News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Chris Christie's million dollar campaign debt

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Chris Christie's million dollar campaign debt

Dec 01, 2020

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Tuesday morning!

In early 2014, former Gov. Chris Christie's 2013 reelection campaign asked ELEC to allow it to raise money to pay legal fees to answer federal subpoenas related to Bridgegate.

But while ELEC granted that request, Christie's campaign only raised a few thousand dollars. Instead, it took on just over a million dollars in debt between two entities — the law firm Squire Patton Boggs and the cybersecurity firm Stroz Friedberg.

That debt remains today. There's no indication that Christie ever tried to pay it back, or that either of the firms sought the money. But now enough time has passed that the Christie campaign can seek to stop reporting to ELEC. Because it's been 7 years since Election Day 2013, the campaign can apply to ELEC to stop filing reports, basically canceling any public record of the debt.

I can't tell you why these firms never tried to collect the debt. It certainly is strange that companies wouldn't seek to collect, especially from a proven political fundraiser like Christie, who went on to raise millions for his ill-fated political campaign and even today is co-chairing a fundraising group that plans to back Georgia's two Republican senators in their runoffs.

While I am not suggesting I have evidence these two things are related, it's worth noting that once Christie was out of office, then-new Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, was " shocked" to learn that Stroz Friedberg was charging New Jersey taxpayers $62,000 a month for document retention, and instead hired a firm to do it for $2,300.

Find my article about the former governor's debts on POLITICO New Jersey's homepage.

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: 3,199 newly-reported cases for a total of 337,304. 2,961 hospitalized, 575 in intensive care. 15 more deaths for a total of 15,164 (and 1,829 probable deaths)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Children should not be seated on Santa's lap." — Dr. Edward Lifshitz, director of the NJ Department of Health's Communicable Disease Service

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Benjie Wimberly, PR person Gina Marie Santore, Murphy Associate Counsel Stephanie Brown. Missed yesterday: Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia.

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Say no to continued higher electric rates. PSEG and Exelon want to extend the $300 million annual Nuke Tax for three more years, making struggling New Jerseyans pay nearly $1 billion more on their electric bills. It's time to end the Nuke Tax. Take action.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

CHILDREN'S TRAUMA FROM WATCHING PARENTS ARGUE IN THE STANDS WILL HAVE TO WAIT — Murphy announces new restrictions on indoor sports, outdoor gatherings, by POLITICO's Katherine Landergan: Gov. Phil Murphy announced new restrictions on indoor sports and outdoor gatherings on Monday as coronavirus cases in New Jersey continue to mount. Murphy said that as of Sunday, 2,961 patients were hospitalized with the virus, a number that's been rising in recent weeks. He also reported that the positivity rate for all PCR tests recorded on Thanksgiving Day was 11.34 percent. The statewide rate of transmission is currently 1.11. Murphy said that all indoor youth and adult sports are being placed on a full pause effective at 6 a.m. on Dec. 5 through Jan. 2, 2021. There will be exceptions for collegiate-level and professional teams.

FOREVER CHEMICALS, TEMPORARY JOBS — DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe set to leave in January, by POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado : Gov. Phil Murphy's administration will lose a top official tasked with tackling climate change, as Commissioner Catherine McCabe will leave her post at the Department of Environmental Protection in the new year. McCabe headed up the DEP in 2018 when Murphy took office. The DEP, in collaboration with the Board of Public Utilities and Economic Development Authority, has been the agency tasked with carrying out the governor's visions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop the regulatory details of climate change policy. During McCabe's tenure, the department spearheaded New Jersey's entry back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, ramped up the state's vehicle electrification efforts, implemented the nation's strongest standards to limit "forever chemicals," and closed state lands to the bear hunt. Ongoing initiatives include developing rules associated with the state's landmark environmental justice law, updating land use and greenhouse gas emissions regulations and revising the lead and copper rule to prevent water contamination.

