| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | No backsies! It’s easy to forget New Jersey lawmakers are allowed to request to change their votes after the fact if they were, according to the Assembly rules, “recorded in error.” Some assemblymembers made some convenient errors Monday. The vote to pass the controversial overhaul of the Open Public Records Act was 44-25 when the board was closed. By Tuesday morning it was 42-28. All three vote changes were from freshman Democratic lawmakers. Rosy Bagolie and David Bailey switched from yes to no, while Barbara Stamato switched from not voting to no. “While I do believe OPRA is in need of reform, after careful deliberation, I voted NO on today’s bill,” Bagolie tweeted shortly after the vote. “The board did not reflect my correct vote, but it will be available on the official recording.” That statement is written to suggest the Assembly board got Bagolie’s vote wrong, but if you read it carefully it leaves room for the possibility that Bagolie changed her vote later. Which, frankly, is much more likely. I called her to ask but she didn’t respond. Bailey also didn’t respond. Perhaps related: Progressive activists have been the most vocal opponents to this bill, and they’ve vaguely threatened primaries against those who vote for it. Who is more vulnerable in a low-turnout state legislative Democratic primary than a freshman assemblymember, especially without the county line to back them up? There have also been suggestions from lawmakers that some members voted for the OPRA bill, or at least didn’t outright oppose it, because legislative leaders tied its fate to a school funding bill that’s important to many lawmakers. State Sen. Raj Mukherji seemed to hint at that Monday explaining his reasons for not voting instead of voting against it. I talked to one lawmaker who told me that, while leaders never explicitly told members the bills were tied together, everyone implicitly understood that to be the case. The fact that the main school funding bill was passed in the Senate immediately following the OPRA bill doesn’t do much to contradict that notion. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You bury one union leader at your football stadium while running human organ trafficking ring through some Secaucus rabbis, and suddenly your whole state is a suspect.” — Jon Stewart on New Jersey politics HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rebecca Perkin, Frank X. Balles, Sarah Kan, Brian Levine, Karlito Almeda. WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Bordentown at 10 a.m. for state police trooper Marcellus E. Bethea's funeral.
| | | | A message from Amazon: Health care benefits started on day one for Caleb and his family when he started at Amazon’s Newark fulfillment center. “It gives me peace of mind knowing that my entire family can be taken care of,” he said. Amazon fulfillment centers create 3,000 local jobs on average with comprehensive benefits and free on-the-job technical training programs in towns across the country. Learn more. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | QUICKER ZWICKER — NJ would fill House seat vacancies much more quickly under new proposal, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: A state lawmaker has proposed halving the amount of time it takes to fill vacant seats for the House of Representatives, shortly after Gov. Phil Murphy called a special election for September to replace the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat, said the bill, NJ S3282, was in the works prior to Payne’s death. But Payne’s death highlighted New Jersey’s archaic and confusing law on filling vacancies for its 12 House seats. Zwicker said he decided to introduce the bill because two Democratic House members from New Jersey — Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer — are considering running for governor in 2025, so there’s a good chance that one of those seats will become vacant by January 2026. “There is such a fragile balance of power right now in the House of Representatives, and we see that happening with the recent fight over the speaker and getting anything done,” Zwicker said in a phone interview. “Making sure there are no Democratic vacancies is critically important just to do the work of Congress right now. We’ll see what happens this November.” WEAKER DARKER BACKWARD — “Will Phil Murphy sign the bill that shredded OPRA? He just might, but he shouldn't,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Gov. Phil Murphy suggested last week that he had yet to make up his mind about what to do when legislation that curtails the scope and power of New Jersey’s public records law arrives on his desk for his signature. Yet its hard to believe that both houses would go through such teeth-gnashing drama without the involvement and consent of the ‘front office,’ as the governor’s office is referred to in the Statehouse. When the dust settles and the Legislature moves on the fiscal year 2025 budget — and through the horse-trading and pork-carving to come — this alleged 'modernization' of the Open Public Records Act will likely have Phil Murphy’s signature on it. It will be part of his legacy. Of course, there is still a chance Murphy will realize that