| | | | |  | | By Dustin Racioppi | Presented by Health Care Association of New Jersey | Good Monday morning! It looks like the Murphy administration is going to end how it started — going after George Norcross. Attorney General Matt Platkin on Friday announced charges against two South Jersey Transportation Authority members for alleged retaliation against an engineering firm whose executive refused to go along with a political request by the Democratic power broker. Read more about that here. The charges mean the two board members could be just the beginning. Platkin, who was Murphy’s chief counsel when the administration investigated state tax breaks that benefited companies connected to Norcross, noted in his announcement that the charges were part of an “ongoing investigation.” That may not be good for Norcross, who has reportedly been under scrutiny by Platkin and the FBI in connection with Camden waterfront development. Or it could be nothing. Norcross has been investigated in the past and not charged. And it may mean something that the SJTA board members were charged and did not enter a plea deal that could mean they are cooperating with the government against Norcross. All of this is speculative, too. What’s clear, though, is the AG is taking an aggressive posture toward Norcross, and at a time when his boss, Gov. Phil Murphy, who leaves office in 2026, is getting along well enough with Norcross that he’s raising money for a connected super PAC. Even if Norcross has lost influence in recent years, he remains a powerful figure and an endless source of intrigue in New Jersey politics. These charges will only heighten speculation about what, if anything, is in store for him next. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at dracioppi@politico.com QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I feel it in my body, I do. I feel, like, a sensation. He was here and he was in my presence in some way.” — WNYC’s Matt Katz, former NJ Statehouse reporter, talking on CBS’ “Sunday Morning” about the search for his biological father, reported on a podcast some people are listening to. WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule. | | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey: Trenton must stop short-changing nursing home residents and the staff who take care of them. Instead of piling on unfunded mandates, critical resources should be spent on hiring more staff and improving care. Otherwise, more than 9,000 current New Jersey nursing home residents risk losing their homes. Tell your state lawmakers: The state must invest now in the welfare of its aging senior population. It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. | | | |  | MENENDEZ CORRUPTION TRIAL | | JERSEY BOYS — “On Trial, Trump Glowered and Menendez Sings. Does It Affect the Outcome?,” by the New York Times’ Jesse McKinley: “One politician grumbled in the courtroom, sounded off to the reporters who gathered outside and seemingly nodded off in full view of the jury. The other has followed the courtroom action avidly, his head twisting as if watching a tennis match, and occasionally broken into song in the hallway. Indeed, while both men face possible prison time and undetermined political damage, the contrast between the two powerful 70-something politicians recently on trial in Manhattan —Donald J. Trump and Robert Menendez — extends far beyond their political affiliations. Each has adopted very different demeanors while sitting at the defense table.” — "Menendez trial on COVID-19 hold" | | | | 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. | | | | | | | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | BUILT TO SPILLER — NJ teacher's union president Spiller enters governor's race, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Sean Spiller, the president of the powerful New Jersey Education Association and outgoing mayor of Montclair after a controversial single term, is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. “There are so many others in the room making decisions, and countless times I’ve seen those overrepresented groups being attorneys, being traditionally white males, being traditionally very wealthy — whether it’s coming from Wall Street or power positions,” Spiller said in a phone interview ahead of his Friday announcement. “I very rarely see the high school science teacher.” AMERICAN NIGHTMARE — “Supreme Court ruling makes it harder to protect NJ workers,” by NorthJersey.com’s Daniel Munoz: “Over the past two years, a legal battle has played out at the American Dream mall in the Meadowlands over whether a duo of workers were fired for organizing a labor union. The National Labor Relations Board eventually intervened on behalf of the two workers — Jose Terán and Luis Valera, who were employed by HSA Cleaning — and tried to get a court order for them to be reinstated at their jobs. Ultimately, Terán and Valera got their jobs back this spring with backpay. But should a similar legal case play out now, workers might not have such luck, labor experts are warning.” — “The inside story of how N.J. and its governor gutted an important law, and why other states should worry” — Murphy administration pushes to boost development at NJ Transit sites | | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | | DACA — “Murphy administration urges Biden to offer protections to undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “The Murphy administration is urging President Joe Biden to extend work permits and protection from deportation to undocumented spouses of American citizens. The federal government needs to continue protecting and expanding opportunities for immigrants, Emy Quispe, a deputy chief of staff to Gov. Phil Murphy, said at an event Thursday commemorating the 12th anniversary of DACA. That’s an Obama-era policy that offers protection from deportation and work permits to undocumented residents who were brought to America as children.” — “Exclusive: Sen. Cory Booker on Bob Menendez, IVF bill and more” | | | | JOIN US ON 6/26 FOR A TALK ON AMERICA’S SUPPLY CHAIN: From the energy grid to defense factories, America’s critical sites and services are a national priority. Keeping them up and running means staying ahead of the threat and protecting the supply chains that feed into them. POLITICO will convene U.S. leaders from agencies, Congress and the industry on June 26 to discuss the latest challenges and solutions for protecting the supply lines into America’s critical infrastructure. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | LOCAL | | RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH — “Forbes Ranks Newark as Worst in U.S. For Renters, Again,” by TAPInto Newark’s Matt Kadosh: “The city is ranked the nation’s worst for renters for the second consecutive year, according to a new report by Forbes Advisor, which says it analyzed 21 metrics within three categories across 95 major cities using the most recent Census Bureau data. Forbes gave Newark a total score of '0.0 out of 100,' ranking it worse than New York City, in part because of rental price changes, which it said are up $250 since last year in Brick City. American Community Survey Census Bureau data from 2022, the most recent available, put the median gross rent at about $1,293. Forbes also considers Newark the worst in the 'availability and amenities' category.” HYPE MAN — “Vainieri hypes up O’Dea for Jersey City mayor: ‘I will be there for Bill in the future,’” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Outgoing Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Anthony Vainieri hyped up County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) for Jersey City mayor at a private fundraiser last night. 'Our city, our choice. Your city, your choice,' Vainieri said at the Saigon Cafe on Newark Avenue yesterday, echoing O’Dea’s campaign slogan to applause from the two dozen or so supporters on hand.” | | | | A message from Health Care Association of New Jersey: Trenton must stop short-changing nursing home residents.
Nursing homes require additional staff, and those staff deserve living wages.
To support more staffing hours, state payment rates need to rise.
State lawmakers and regulators need to stop piling on unfunded mandates that drain critical resources that should instead be spent on hiring more staff and improving care.
If they don’t, more than 9,000 current New Jersey nursing home residents risk losing their homes.
Tell your state lawmakers: The state must invest now in the welfare of its aging senior population.
It’s not a choice, it’s an obligation. | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
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