News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A very opaque budget

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: A very opaque budget

Jun 23, 2021

Presented by PhRMA

Good Wednesday morning!

The budget was available for public perusal for minutes yesterday before both houses' budget committees approved it. But that's not all!

There were also about 200 pages of amendments to the tax incentive bill that also wasn't online and was quickly passed. A $114 million supplemental appropriations bill was also approved without the language available online. There are lots of "Christmas Tree items" but not disclosure of who was behind them.

The more the press complains about the process, the more opaque it seems to get.

Is there a lot of good stuff in this budget? I'm sure. Is there bad stuff? Probably. This is the way of Trenton: Rushed votes on bills of import that few people read, or even have a chance to read, before they're voted on. Could it be any other way?

More details on the budget in the articles below.

WHERE'S MURPHY?: In Trenton for a 2 pm coronavirus press conference

QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: "Every year, you guys say it wasn't transparent enough. But I believe it was no different than any other year." — Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen)

QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: "There's a lot of big buts in this budget. I don't like big buts and I cannot lie." — state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Assemblyman Pedro Mejia, Jewish Standard's Larry Yudelson. Missed Tuesday: Former AG Jeff Chiesa

A message from PhRMA:

America's unique R&D ecosystem delivered multiple COVID-19 medical breakthroughs in record-breaking time. As we continue our work to help end the pandemic, we are committed to common sense policy changes that will improve our health care system for everyone. Unfortunately, some legislators want to enact changes with price control policies that could threaten access to medicines today and new treatments in the future. Tell New Jersey lawmakers: don't take our state's success stories for granted.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

5,155.5 MASTROS — "Budget committees advance $46.4B spending bill minutes after making it public," by POLITICO New Jersey's Katherine Landergan and Sam Sutton : "The Senate and Assembly budget committees voted Tuesday to advance a $46.4 billion budget bill for the fiscal year that begins July 1 — just minutes after the final documents were made available to the public. The straight party-line votes send the measure to the floors of both chambers, where it is scheduled to be voted on Thursday before being sent to Gov. Phil Murphy. The budget bill includes a massive $6.9 billion payment into New Jersey's notoriously-underfunded pension system — $505 million more than what Murphy originally proposed — and sets aside $3.7 billion to tackle the state's debtload. It totals $1.6 billion more than the $44.8 billion spending plan Murphy proposed in February, buoyed in large part by billions of dollars in better-than-expected revenues, and more than $4 billion Democrats who control the Legislature agreed to borrow last fall. There's also $6.2 billion the state received from the most recent federal stimulus package. Republican lawmakers fumed that they were shut out of the process, and complained they didn't see the budget bills until the last minute."

SDA — No deal on SDA, but Murphy, legislative leaders commit to work toward agreement, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: Legislative leaders and Gov. Phil Murphy have not yet reached a budget agreement over what to do with the beleaguered Schools Development Authority, but an administrative source said the parties are committed to studying all options. The source told POLITICO Tuesday afternoon there will be a line item in the Senate Democrats' budget bill that will allow the Legislature and Murphy's office to get outside, third-party help to determine what options remain on the table for the authority. It's expected that negotiations about the SDA will continue for the next six months, but it's likely that no decision will be reached until after the lame duck session. "The Schools Development Authority's (SDA) mission is critical to the construction, modernization, and renovation of schools in some of our most underserved school districts. ...," Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Couglin said in a joint statement Tuesday. "We will act to effectuate change and look to restructure the organization or move it under another State entity to improve the State's ability to deliver and effectively manage public school construction projects."

— Murphy, legislative leaders announce budget deal on college affordability measures

CHARTER SCHOOLS — "N.J. Supreme Court upholds expansion of Newark charter schools," by The AP: "New Jersey's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the state's decision to allow the expansion of seven charter schools in Newark, rejecting a challenge that argued it would hinder the ability of students in traditional public schools to get a quality education. The lawsuit was brought by the Education Law Center, a Newark-based nonprofit that has brought legal challenges on behalf of students in poor school districts in New Jersey and other states. It said New Jersey's education commissioner's 2016 decision to approve increased enrollments and the expansion of facilities for the charter schools would negatively affect public school funding. The Supreme Court concluded that the ELC and Newark's school board, which joined the appeal, hadn't demonstrated that expanding the charter schools would result in fiscal harm to traditional public schools."

WHERE WILL THEY FIND THE MONEY? — "Judge says regulated industries can make independent expenditures in state elections," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein : "A federal judge rule Monday that banks and other regulated industries — including utility companies — can make independent expenditures on behalf of gubernatorial and legislative candidates but stopped short of declaring a 1911 statute that bans campaign contributions unconstitutional. The New Jersey Bankers Association had mounted a legal challenge to the law barring campaign contributions from banks, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Martinotti found the state law unconstitutionally bans independent expenditures."

