POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Malinowski leans hard into abortion rights

May 31, 2022

Presented by New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx

Good Tuesday morning!

There's been a lot of talk about whether the Supreme Court's likely overturning of Roe v. Wade is a political lifeline for Democrats facing a very difficult midterm environment.

The general feeling I get talking to political people is that, no, those who vote with abortion as one of their top issues are already baked in. Pro or con, they vote.

But if this become a salient national issue that motivates more voters and awakens the Democratic base, one of the districts you're most likely to see it in is New Jersey's 7th, where suburban women voters turned hard against the GOP during the Trump era. Could abortion spur those voters again?

Tom Malinowski hopes so. He agrees that abortion hasn't been a game-changing issue before. But between the importance of the impending Supreme Court decision and the developments that will spring from it between now and election day, he believes it will take on a bigger relevance.

And Malinowski needs to hope. I don't have to tell you that much of the political establishment assumes he'll lose in November, considering he barely scraped by in 2020, in a friendlier political environment, in a friendlier district and before his stock trades made the news.

Read more about it here.

Note: Today will be POLITICO New Jersey bureau chief Katherine Landergan's last day reporting on the Statehouse before she moves far away from the Garden State. I've worked with Katherine for seven years, the last two and half with her as bureau chief, and she's been a great colleague who has contributed a ton to reporting on New Jersey government and politics. It's a big loss for the Statehouse press corps. Please wish her well.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 102

WHERE'S MURPHY? — Media: "NAACP Speaks" with Kaleem Shabazz, streaming.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm going to fail." — Burlington County Commissioner candidate Valerie Gallagher, who's running on a ticket with Congressional candidate Ian Smith, to a cop about to administer a sobriety test.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Former Fulop COS Muhammed Akil

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

Costs in New Jersey are sky high – and that includes prescription drug costs. Every year, Big Pharma raises the price of life-saving medications. Fortunately, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate with drug companies to reduce Rx costs for patients. As this legislative session ends, let's remind our representatives to support patient advocates like PBMs and make all entities in the drug supply chain do their part to lower costs. https://www.affordablerxnj.com/.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

'THE REPRODUCTIVE PLACEHOLDER ACT' — Top New Jersey lawmakers say they still don't know details of Murphy's abortion proposal, by POLITICO's Daniel Han : Gov. Phil Murphy has a sweeping vision to expand abortion access in New Jersey — but top lawmakers say they still don't know exactly what that looks like. Health committee chairs from both chambers of the Democrat-controlled Legislature, along with pro-abortion rights lawmakers and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin say they have yet to see details of Murphy's proposals. The lack of specifics suggests negotiations around abortion legislation have not seriously dialed up, and probably will not move forward before the Legislature heads home on its summer break. "The speaker has not seen details of the proposal," Coughlin spokesperson Cecilia Williams said in a statement. A spokesperson for Senate President Nick Scutari declined to comment.

GROUP HOMES — "NJ disability watchdog criticizes group homes, cites abuse, neglect 'on a regular basis'," by The Record's Gene Myers: "New Jersey still can't ensure safe care for people with disabilities in group homes, according to a report by a state watchdog that says mistreatment is reported 'on a regular basis.' 'There is no question that abuse and neglect occur in some of our congregate settings,'Paul Aronsohn, the state ombudsman for the disability community, said in the 30-page report, released earlier this month. 'I cannot tell you how prevalent it is or why it occurs, but families share their horrifying pictures and stories with us on a regular basis.' Aronsohn cited a litany of complaints from residents of the state's 2,037 congregate care programs and their families, including verbal and physical abuse, the withholding of food, medication mix-ups and unsanitary conditions … Human Services Department spokesman Tom Hester said the department was reviewing Aronsohn's report and took his concerns seriously, but he also defended the state's oversight of group homes. In implementing the Komninos Law, the department has conducted 46,000 face-to-face visits with group home residents, resulting in 829 reports 'covering a broad range of issues' that were flagged for follow-up or investigation, Hester said."