this bill will add a blot to his resume as a leading progressive Democrat and force him to reconsider.” PUTTING WIND IN THE SALES TAX — “Top Democrat hints at sales tax increase as N.J. releases new revenue figures,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jelani Gibson: “New Jersey tax revenue is up slightly, state treasury officials reported Tuesday, a change trumpeted by Democrats as a sign of fiscal responsibility as Republicans warned the state is headed toward a fiscal cliff and can’t sustain Gov. Phil Murphy’s long-term budget goals. At the same time, the head of the state Senate Budget Committee floated the idea of raising the state sales tax to 7% rather than passing tax hikes on corporations that Murphy proposed to fund a cash-strapped NJ Transit.” — “Less than 1% of companies would pay this proposed fee to help NJ Transit, report says” SCHOOL FUNDING — “Cuts in state aid to school districts could soon be rowed back,” by NJ Spotlight News’ Hannah Gross: “Public school districts now seeing cuts in state aid may soon be able to raise more tax money and get more time to finalize their budgets. Some districts might also see part of that state aid restored. Lawmakers cleared bills Monday to make that happen, sending them to Gov. Phil Murphy for approval. The bills are intended to help public school districts facing reductions in state aid under the school funding formula. Superintendents from districts losing funding say they are struggling to balance their budgets and need help from the state. Districts must notify nontenured staff if they will keep their jobs for the upcoming school year by May 15 and budgets need to be certified by May 20.” — “Governor Murphy signs law intended to help school districts seeing state aid cuts” — “[East Brunswick] cuts 51 teachers, staff positions”
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | KRAMER’S LAW — “N.J. may want to give you a 10-cent refund for returning bottles and cans,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “New Jersey lawmakers are currently mulling legislation that would create a 10-cent bottle and can return system like those already in place in several states. Customers would ostensibly collect on a refundable deposit when they return bottles and cans for recycling, according to a draft of the proposal introduced May 6. In New York, customers similarly pay a five cent deposit when buying bottles or cans and their deposit is refunded when they return the container to a retailer or distributor to be recycled.” THE GOVEDURR — “Former state Sen. Ed Durr joins crowded race for New Jersey governor,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “South Jersey truck driver Ed Durr upended New Jersey politics in 2021 when he toppled one of the state’s most powerful politicians, then-Senate President Steve Sweeney, and won a seat in the state Senate. Now, Durr — a Trump-loving Republican known as ‘Ed the Trucker’ who served one term before a better-funded Democrat took back the seat last fall — is angling for another upset, and he’s aiming even higher. He announced Monday he’ll run for governor.” — “N.J. politicians will get kicked out of office if they skip meetings under new plan” — Kean Sr.: “DEP’s Wharton vehicle plan is an example of good government at work”
| | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | THE TRIAL — Menendez can’t call psychiatrist in trial, but sitting senators could be name-checked or called to testify, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Sen. Bob Menendez cannot call a psychiatrist in his corruption trial who would say the senator developed a “fear of scarcity” that could account for some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash found in his home that federal prosecutors say came from bribes. But a roster of notable names in New Jersey and national politics — including several sitting senators — may get named and possibly even called in the trial. Those developments came on the second day of the New Jersey Democrat’s trial, as the judge overseeing the case continued to interview potential jurors. The judge expects jury selection to be wrapped up on Wednesday morning. After that, prosecutors, Menendez and two of his co-defendants accused of bribing him can give opening statements. ... Federal Judge Sidney Stein spent much of the day seeing if jurors had any potential conflicts. As part of that, he went through a lengthy list of names that could come up in the trial, a list that he said included potential witnesses. On the list were several senators, including Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Tim Kaine and Marco Rubio — all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, like Menendez. It also included Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.). — “Potential Menendez corruption trial jurors are told US senators may be named or called as witnesses” — “Hudson Democrats won’t back Jerry Walker, will stay neutral in NJ-10 primary” — Snowflack: “Crisply Crispi”
| | | | A message from Amazon: Since starting at Amazon’s Newark fulfillment center Caleb has grown his family without worrying about health care. “My goal has always been to have a big family, with Amazon benefits I’ve started to achieve this,” he said.
