News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Mr. Biden goes to Manville

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Mr. Biden goes to Manville

Sep 08, 2021

Presented by A Healthy Future, LLC

Good Wednesday morning!

President Biden visited New Jersey to tour storm damage in Manville — a Republican-leaning town just a few miles from Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli's hometown of Raritan. I can see two basic ways this cuts politically.

One is that Murphy gets blame for mishandling the fallout from the storm. Ciattarelli is already working on this, calling for legislative hearings into the governor's response. That was never realistic. Democratic lawmakers who dislike Murphy aren't going to call the Legislature back into session to hold hearings that could be damaging for the person leading their ticket. But even Republican legislative leaders didn't join in the call. Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union), who's running for state Senate, told me he's more focused on his hard-hit district's recovery than legislative hearings.

If Murphy doesn't get more blame, then the campaign focus is more likely to be on global warming. The president and governor have already hit that message hard. And Ciattarelli's pre-Ida statements backing natural gas and opposing subsidies for wind energy will be easy fodder for the Murphy campaign — even if on Wednesday Ciattarelli told POLITICO's Daniel Han he supports a national policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Add that to the Texas abortion law, and Murphy gets two issues that already play well in a blue state.

There's two months left to go, and campaign-changing events can still happen. So far, this isn't one of them.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I've acquired other one-of-a-kind documents and manuscripts, but nothing, nothing of this magnitude in American history; there's not much you can acquire like this." — George [Norcross] III on buying a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence

WHERE'S MURPHY? — In Trenton for a coronavirus press conference

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Nancy Munoz

A message from A Healthy Future, LLC:

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

POLITICAL CLIMATE — Biden tours flood-ravaged N.J., NYC, says infrastructure plan needed to deal with climate change, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard and Katherine Landergan: President Joe Biden on Tuesday surveyed the damage caused by last week's deadly storms in New York and New Jersey, promising to help flood-ravaged communities he said are likely to get hit again and again by a changing and violent climate. Democrats, including Biden, argued the storms spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Ida were uniquely destructive and should make climate change a meat-and-potatoes issue before similar storms strike again.

While hurricanes have struck the Northeast before, officials were stunned by the record rains that quickly fell, overwhelming predictions, expectations and the ability to act. Some areas of the region saw as much as 10 inches of rain fall in a matter of hours. Biden argued that now is the time to take prompt action, including on his infrastructure plans. "This is an opportunity," Biden said as he met with officials in Hillsborough, N.J., before touring nearby Manville. "The country has finally acknowledged the fact that global warming is real, and it's moving at an incredible pace, we've got to do something about it … In New York, his message was similar: He hoped Ida's destruction could serve as a wake-up call for climate skeptics."

DEBATE PREP — With the first gubernatorial debate coming later this month, Assemblymember John McKeon (D-Essex) is doing a Jack Ciattarelli impression for Gov. Murphy's debate prep. For Ciattarelli, Assemblymember Jay Webber (R-Morris) is doing his best Murphy. Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Diane Allen is going faux-to-faux with state Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), who's playing Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver. My question: Who's playing Allen in Oliver's debate prep? I haven't gotten that info yet.

THE TRUMP CARD — "The Trump suburban squirm," by The Atlantic's Edward-Isaac Dovere: "For first-term presidents, two governor's races have become bellwethers for the national political mood: Virginia, where McAuliffe is campaigning, and New Jersey, where Governor Phil Murphy is up for reelection this year … Read: Revenge of the suburbs For the moment, the party's future is riding on two white businessmen—Bill Clinton's best buddy (McAuliffe) and a former Goldman Sachs executive (Murphy)—who both happen to be 64 years old. They'll have to appeal to voters who aren't caught up in each revelation about how close America came to a coup, who never use the words filibuster reform or reconciliation.

"These voters instead think about inflation and rising gas prices; students' absence from school and teachers' unions pushing back on in-person classes; mask mandates and vaccine holdouts; police brutality and rising crime. But McAuliffe and Murphy, as much as they discuss those issues, want to keep steering the conversation back to Trump. They know that the former president and his most hard-core followers won't abide any wavering allegiance. And they know that any mention of the former president in connection with Republican candidates repels many moderates from voting red."