ROUTINE BUS-INESS — " Electric school bus plan moves forward in N.J. despite Republican objections," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "A proposal for New Jersey to further explore using electric school buses — which supporters say would benefit both the environment and children's health — passed the state Assembly this past week despite strong objections from Republicans over cost and other issues. The bill (A1282) would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to develop a three-year pilot program for as many as 18 school districts in the Garden State to buy battery-powered buses and charging equipment. The state would appropriate $45 million — $15 million a year — to fund the program."

BUT HOW MANY N.J. DOORS COME FROM IN-STATE DOOR DEALERS? — "Few firearm restrictions in states sending crime guns to N.J.," by New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov: "A New Jersey Monitor review of data maintained by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives found that, between 2019 and 2021, 83% of the 7,411 New Jersey crime guns for which law enforcement could identify a source emerged from outside the Garden State. Law enforcement could not identify a source state for an additional 4,366 New Jersey crime guns. About 60% of the guns for which a source state was identified came from just six states: Pennsylvania (15.7%), Virginia (10%), Georgia (11.6%), North Carolina (8.8%), South Carolina (8.2%), and Florida (5.5%). Pennsylvania was the origin of more crime guns used in the Garden State save New Jersey (16.8%) itself. Those six states have some things in common: Their gun laws are lax."

—Man charged with bribery still running PAC whose money he allegedly tried to bribe officials with

—" 'This is an actual life and death situation...' N.J. seeks to move all residents from nursing home; revoke license"

— "NJ AG, Gov.'s aide meet skepticism over exiting virus suit"

DON'T MISS THE 2022 GREAT LAKES ECONOMIC FORUM: POLITICO is excited to be the exclusive media partner again at the Council of the Great Lakes Region's bi-national Great Lakes Economic Forum with co-hosts Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This premier, intimate networking event, taking place June 26-28 in Chicago, brings together international, national and regional leaders from business, government, academia and the nonprofit sector each year. "Powering Forward" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect key decision-makers with thought leaders and agents of change to identify and advance solutions that will strengthen the region's competitiveness and sustainability in today's competitive climate of trade, innovation, investment, labor mobility and environmental performance. Register today.

BIDEN TIME

MAN WHO DIDN'T KNOW CONGRESS MET AT THE CAPITOL TO LEARN WHO MEETS IN PRISON — "Former US Army reservist found guilty in Jan. 6 riot," by The AP: "A former U.S. Army reservist described by prosecutors as a Nazi sympathizer was convicted Friday of storming the U.S. Capitol to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who worked as a security contractor at a Navy base when he joined the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, was also convicted of disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors. Hale-Cussanelli took the stand in his defense and claimed he didn't know that Congress met at the Capitol building. 'I know this sounds idiotic, but I'm from New Jersey,' Hale-Cusanelli said … 'In all my studies, I didn't know there was an actual building that was called the 'Capitol.' It's embarrassing and idiotic.' … Prosecutors said Hale-Cusanelli openly espoused white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and wore an Adolf Hitler-style mustache to work. On his cellphone, investigators found photos of him with the distinctive mustache and combed-over hairstyle associated with the Nazi leader. Hale-Cusanelli had a 'secret' security clearance for his job as a security contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey."

IN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, MAN PAINTS POLITICAL OPPONENT AS SCARY FOREIGNER — " The DeGroot of Selen's angst," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "There's nothing like a little foreign intrigue to spice up a race for Congress. Tayfun Selen's Turkish background is suddenly an issue in the Republican primary in CD-11. Selen talks often about immigrating from Turkey and getting a job pumping gas … One of his opponents, Paul DeGroot, is now raising questions not specifically about Selen's Turkish background, but the financial support he's getting from Turkish groups and individuals. Two mailers last week claimed that Selen is getting support from groups that deny the Armenian genocide, which occurred during World War I. The United States officially recognized the genocide as such last year. DeGroot also raises a more contemporary issue – Turkey's misgivings about Sweden and Finland joining NATO, which is supported by the United States. The apparent point here is that Selen's loyalties may lie with Turkey not the United States. In fact, in an email last week, DeGroot said Selen would be better off running for election in Turkey than the United States … Selen is not happy with DeGroot. He says in a recent Facebook post that the attacks on his ethnicity have spiraled beyond expected mudslinging."