DATA DOESN'T DETERMINE ELECTION DATES — " Are N.J.'s fall COVID-19 regulations guided by science? Health experts call them 'arbitrary'," by NJ Advance Media's Payton Guion: "The state likely does not need to be paralyzed again, public health experts generally agree. But they question whether science is guiding the decisions of Murphy, who is up for re-election next year, with two experts going so far as to call the recent regulations 'arbitrary.' 'I think early in the pandemic in New York and New Jersey, science outlined all our decisions,' said Perry Halkitis, dean of Rutgers University School of Public Health. 'Sometimes the decisions don't align with what science would direct. 'These are decisions that seem, quite frankly from a purely scientific perspective, that they have faults with them.' The Murphy administration insisted that they are making scientific considerations in the face of this imposing second wave. Michael Zhadanovsky, a spokesman for the governor, also pointed to several states that he said have similar or stricter rules on gatherings."

—"Statewide coronavirus lockdown isn't imminent for N.J. despite rumors, Murphy says"

THE TABLE IS SO OVERLOADED THE LEGS ARE THREATENING TO GIVE OUT — Murphy doesn't see full state closure of schools despite Covid surge, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that he does not expect that all schools in the state will close again despite coronavirus cases continuing to surge. But, speaking during a briefing in Trenton, Murphy added that "the option has to stay on the table." All six New Jersey regions have now fallen into the orange zone on the state Department of Health's color-coded Covid-19 Activity Level Index, meaning cases and percent positivity are "high" in all counties

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? — "Some N.J. workers say they are wrongly being taxed at the millionaire rate," by NJ Advance Media's Karin Price Miller: "Earlier this fall, Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law the millionaires tax, which raises the state's gross income tax rate on income between $1 million and $5 million from 8.97% to 10.75%. People with income over $5 million already pay that top marginal tax rate. But a provision of the law that instructs employers to withhold state tax at a rate of 21.3% from salaries, wages and other payments, such as commissions and bonuses, from Nov. 1 through the rest of the year may be hitting people for whom the tax was not intended, according to several readers who contacted NJ Advance Media."

HE SHOULD SEEK A REBATE — "Murphy appears to stick with consultant McKinsey despite 'sickening' details of opioid work," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday 'it's appalling' that his administration's preferred consulting firm, McKinsey & Co., reportedly proposed a plan to reimburse pharmaceutical companies for OxyContin overdose victims, but he signaled no intention to cut ties with the firm. 'The notion of putting a price on somebody's life is so offensive,' Murphy said. 'It's beyond the pale.'... Part of McKinsey's plan was to give Purdue's distributors a rebate for every OxyContin overdose … The governor had been asked during his regular coronavirus briefing whether McKinsey should continue its work in New Jersey after the New York Times reported that the firm worked with Purdue Pharma, manufacturer of OxyContin, to shore up sales as opioid abuse had killed hundreds of thousands of Americans … But Murphy also praised McKinsey … for its work assisting New Jersey across a range of agencies. The administration has agreed to pay nearly $35 million in taxpayer money over four years to McKinsey for work that includes supporting agencies such as NJ Transit and the Economic Development Authority. The global management firm has also played a key role in the administration's COVID-19 response"

—" Steinhardt: Murphy must cut ties with McKinsey"

DID PARKER MCCAY WRITE IT? — "Pushing for 'buy local' tax credits and a 'buy American' incentive," by NJ Spotlight's John Reitmeyer: "Businesses would get tax breaks for buying products made in New Jersey, a measure that lawmakers say would encourage more spending here while boosting an economy hampered by the pandemic. State lawmakers are also looking to enact another new policy to push for more purchasing of American-made products. Their efforts come amid a pandemic that has ravaged both the state and national economies, and also put a strain on global supply chains. Lawmakers earlier this month proposed a 'Made in New Jersey Tax Credit' for retailers and other companies that buy products that have been made within New Jersey's borders."