—" 'Hit him hard': The contest for NJ governor is already a race to the bottom," by The Record's Charles Stile: "Ciattarelli, who had the reputation of an establishment Republican centrist, seems bent on ignoring that tradition. His strategy forged over the summer has been fairly clear: Appeal to the pro-Trump diehards on the right by painting Murphy as an extremist who takes his marching orders from the radical left. Suggest that Murphy's not a real Jersey guy, but some sort of dilletante-ish 'other' who doesn't understand or care about the needs of workaday New Jersey residents. And go negative in hopes of dimming the positive, progressive halo that hovers over Murphy by calling into question his COVID-19 management and discrediting his 'survivor-centric' record toward women in the workplace.

"Meanwhile, the Murphy campaign is also intent on negative typecasting Ciattarelli. The Murphy campaign constantly depicts the self-described Jersey native Ciattarelli as out of step with mainstream New Jersey voters. Daily, the governor's camp accuses Ciattarelli of pandering to the Republican Party's anti-science, COVID-denying base that's intoxicated with conspiracy theories and Trump's fury. If Ciattarelli's goal is to depress Democrats and independents, the Murphy campaign seem intent on driving out its base by frightening voters that Ciattarelli is a stalking horse for the right-wing Trump agenda."

YES — "Does NJ deserve its high-tax reputation?" by NJ Spotlight's John Reitmeyer: "A plethora of recent policy revisions are easing the tax impact on at least some groups, including seniors, parents and low-wage workers who have all been the focus of the state's latest affordability initiatives. For example, within just the past few years, the state has increased funding for several direct property-tax relief programs, widened exclusions for retirement income for seniors and expanded the pool of residents who can qualify for New Jersey's earned income-tax credit. And just within the past few months, tax incentives for college savings have been established and thousands of New Jersey parents have also been sent income-tax rebate checks worth as much as $500. …

"New Jersey's top-end marginal income-tax rate has been increased by Murphy and lawmakers during his first term, hitting anyone making $1 million or more annually with an increase … And while some may be quick to dismiss the experiences or complaints of top-earning taxpayers, in New Jersey a large share of the budget is disproportionately covered by the income taxes paid by wealthy residents, including funding for K-12 school aid and property-tax relief. Meanwhile, a new corporate business-tax surcharge has been established for companies with more than $1 million in taxable net income earned in New Jersey despite protests lodged by business groups."

REPUBLICANS DECRY IN GREAT DETAIL THE SEX ACTS THEY IMAGINE ARE BEING TAUGHT — "Activists worry new LGBTQ curriculum is not being taught in most schools," by New Jersey Monitor's Shopie Nieto-Munoz: "With some New Jersey classrooms re-opening to students this week, activists who championed a law mandating school districts develop an LGBTQ curriculum say they are focusing on ensuring the state's 600 districts are teaching the lessons required by the law. Schools should have already integrated the curriculum that teaches the historical and societal contributions of LGBTQ people, but organizations that helped write the law want the state Department of Education to issue guidance to districts still recovering from a chaotic school year. 'It's critical in ensuring consistent delivery of the lessons,' said Christian Fuscarino, director of Garden State Equality."

—"Three Kennedys will raise money for Gopal, running mates"

—"Legislative petition calls for special session to mitigate payroll tax hike"

— Bramnick not on board with Ciattarelli's call for hearings into Murphy's Ida response

BIDEN TIME

REFUGEES — "Photos offer glimpse of refugee life at Joint Base McGuire -Dix-Lakehurst," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "Military officials have released the first photographs of Afghan refugees settling into new lives here. Some of the pictures released over the holiday weekend show the base's recent arrivals engaging in sports, playing cards and being tested for COVID-19. Others were taken during a concert and while refugees chose items of clothing from donated supplies. 'We currently provide our Afghan guests with culturally appropriate food, water, temporary housing, religious services (and) recreational activities,' a base representative said in a statement Monday.'"

—House ethics committee reviewing Malinowski stock trades

—"Ravaged Manville, New Jersey welcomes President Biden"

—" Photo op or a chance for help? N.J. town divided on Biden's tour of Ida damage"

—"We're extremely grateful,' family tells Biden as president consoles residents of devastated N.J. neighborhood"

—" Photo op or a chance for help? N.J. town divided on Biden's tour of Ida damage"

—Farmer: "I was on the 9/11 commission and here's what I fear now"

LOCAL

NJ TRAGIC — "Disabled NJ Transit that got stuck at flood gate, blamed for Bound Brook flooding," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "A disabled NJ Transit train that got stuck in flash floods and debris and blocked a set of flood gates from closing and is being blamed by local officials for flooding in Bound Brook after the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida drenched New Jersey with record rain falls … After the train got stuck, a request was made by local officials to allow the flood gates to close, however, 'the train was unable to move due to the extreme flooding and debris,' he said. 'We had to wait for the flood waters to sufficiently recede in order to clear debris and perform the necessary safety inspections on the track infrastructure before sending equipment to the location of the disabled train to tow it from the scene,' Smith said. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done."