—" N.J. congressional candidate [Imani Oakley] says she's determined to do the 'impossible' I Opinion"

—" Democratic 2nd Congressional District primary opponents mirror Obama/Clinton race that brought them into party"

—"Booker blasts nation's moral paralysis over guns"

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

LOCAL

TRENTON — "Gusciora's administration knew of ex-employee's fraud claims 2 years ago ," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "In explosive letter proves that members of Mayor Reed Gusciora's administration knew about corruption allegations leveled against city health employees nearly two years ago, records show. The letter was sent in August 2020 to Personnel Officer Steven Ponella and Business Administrator Adam Cruz. Among other things, it outlined claims that high-ranking officials were inflating overtime hours and using restaurant inspectors to settle scores with competitors. The letter specifically fingered Health Officer Yvette Graffie-Cooper as being among the alleged overtime-fraud culprits, claiming she once claimed 'up to 100 hours' of overtime in a single pay period .. The ex-environmental health worker who wrote the letter also claimed to have resisted pressure from people inside the bureau to inflate their own overtime hours, saying colleagues seemed unfazed about getting caught lying on timesheets because they would protect each other … Through a spokesman, Cruz acknowledged receiving the letter Aug. 3, 2020, demonstrating that members of Gusciora's cabinet were aware the whistleblower's claims before the feds served subpoenas on City Hall this month, asking for documents dating as far back as 2016, when Mayor Eric Jackson was in power … Gusciora has dodged questions about whether he met with the feds' witness anytime before subpoenas started flying."

—"Ex-Trenton health director assails feds' witness, claims dept. was 'squeaky clean'"

SAL MALACCORSO — " Conflicting accounts. Angry parents. Who gave order for basketball kids to remove 'stop racism' T-shirts at Clark tourney?" by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco and Riley Yates: "The parents hoped the protest would teach their sons a valuable lesson about standing up against intolerance. Playing in a basketball tournament in Clark, the seventh graders wore shirts that read 'equality' and 'end racism' in protest against the township's mayor, Sal Bonaccorso, who is under fire for using racial slurs that included the N-word … Now, several parents say they are dismayed their children were forced to choose between their principles and their desire to compete in the sport they love. And they are laying the blame for that make-or-break decision on the shoulders of Bonaccorso, saying the private tournament's organizer told them that the mayor or his office had threatened to close down the event over the shirts. 'It's coming from the mayor,' Zou Mouphouet, the father of one 13-year-old player, said the organizer informed parents at the time. 'The shirts have to come off or he's shutting down the tournament.' Bonaccorso vehemently denied he had any role in the team walking off the court, and he accused their coach, former Gov. Richard Codey, of falsely claiming he had squelched the protest. But four parents interviewed separately by NJ Advance Media said the mayor's denial is contradicted by what the organizer, Calvin Harper, reported to them."

EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE ROWDY TEENS BUT THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BOAT NAMED 'STUGOTS' BLASTING DEAN MARTIN — "Party hardly: Long Branch is no country for young men," by The Star-Ledger's Paul Mulshine: "There should be some place in the state for young people to get together and have a good time. But it sure ain't Long Branch. I found that out when I drove up there the other day to visit my old friend Howie. He's been a pillar of the surfing community there since the 1970s, when Long Branch was – in the common parlance – a dump. But it was a pleasant dump, one with cheap taverns, pizza joints and a boardwalk packed with rides and games. The drinking age was 18 back then and just about every weekend was a pop-up party. No more, said Howie as we headed to Pier Village. That's the upscale oceanfront complex that occupies the site on which one of the finest go-go bars on the Jersey Shore once stood … But on the Saturday of the recent pop-up party, those upscale restaurants that replaced the dives all closed their doors early … Murphy reacted to that by saying, 'That's something that's not acceptable. They paid a big price.' True enough. But that's what happens when a town rebuilds its oceanfront to appeal to the upper crust. All those people have to go somewhere. If 5,000 of them descended on Seaside Heights they'd get lost in the crowd, said Mayor Tony Vaz. 'We can take 5,000 easy,' said Vaz."