I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS AND IMMEDIATELY REPORTED HER TO THE AUTHORITIES — "Holiday parades, Santa's lap photos discouraged in latest N.J. COVID-19 guidelines," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco: "New Jersey health officials are urging people to take extra precautions when this holiday season due to surging cases of the coronavirus and have issued rules about how traditions should be celebrated this year - including avoiding sitting on Santa's lap for a photo. Holiday parades are discouraged, Christmas tree and Menorah lighting events should be held outside and social distanced and carolers should wear masks while singing, said Ed Lifshitz, the medical director of the Department of Health's Communicable Disease Service."

—" Second wave of COVID-19 cases grows at New Jersey veterans homes"

—"Will more medical weed be available in N.J. after big court decision?"

—" Setting the rules for legal weed: A Q&A with Sen. Nicholas Scutari"

—"New Jersey moves to strengthen Black history education mandates"

—" New Jersey puts in place new regulations for remote public meetings. Here's what they are"

—"Why new boundaries for NJ's legislative districts are unlikely anytime soon"

—" One month until pot is legalized, but details remain hazy"

—"Senators, social justice advocates debate N.J. legal weed bill that's still stalled by disputes"

—Golden: " The considerable unresolved details of marijuana legalization"

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TRUMP ERA

LIKE NOTHING YOU'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE — GAO: State Jobless aid so low that many workers falling below poverty line, by POLITICO's Rebecca Rainey: Many U.S. households are probably falling below the poverty line since the expiration of enhanced unemployment benefits this summer, and a number of states are paying laid off workers lower jobless benefits than they should, a government watchdog warned Monday. After the federal government's extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit expired at the end of July, laid off workers were left with just the jobless aid offered by their states that can be so low that "their household income may no longer exceed poverty guidelines," the Government Accountability Office said in a report on the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic. The average benefits paid in regular state unemployment programs in September ranged from about $181 to $466 per week, according to the GAO. Workers need to earn at least $245 per week to stay above the poverty line for an individual, which the Department of Health and Human Services set at an annual income of $12,760 in 2020.

—"Tanden will resign from Restart and Recover Commission, Murphy says"

LOCAL

LAKEWOOD — "Authorities investigating after dead pig is dropped off at Lakewood Rabbi's doorstep," by The Lakewood Scoop: 'An investigation is underway after a dead pig was left at the doorstep of a Lakewood Rabbi. The small pig was left just outside the Rabbi's door sometime over Shabbos. Lakewood's Detective Bureau and CSI are investigating the incident. 'Our detectives, along with CSI, are investigating this as an apparent Bias Crime,' Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer told TLS. 'We will not tolerate such acts in our Town.'"

LEGENDS OF THE FAHL — " Former Lambertville business administrator sues over firing," by New Jersey Globe's Nikita Biryukov: "Former Lambertville business administrator Alex Torpey sued the Hunterdon County city, claiming his termination violated state law. Torpey's suit, filed in September, claims Mayor Julia Fahl fired him in retaliation after he suggested David Burd, the town's emergency management coordinator, was not legally eligible to hold his position. Fahl, the suit alleges, allowed Burd to keep his job because he was a valued political supporter. The mayor denied each of Torpey's allegations in a mid-October filing. On Saturday, she took to Facebook to undercut the former business administrator's claims of retaliation and of a hostile work environment … Torpey's suit makes a bevy of other claims. It charges Fahl created a hostile work environment through the use of sexually graphic language"

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BS — "Jersey City BOE alleging that Horizon threatened to cut insurance for 14,000 employees," by Hudson County View's John Heinis : "The Jersey City Board of Education has filed a lawsuit alleging that their insurance provider, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, threatened to eliminate coverage for 14,000 employees the day before Thanksgiving. 'JCBOE is seeking immediate restraints to prevent Horizon from ceasing to perform its obligations under the Agreement and from terminating the Agreement,' the complaint, filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Monday, says.