STOCKTON TO UPGRADE FROM ATARI 2600 — "Stockton esports center gets $200,000 boost from state," by The Press of Atlantic City's Ahmad Austin: New Jersey is investing $200,000 in a center to help the city and the state become a national hub for the billion-dollar competitive video game industry known as esports. Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman and New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Economic Officer Brian Sabina signed a memorandum of understanding for the opening of an Esports Innovation Center at the school's city campus. The center will be used to support research and development, technology innovation and workforce development within the rapidly growing esports industry."

—Lalevee: "Loretta Weinberg is right. It's time to invest in NJ Transit"

—In absence of DOE guidance, database offers 'evidence-based' programs for New Jersey schools

—"N.J. Turnpike OKs sale of service area operator after it repays $50M loan"

—New Jersey lawmaker wants to give towns more time for cannabis decisions

— Murphy signs 6 bills to provide $235M in relief for small businesses

—"Committees advance bill to end eviction moratorium"

— Budget bill boosts annual charity care allotment by $40M

—"NJ college students and senior citizens will get new tax breaks. What to know"

—" Ban on ICE detention at local jails a step closer as bill advances in NJ Senate"

"THE WOMEN REOPENING AMERICA" – A THURSDAY CONVERSATION: With more than 100 million people vaccinated against Covid-19, a strengthening economy and relaxed Covid restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, America is on a path to fully reopening. What policies and systemic changes can help women recover from the disproportionate impact of the pandemic? Join Thursday for a "Women Rule" conversation with leading women who are playing a pivotal role in determining what normal will look like for business, politics, schools and the workplace. REGISTER HERE.

BIDEN TIME

WHAT AMERICA IS CLAMORING FOR — "Chris Christie wants to out-Trump Trump," by The Daily Beast's Matt K. Lewis: "For someone who isn't going to automatically defer to Trump, though, this could be an opportunity. If Trump freezes the field, that allows Christie to either (a) get a head start when Trump finally decides not to run, or (b) get a clean shot at a one-on-one race against Trump, with the hope that many Republicans who grudgingly supported Trump might prefer the former guy to stay former. This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. Christie could get destroyed and humiliated by Trump who — let's be honest — is the clear frontrunner for the nomination. Or it could work. Ask yourself this question: If Christie really wants to be president, and is willing to suffer the slings and arrows, is there a better strategy? By 2028, there will be a huge field of new Republicans (some of whom we've probably never even heard of). Christie missed his window when his approval numbers were through the roof in 2012 and decided to bide his time, which was a mistake. It's hard to imagine that Christie would have better odds by waiting his turn and competing in a larger field seven years from now."

—" As number of unaccompanied minors rises at the border, NJ arrivals try to start new life"

—"Trump threatened to kill online gambling. N.J. just asked Biden to declare it legal"

—Booker: " New Jersey families will benefit from new Child Tax Credit. Here's how"

—"Secret Service paid Trump to stay at his N.J. golf club while protecting him as president. Here's the total bill"

LOCAL

NO DRUGS IN CAMDEN — Camden moves to ban cannabis sales — for now, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: The city of Camden moved to outlaw cannabis businesses during a hastily called meeting late last week, becoming one of New Jersey's few urban centers to do so. But Council Member Angel Fuentes said the measure, which would take effect after a second vote next month, is a stopgap so the city can come up with its own rules and regulations on cannabis sales, rather than letting the state impose its own. "We want to make sure that our community has been involved in this process. So the reason we decided at this point to opt out is to let the state Legislature and the governor understand that we need more time, and I'm sure we'll respect it," Fuentes said in a phone interview Tuesday.

WHITES WHOSE FAMILIES MOVED OUT OF NEWARK IN THE 60S TO PROTEST — "Harriet Tubman monument replacing a Christopher Columbus statue in Newark is 'poetic,' mayor says," by CBS News' Christopher Brito: "Almost a year ago, the city of Newark removed a Christopher Columbus statue amid the national reckoning spurred by the death of George Floyd. The city's mayor, Ras Baraka, recently revealed the design of the Harriet Tubman monument that will replace it. 'I think it's a little better than what we envisioned,' he told CBS News in an interview on Friday. 'I think that it's going to turn out to be something great.' Baraka said having Tubman take over Columbus' old spot in Washington Park was 'poetic.'"

GOOD NEWS: YOU HAVE LESS MONEY! — " Paterson funding from state aid program hits lowest level since 2012, what does it mean?' by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "The funding Paterson gets from a state program designed to help cities struggling with financial problems has dropped to its lowest level in nine years. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs recently awarded Paterson $21,057,116 in transitional aid for 2021, compared with $24.65 million in 2020 and $33 million the year before that. Not since Paterson got $21 million from the state in 2012 has the city's transitional aid been so low. Mayor Andre Sayegh hailed the reduction as a sign of the city's growing self-sufficiency, attributing the change to his administration's fiscal policies that he said were aimed at generating new revenues and cutting spending."

