Codifying the right to interracial marriage?

Nov 29, 2022

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Tuesday morning!

Here's a bill I bet you weren't expecting to see: Assemblymember John McKeon (D-Essex) last week introduced legislation that would explicitly recognize the "fundamental right … to marry or enter into a civil union with a person of any race."

To be clear, interracial marriage has been legal in every state of the union since Loving v. Virginia in 1967. And New Jersey is one of just a handful of states that never had an anti-miscegenation law.

But, McKeon's reasoning goes, if the Supreme Court can overturn nearly 50 years of precedent on abortion, is interracial marriage safe?

"Given the risk that other personal decisions, currently protected under the federal constitution, could be returned to individual states for determination, including the rights of persons of different racial or ethnic backgrounds to marry, it is prudent to protect interracial marriage in New Jersey statutory law," the bill states.

I don't think there's a realistic chance the Supreme Court will overturn Loving in our lifetimes. Especially when you consider that one of the most conservative justices, whose comments about substantive due process in his Dobbs concurrence helped inspire this bill, is in an interracial marriage . Ultimately, this bill is more of a statement. And writing bills to address problems New Jerseyans don't have is a time-honored tradition.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 296

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

WHERE'S MURPHY? — At Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville for an 11 a.m. announcement

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Baby nepotism" — A write-in vote in the 8th Congressional District , where Rep.-elect Rob Menendez, son of Sen. Bob Menendez, was a shoo-in for the seat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Gerry Scharfenberger, Devan Laurent, Keith Jones II

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist older loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. That's a huge burden. But NJ lawmakers can give family caregivers the relief they need by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).

WHAT TRENTON MADE

WILL MURPHY GET HIS OWN RANDY MASTRO? — Murphy's office announces start of long-promised Covid-19 review , by POLITICO's Daniel Han: The Murphy administration has chosen two outside firms to begin its long-promised independent review on the state's handling of the pandemic, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office announced Tuesday. Murphy has promised since the early days of the pandemic that there would be an independent assessment of how the state handled the public health crisis.

The probe will look into everything ranging from the continuation of government functions, public health management and policy decisions around congregate care settings, according to Murphy's office. A report is expected to be released late next year and will include recommendations for the state in the event of another public health emergency. It is unclear whether it will be released before or after the November 2023 election when all 120 seats in the state legislature are on the ballot.

EDUCATION — " NJ's plan to expand special education hasn't gone as hoped. Why so many were shut out ," by The Record's Gene Myers: "A year and a half ago …. Gov. Phil Murphy and state lawmakers approved a three-year extension of special-education eligibility for students whose lives had been disrupted by the pandemic. The state was prepared to spend as much as $600 million to help an estimated 8,700 people stay in school an extra year, Murphy declared at a news conference. The initiative was well-meaning, but it hasn't helped nearly as many as hoped. Halfway through the three-year period, the state has spent $36.4 million for 442 students who have taken advantage of the additional year of services, according to the New Jersey Department of Education."

JUDGE NOT, LEST… ACTUALLY, GO AHEAD. THERE'S NO ONE AROUND TO JUDGE YOU — " NJ judge shortage persists: 'The court's on fire, and no one seems to be paying attention' ," by The Record's Katie Sobko: :"When New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said in May that the judicial system was historically short on judges, he explained that to "address that backlog and give people their day in court," the state needs to fill dozens of openings … At that time, the state averaged 50 or more vacancies a month for the previous 2½ years, he said, when that number should be no higher than 25 or 30 'to be able to best serve the public.' Now with December fast approaching, the situation invariably described by lawyers as a "crisis" has seen little resolution. The state's Superior Court system had 69 vacancies as of Monday morning — six fewer than the high of 75 six months ago. And while five vacancies were filled during the state Senate's voting session last Monday, four more openings are anticipated before the end of the year, according to the state's Administrative Office of the Courts."

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CLASSES TO BE TAUGHT BY DENNIS AND JUDI — " N.J. may soon set standards for students to learn how to separate fact from fiction on social media ," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson: "Though Garden State schools already have some requirements to teach the topic, the state Legislature has overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill (S588) that would mandate a state Department of Education committee to develop specific statewide guidelines for lessons on information literacy across digital, visual, and technological media. The state Board of Education would then adopt the standards — covering kindergarten through 12th grade — and each school district in the state would then apply them."

PRIEST CHARGED WITH OFFICIANT MISCONDUCT — " North Bergen mayor marries longtime girlfriend ," by The Jersey Journal's Ron Zeitlinger: "North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco has officiated hundreds, if not thousands, of weddings at Township Hall. On Saturday he was on the other side. The longtime mayor and state senator married longtime girlfriend Kathryn Somick at a ceremony at the Venetian in Garfield, township spokesman Phil Swibinski said. Sacco turned 76 just last month. The reception at the Bergen County facility was attended by hundreds of family members and friends, and 'was filled with great food and drink, music, dancing, family and love,' Swibinski said."