LIVING IN A BOOB-TOCRACY — " 'Deliberate incompetence or ultimate boob-ism': Englewood Cliffs residents sue over meeting," by The Record's Richard Cowen: "A group of Englewood Cliffs residents have sued their town government, claiming they were shut out of a hastily called public meeting held remotely on a Sunday afternoon in October in which the mayor and council voted to settle the borough's controversial affordable housing case. In the lawsuit, Concerned Citizens of Englewood Cliffs alleges that the borough first gave inadequate, 48-hour notice of the meeting, then limited public participation by capping the Zoom livestream to 100 residents in the early stages of the marathon, 12-hour session that began on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 4, and stretched into the wee hours of Monday morning. 'First of all, what are they doing meeting on a Sunday? Everyone knows the world and government don't work that way,' said Donald M. Doherty Jr., the attorney who filed the lawsuit in state Superior Court in Bergen County. 'And then people who wanted to participate couldn't participate. This is either a crime or deliberate incompetence on their part.'"

CASES COULD MUSHROOM — "Crowd of maskless Thanksgiving Eve customers at Portobello's bar prompts emergency meeting," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz : "A 'tidal wave' of maskless pre-Thanksgiving customers at Portobello's Restaurant outdoor bar last Wednesday will be the subject of an emergency Borough Council meeting Monday. 'I called an emergency meeting of the council with our police chief and attorney to address what happened Wednesday night at Portobello's,' Mayor Linda Schwager said in a Sunday email. 'We cannot allow this to happen. This was a violation of the Governor's Executive Order, and our Borough Ordinance, and the public safety for all.' A photo of a crowd of outdoor customers standing shoulder to shoulder, without a mask in sight, was posted on Facebook last week, drawing the attention of public officials. Vincent Amen, banquet manager and son of chef/owner Frank Amen, said Monday the crowd was an 'anomaly' that 'won't happen again.'" (the picture)

—"Trenton councilman softens stance on Coley, calls murders 'collective community failure'"

—" Man accused in N.J. robbery had a concrete alibi. He still spent 40 days in jail"

—"Jersey City Public Safety Director Shea: Public service off-duty jobs could return in 2020"

— "On New Jersey's barrier islands, a needed focus on saving bayside seashores"

—"Wildwood scraps local cab licenses"

—" Wildwood settles lawsuit for more than $300K with woman who was involved in violent beach arrest"

NEXT WEEK - DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT 2020: POLITICO will feature a special edition Future Pulse newsletter at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators determined to confront and conquer the most significant health challenges. Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses across our health systems, particularly in the treatment of our most vulnerable communities, driving the focus of the 2020 conference on the converging crises of public health, economic insecurity, and social justice. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage from December 7–9.

EVERYTHING ELSE

DAMN YANKEES — "MLB announces plan to save the Trenton Thunder, which was abandoned by the Yankees," by NJ Advance Media's Mike Rosenstein: "On Monday, Major League Baseball announced its plan to create a new 'MLB Draft League.' One of the founding members will be the Trenton Thunder. Earlier this month, the New York Yankees announced they are switching affiliates and will use the Somerset Patriots as their Double-A club beginning next season, ending an 18-year partnership with Trenton. The move by the Yankees was the result of Minor League Baseball agreeing with Major League Baseball to cut its teams from 160 to 120."

—" N.J. restaurants may have to get new outdoor dining permits as officials worry about fire and snow"

—"'I am a scientist. There is no corona!' Maskless N.J. bank customer goes on tirade in viral video"

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jersey utilities want electric customers to continue boosting the profits of their nuclear plants. The Nuke Tax costs customers $300 million each year. Now PSEG and Exelon want to extend the tax three more years, costing customers nearly $1 billion more.

It's time to end the nuclear tax. Many New Jerseyans and small businesses are struggling just to keep the lights on. They can't afford another three-year Nuke Tax just to increase the profits of an already profitable energy company. Take action to end the Nuke Tax.