—" Ocean County commissioners seek to 'harden' security at 114 public school buildings"

—"Increased police around Camden schools now – next year's plan in the works "

—Moran: "In Newark's Ironbound, "You can taste the air. It's disgusting!" Just say no to another fossil plant"

—"Clifton cop pleads guilty to sexually assaulting teenage relative, forfeits employment"

—" In aftermath of shootings, Sussex Democrats rally, call on GOP to enact sensible gun laws"

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

EVERYTHING ELSE

THE DECLINE OF THE REPUBLIC — "A federal judge put an attorney in control of Republic First bank to end chaos of rival board factions," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Harold Brubaer : "A federal judge has appointed a custodian to oversee Republic First Bancorp Inc., which he wrote has been paralyzed as deadlocked board factions trade 'poisonous accusations' in a fight for control of the Philadelphia bank. A volley of lawsuits in state and federal courts pit Republic's chief executive Vernon W. Hill II and board allies against bank founder and director Harry Madonna and a group of dissident board members and investors, including one-time Hill business partner George E. Norcross III. Both sides have accused the other of fraudulent behavior at the bank, which has 33 branches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, and $5.6 billion in assets. 'The unseemly efforts by both Madonna and Hill to hijack Republic First can only injure both public confidence in the institution and the institution itself,' U.S. District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond wrote in his order Thursday appointing a custodian. Republic First's shares, which closed Friday at $4.03, have fallen about 27% since mid February … Diamond said in his 12-page order that the actions by the Madonna faction at a late night special board meeting May 12 violated the bank's bylaws because a quorum, or a majority of the board, including the unfilled seat, was needed to remove Hill and appoint Madonna interim chair."

WANDERING DEER TO RUN FOR COUNTY CLERK — "Wandering deer causes George Washington Bridge traffic shutdown Saturday night," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "Motorists have gotten used to dealing with stifling holiday weekend traffic on the George Washington Bridge usually in the form of crippling bottlenecks getting onto the span or fender benders that shut down lanes. But Saturday night's traffic jam bucked that trend. A deer somehow hoofed its way onto the New Jersey-bound lower-level lanes around 8:20 p.m. prompting Port Authority police and its emergency services unit to shut down traffic while they tried to corral the animal, said Rudy King, an agency spokesman. It took police about 15 minutes to capture the deer, which survived the ordeal. During that time all lower westbound lanes were closed. Police took the deer to nearby Fort Lee Historic Park where they released it."

UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ONLY GONE DOWN HILL — "American Dream's Big Snow indoor ski slope reopens, eight months after fire," by NJBIZ's Daniel Munoz: "Eight months after a fire shut down American Dream's Big Snow indoor ski resort, and after construction and manufacturing delays further slowed its return, the winter retreat reopened on Friday, just ahead of the unofficial start of summer. For owners of the Meadowlands megamall, it's another chance at a fresh start for a project that's endured decades of financial troubles, the COVID crisis and other headaches. American Dream posted a nearly $60 million loss in 2021, according to financial reports."

—" Want to camp along the Delaware River? Starting now, you'll need a reservation, pay a fee"

—" Veterans' posts are failing everywhere. How did this NJ man triple membership in his?"

—"'Bob's Burgers Movie' star John Roberts on Linda Belcher, N.J. 'secret power' that got him the job"

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

We can all agree that costs in New Jersey are already sky high – and that includes prescription drug costs. Year after year, big drug companies raise the price of life-saving medications to increase their profits. Patients deserve better. As this legislative session comes to an end, let's remind our elected officials in Trenton to hold Big Pharma accountable and make all entities in the drug supply chain find real solutions to increase access to affordable prescription drugs without impacting services. That means supporting patient advocates like Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that negotiate with Big Pharma to reduce Rx costs and put money back in the pockets of New Jersey families. It's time to stand up to special interests, cut unnecessary red tape, and let these advocates do what they do best - save patients money. https://www.affordablerxnj.com/.