SCHWAG-ER — "Oakland council votes to ban marijuana businesses, but mayor says: Not so fast," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "Mayor Linda Schwager will face off with the Borough Council on Wednesday over an ordinance banning marijuana businesses in town. The ordinance banning all six classes of marijuana businesses was adopted by the council on June 9 despite Schwager's request to postpone a vote until an ad hoc committee had a chance to present its findings on the possible benefits and resident preferences. By law, Schwager has 10 days after receiving the ordinance to either approve it or return it to the council with a statement of objections. A minimum of four votes are needed to override her veto. The mayor is a Democrat and the council is composed of five Republicans and one Democrat."

CRESITFALLEN — "Cresitello runs aground in Morristown," by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: "Donald Cresitello's mayoral comeback has hit a roadblock. Ann Grossi, the Morris County Clerk, has ruled that Cresitello can't run for mayor as an independent, because he doesn't live in Morristown. Cresitello, as is his wont, is not taking that decision lying down. He says he's going to court to get it overturned. He called Grossi's decision 'crazy,' adding that the establishment in both parties doesn't want him to run."

A SAN FRANCISCO RETREAT — " Linden school board member apologizes for calling Kamala Harris a prostitute," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell: "Gregory R. Martucci, a former Linden teacher, principal and a Democrat on the City Council, posted the comment on a local Facebook group page earlier this month referring to Harris, the first woman and person of color elected as vice president of the United States, as a 'street walker.' 'This was an 'offensive' comment which does not reflect who I am in both my private and public lives,' Martucci wrote in an email to MyCentralJersey.com Tuesday … Martucci, who served on the City Council from 1992-94, wrote, 'She is right off the wingnut streets of San Francisco what do you expect from a street walker who has no clue about America.'"

OUT-MIGRATION WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND — "Ex-Sussex County school board member sentenced in Oklahoma child porn case," by The New Jersey Herald's Lori Comstock: "A former Sussex County man who served on two school boards received a five-year prison sentence in Oklahoma nearly two years after he was charged with over 40 counts for owning child pornography. Walter Stumpf Jr., 68, a former Lafayette resident, admitted earlier this month he had over 200 photos and nearly three dozen DVDs of underage children in sexually explicit situations, some as young as 2 years old, according to court records in Canadian County District Court in Oklahoma. Stumpf, who served on the school boards in Lafayette and later at High Point Regional High, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of aggravated possession of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography."

—"Unvaccinated? Then the state could knock on your door if you live in these Shore towns"

—"North Jersey teen who died is remembered at graduation. His family had to fight for it"

— "'Cooler heads prevailed': Long Branch crowd rumors spiraled online, but police kept calm"

—"Bayonne mayor faces challenge for Democratic leadership after recent controversial decisions"

—"Vernon Richardson, aide to Fulop, launches website for Jersey City Ward F council run"

—"McCabe easily wins re-election as Middlesex Democratic chairman"

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EVERYTHING ELSE

AN ACTUAL GARDEN STATE — "Connecticut legalizes recreational marijuana, with sales aimed for 2022," by The New York Times' Ashley Wong: "After years of failed attempts, Connecticut legalized recreational marijuana on Tuesday, laying the groundwork to direct cannabis revenue into communities of color that have long been targeted by policies criminalizing the drug. Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, signed a bill to legalize the use and cultivation of recreational cannabis and expunge thousands of past convictions for possession, after both houses of the state legislature passed the bill last week. With his signature, Connecticut became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana and the fifth to do so this year after New Mexico, New York, Virginia and New Jersey … People will also be allowed to grow up to three mature plants and three immature plants for personal use starting in July 2023."

WHEN CHUNK SAW HIS FAMILY HE DID THE TRUFFLE SHUFFLE — "Golden Retriever Chunk, missing for 2 weeks, rescued from Barnegat Bay," by ABC 7: "A beloved dog that had been missing for more than two weeks is back with his ecstatic owners Tuesday, after being plucked from Barnegat Bay by New Jersey State Police. Authorities say Troopers Ryan Koehler and Vincent Ferdinandi, of Point Pleasant Station, were preparing for their shift when they were dispatched to the report of a dog swimming in the bay."

—"Rutgers University is hiking tuition. Here's how much it will cost you"

—"N.J.'s only LGBT Chamber advocates for its ever increasing number of members"

CORRECTION: Due to I don't know why, I misspelled Murphy spox Michael Zhadanovsky's name in yesterday's edition. Hopefully just now I spelled it correctly.

A message from PhRMA:

America's unique R&D ecosystem delivered multiple COVID-19 medical breakthroughs in record-breaking time. As we continue our work to help end the pandemic—from researching variants to seeking additional therapeutics—we are committed to common sense policy changes that will improve our health care system for everyone.

Unfortunately, some New Jersey legislators want to enact changes with price control policies, such as A2418, that could threaten access to medicines today and new treatments and cures in the future. Instead of ramming through sweeping changes that upend our system without addressing the broader challenges facing New Jersey patients, let's work together to end COVID-19, strengthen the health care system and make health care—including medicines—more affordable. Tell New Jersey lawmakers: don't take our state's success stories for granted.