Learn more about Amazon’s comprehensive benefits. | | | | | LOCAL | | “Township Settles CFO Whistleblower Suit for $1,250,000,” by Montclair Local’s Liz George: “The Township Council of Montclair voted to settle the whistleblower lawsuit filed by Padmaja Rao, the chief financial officer, for $1,250,000. Rao will get $250,000 paid by the township’s insurance. The town will pay the remaining $1 million to Rao’s attorneys. Rao will continue to work as the town’s CFO. … Interim attorney Paul Burr said there was no admission of any wrongdoing by the township or former town manager Timothy Stafford. … Mayor Sean Spiller was absent. Councilor Bob Russo was at the meeting, but not present for the vote. He walked out of the meeting shortly after the council moved into executive session. 'I cannot sit in the meeting with those people,' Russo said on his way out. He then started asking for his wife. … Rao alleged the township and the former town manager retaliated against her after blowing the whistle on Montclair town council members receiving full-time health benefits and time records fraud in the Montclair Fire Dept. Per the lawsuit, all but one council member signed up to receive state health benefits or accepted the plan’s $5,000 waiver.” “Paterson health clerk posted on the mayor's Facebook page. She got docked two days' pay,” by Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “A city Health Division clerk was suspended without pay for two days after she recently disagreed with Mayor Andre Sayegh by posting on his personal Facebook page. City officials said the clerk, Karla Paredes, was disciplined for insubordination as well as violating Paterson policies regarding use of social media and personal cellphones during government work hours. After being notified of her suspension, Paredes went to Paterson police headquarters on May 1 and filed a civil complaint against Sayegh regarding a confrontation that happened a week earlier. Paredes said the mayor raised his voice at her during a face-to-face dispute at the municipal health office about the Facebook post, an encounter during which she said he threatened to suspend her, according to the police report.” “Freehold delegation visits Ireland while Springsteen playing Cork, Dublin,” by Asbury Park Press’ Chris Jordan: “Bruce Springsteen isn't the only one from Freehold in Ireland this week. A delegation of more than a dozen from the borough, including Mayor Kevin Kane, will visit the town of Rathangan, Kildare, the ancestral home of several Freehold residents, including Bruce Springsteen, as the Boss performs shows in Cork on Thursday, May 16, and Dublin on Sunday, May 19. The Freehold delegation, there to ratify a Twin City resolution between Freehold and Rathangan, will attend the Sunday show at Croke Park in Dublin. ‘Long story short, Bruce Springsteen is the connection here,’ said Kane at the March 18 Freehold Borough Council Meeting, where a resolution was passed to ‘twin’ with Rathangan.” — “Plan to build 37 apartments for people with disabilities leads to backlash in [South Orange]” — “Residents outraged over [Peapack-Gladstone’s] plan to exterminate Canada geese” — “Here’s what to know as the jury starts deliberations in Wasim Muhammad’s civil sex assault trial” — “Atlantic City school board to hold another special meeting Thursday on personnel matters” — “Why Paterson officials want to recreate what occurred 230 years ago at the Great Falls” — “Stack’s county fringe benefits bill opposed by O’Dea & Ali, online petition started”
| | | | JOIN 5/22 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF TAXATION: With Trump-era tax breaks set to expire in 2025, whoever wins control of Congress, and the White House will have the ability to revamp the tax code and with it reshape the landscape for business and social policy. Join POLITICO on May 22 for an exploration of what is at stake in the November elections with our panel dissecting the ways presidential candidates and congressional leaders are proposing to reshape our tax rates and incentives. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | — “Prudential Financial in Newark to lay off 56 employees” — “After a $10 million makeover, Battleship NJ is expected to return to Camden this summer” — “Paterson mom can remain in US to handle medical care for 4-year-old daughter's kidney” — “Quintuplets graduate together from N.J. university” — “Princeton University in talks with pro-Palestinian student protesters to leave campus green” — “New Jersey is the second-safest state after dark, a study says”
| | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
Comments
Post a Comment