dozen Army families out of six-figure life insurance payments while moonlighting at brokerage firms. Federal investigators said the families’ accounts shrank by $3.4 million due to market losses and $1.4 million in commissions paid to Craffy. The charges follow a Washington Post report from February detailing the allegations of four military families who said Craffy strip-mined their accounts through trades that earned him thousands of dollars in commissions, often executed, the families alleged, without their consent or consultation.”
PREDICTION: SAM THOMPSON WILL CHALLENGE PASCRELL IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY — “New retirement could make Bill Pascrell America’s oldest congressman,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “This morning’s announcement that an 86-year-old congresswoman from California would not seek re-election next year could make New Jersey’s Bill Pascrell, Jr. the oldest member of the U.S. House of Representatives if he wins re-election in 2024. Democrat Grace Napolitano was elected to the House in 1998, two years after Pascrell won his first term. Pascrell is 52 days younger than Napolitano; he will celebrate his 87th birthday on January 25, 2024. The feisty Paterson Democrat announced in March that he would seek re-election to a 15th term next year. He said his early declaration was intended to quell retirement rumors.” | | LOCAL | |
JC — “Jersey City BOE to revisit race-based admission policies for magnet programs following Supreme Court affirmative action ruling,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “Once the cornerstone for racial desegregation in Jersey City, McNair Academic High School may change its admission policies now that the Supreme Court has struck down affirmative action at colleges and universities. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action, the Jersey City Board of Education will revisit plans to change the current admission procedures for its magnet programs that include Infinity Institute and McNair, which reserve 25% of the openings each year for Black students, 25% White, 25% Hispanic and 25% ‘other.’ …Board President Natalia Ioffe told The Jersey Journal she would like to at least make available a clear path for kids to get into the district’s magnet programs, which are some of the best in the state. She said at affluent schools the process is easily passed on by ‘word of mouth,’ to which parents in the less affluent schools likely don’t have the same access.”
ROSELLE DEVELOPS TEMPORARY IMMUNITY TO HOLLEY — “Judge denies Holley a recount in Roselle,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Jamel Holley’s bid for a recount in the Roselle Democratic mayoral primary has been denied, clearing the way for incumbent Donald Shaw, who has no general election opponent, to win a four-year term in November. Shaw defeated Holley by 76 votes, 1,484 to 1408. “Holley has not provided a sufficient basis to support the claim that an error has been made in the tabulation of votes,” wrote Superior Court Judge Mark P. Ciarrocca in an opinion released today. … Ciarrocca rejected Holley’s claim that election irregularities – including undervotes and overvotes- necessitated a new tally. He found the explanation by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi that every voter doesn’t vote in every race to be credible.” GILLIAN’S ISLAND — “Ocean City calls wind power plans ‘a crazy gamble’,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Bill Barlow: “ With a wind power project proposed off the beach taking a big step forward this week, Mayor Jay Gillian on Thursday criticized the approval process and called offshore energy production “a crazy gamble.” City officials have expressed skepticism about the Ocean Wind 1 project since its proposal, but at the City Council meeting, Gillian went farther than usual, offering a blunt assessment of the project, describing the approval process as rushed and suggesting most of the benefits would flow to a foreign company. … Both Gillian and city Administrator George Savastano alleged the approval process moved far too quickly. Gillian cited the extensive approval process required for beach replenishment projects and for a proposal to used dredged material to rebuild a marshy island in the bay known as Shooting Island. ‘I can’t even move mud from Snug Harbor over to build up Shooting Island because of environmental issues,’ Gillian said.” —“Following Hoboken, Jersey City to vote on opposing state bill that weakens OPRA” —“Power restored in Wildwood after outage disrupts summer weekend down the shore” —“Bergen blowup: Arakelian versus Zisa” —“New Paterson superintendent, a 'doer' and 'fixer,' faces multiple challenges in schools” —“Clifton council, administration reach impasse in budget negotiations. Here's what's next” —“Barberio wins race for Parsippany GOP chair” —“What will it take to stop [North Wildwood] from bulldozing its beach? $12M in fines hasn’t done it” | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEIR ETHICS, THEY JUST HANDLE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL — “Ex-Holtec CFO accuses company of 'make believe' financial statements in whistleblower suit,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglseby: “Holtec International, owner of the defunct Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, is being sued by the company's former chief financial officer in a whistleblower lawsuit. In it, former CFO Kevin O'Rourke accuses the Camden-based nuclear parts manufacturer of attempting to coerce him to submit inaccurate and false financial statements to a major investor, which allegedly involved hundreds of millions of dollars. The company then fired him when he refused, according to a lawsuit filed in June in state Superior Court, Camden. Attorneys for O'Rourke allege in the court filings that Holtec fired him after he refused to participate in presenting misleading financial reports to Hyundai Engineering and Construction. Holtec and Hyundai partnered last year to begin design on Holtec's SMR-160 advanced small modular reactor, a standard design nuclear energy plant that the company sees as the future of nuclear energy.Holtec and Hyundai partnered last year to begin design on Holtec's SMR-160 advanced small modular reactor, a standard design nuclear energy plant that the company sees as the future of nuclear energy.”
— Young Afghan women in a N.J. English class share dreams in their writings: ‘I request you not to leave us’
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