—" Murphy, leaders haven't done enough to boost N.J. businesses this year, survey says "

—" Bill would toughen punishment for people who assault law enforcement officers "

—" Another new year, another automatic toll hike for NJ drivers "

—" Major new funding for local health departments "

—" Disciplined N.J. cops can go to arbitration. Now, college officers can too, court rules "

BIDEN TIME

—" Soon to leave Congress, Malinowski will hold farewell town hall "

—Golden: " The Christie endgame "

A message from AARP New Jersey:

LOCAL

AFFORDAPINE — " Is wealthy Alpine using its affordable housing trust fund correctly? " by The Record's Ashley Balcerzak: "A NorthJersey.com review of Alpine financial documents obtained through a public records request shows the borough has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from the affordable housing trust fund over the past eight years and spent it on law firms the borough has hired to handle aspects of the settlement talks, a potential violation of its own zoning code … Some residents argue that the fund is being used to 'resist affordable housing rather than to create it and promote it,' attorney Charles Gormally wrote on their behalf in a letter to the borough."

—" Ocean County election board to propose new voting machines "

—" This new lawsuit says Paterson was 'deliberately indifferent' to police misconduct "

—" Holmdel proposes fines, jail time for attempted car thefts "

—" Hoboken 5th Ward Councilman Cohen announces re-election bid after recall fizzles out "

—" Losers In Trenton city council race file lawsuit to halt runoff election "

— "High on the Heights? Jersey City area is a hot spot for proposed dispensaries "

—" Union City cop charged with DWI, assault by auto in Hoboken admitted to drinking 3 beers "

GO INSIDE THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT: POLITICO is featuring a special edition of our "Future Pulse" newsletter at the 2022 Milken Institute Future of Health Summit from Dec. 6 to 8. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of health industry leaders and innovators solving the biggest global health issues to ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all. SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE .

EVERYTHING ELSE

SCARLET INK KNIGHTS — " Schiano's coaching tenure at Rutgers ," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack : "Rutgers just completed its third season in the Big Ten under Schiano with a conference record of 1-8. In the three years of his second tenure as coach, Rutgers has a conference record of 6-21 … Murphy led the state's political establishment in embracing Schiano, and more importantly, his $4 million a year contract, not including such perks as a private plane for recruiting trips. It's that college football is just not 'big time' in New Jersey and that's going to be the case regardless of how Rutgers tries to make it so. When it comes to sports, New Jersey lives in the shadow of New York and Philadelphia. With so many pro teams in those cities in all the major sports, there is really, very little room for college football"

KEN GRIFTY JR. — " Rizzo threatens to disparage Morris GOP unless they drop small claims court lawsuit ," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Grifter Phil Rizzo is threatening a counterclaim against the Morris County Republican Committee unless they resolve a lawsuit seeking to recover a $1,500 unpaid bill for a table at their county convention earlier this year, threatening to expose cracks in the party organization that could help Democrats and signaling that he would agree to a non-disclosure agreement so that neither side could disparage the other. A Small Claims Court trial against Rizzo is set to be held on December 4."

JERSEY CITY: MAKE IT INSOLVENT —" Crypto lender Blockfi files for bankruptcy as FTX fallout spreads ," by The New York Times' Lauren Hirsch, David Yaffe-Bellany and Ephrat Livni: "BlockFi, a cryptocurrency lender that targeted ordinary investors eager for a piece of the crypto mania, filed for bankruptcy on Monday, felled by its financial ties to FTX, the embattled exchange whose recent downfall has shaken the crypto industry to its core. Based in Jersey City, N.J., BlockFi marketed itself primarily to small investors, offering them loans backed by cryptocurrency in minutes without credit checks, as well as accounts that paid high interest on crypto deposits."

NEXT UP FOR ADOPTION IS A WHITE-HAIRED CAT NAMED GEORGE PURCROSS — " Fishtopher, the viral sad cat from South Jersey, finds a new home ," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Emily Bloch: "From 'saddy' to 'baddie,' Jersey's finest feline has a new home. Fishtopher, a 5-year-old medium-sized tabby cat with enormous loveable cheeks, went viral over Thanksgiving weekend for his endearing — and low-key depressing — adoption bio, which spread widely on social media. On Sunday, Gloucester County's Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center announced the cat had been adopted by a couple from Maryland after 'two days trending on Twitter.'"

—" NJCU's austerity measures convince credit rating agency to remove it from 'negative watch' list "

—" Men are falling behind in college enrollment. Here's what one N.J. school is doing about it "

—" Mary Pat Christie takes on a new role at [Seton Hall] "

—" Two college buds spent 19 hours riding 10 NJ Transit buses across NJ. Here's how it went "

—" The best pizza in each of New Jersey's 21 counties "

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. Many take on debt or tap into savings to make sure their loved ones get the care they need. That's a huge burden. And their sacrifices save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of costly nursing home facilities. New Jersey family caregivers provide more than $13 billion a year in unpaid care. It's past time to give them some financial relief. NJ lawmakers can take action by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). This bill would provide a modest tax credit for family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021).