SUEZ CRISIS — "Jersey City Council grills Suez officials over handling of boil water advisory during caucus," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: "Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Jose Cunha began by explaining that flood waters moved the soil covering a 72-inch steel aqueduct in Cedar Grove, which supplies water to Jersey City and Hoboken, a tree fell over, and pulled up a 'boulder' that rolled over and cracked the aqueduct. This allowed surface water, mud, and dirt to enter the finished water … Suez came under fire again in Jersey City, after an infamous E. coli test last summer, for they botched water deliveries on Friday, with most coming three to four hours late. Following Cunha's remarks, Suez Water North America CEO Nadine Leslie began by reading a statement to the governing body. 'Being responsible for operating and managing a water system, distributing water to residents and businesses – and protecting public health – in Jersey City is a job that we take very seriously,' she said."

WASHINGTON: 'I CAN TELL A LIE' — "Former elected official charged with hiding income to avoid higher rent at public housing," by The Daily Journal's Joseph P. Smith: "A former borough councilman here was able to rent a federally subsidized apartment for as little as $92 per month over a two-year period by falsely claiming a council stipend as his only annual income, according to a New Jersey and federal investigation. The N.J. Office of the Attorney General announced Tuesday it has charged Carl Washington Jr. with one count of theft by deception."

—" Jersey City and Hoboken looking to hold Suez accountable for failures following Ida. Fulop says canceling contract 'on the table'"

—"Hudson County commissioners return to in-person meetings with audience, but livestreaming will end, chairman says"

—"Work set to begin on $30.8M courthouse project [Salem] county says it was forced to build"

—"Why Hoboken raised the bar on Murphy's school vaccine mandate: A Q&A"

—"More than 30 Paterson school buildings sustained water damage from Ida"

—"New Jersey's largest dairy farm nearly destroyed in tornado"

—" Two will vie for council seat as Ridgewood transitions to November vote"

EVERYTHING ELSE

UNSHORETAINTY — "Summer at the Jersey Shore was closer to 'normal' this year, but pandemic anxiety is back," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Alison Steele: "As New Jersey's season drew to its traditional close on Labor Day, business owners and visitors of Sea Isle City agreed that this year felt much closer to what life down the shore was like before summer 2020, when the coronavirus was raging, the state's restaurants were operating under public health restrictions, and vaccines were nowhere on the horizon. But at the end of the second summer of the pandemic, pain lingers. 'Help Wanted' signs were posted in the windows of most ice cream parlors and restaurants, and locals said many establishments closed early for the year or cut hours because of staffing shortages. After months during which COVID-19 seemed to somewhat recede from public view, the delta variant has driven up case numbers and hospitalizations just as children are returning to school. Anxiety and frustration are creeping back in."

HOSPITALS ADVERTISE ON NJ 101.5 BECAUSE IT'S A RICH SOURCE OF FUTURE PATIENTS — New Jersey Hospital Association: More than 75 percent of Covid-19 patients not fully vaccinated, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton : More than three quarters of New Jersey's hospitalized Covid-19 patients in August weren't fully vaccinated, according to data released by the state's hospital association on Tuesday. The New Jersey Hospital Association reported that among patients who provided their vaccination status, 73 percent of those hospitalized with Covid last month had not received a vaccine dose. Another 3 percent were partially vaccinated. The remaining 24 percent of Covid-19 hospitalizations, accounting for 265 patients, had been fully vaccinated. "The data confirms once again: Vaccination is the strongest weapon we have to protect against serious COVID illness and hospitalization," NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett said in a statement.

—"Offshore wind nears halfway mark in NJ"

—"NJ first responders, good Samaritans saved lives in Ida. These are their stories"

—"Chris Christie's notorious beach photo inspired a new N.J. beer"

A message from A Healthy Future, LLC:

If Congressman Andy Kim and Congress cut Medicare to pay for the $3.5 trillion spending plan, the government could refuse to cover life-saving medicines and prevent breakthrough therapies for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, or diabetes. What about a vaccine for the next pandemic? This is a prescription for disaster. We can't let the government play doctor. We can't give government bureaucrats the authority to deny access to needed prescription medicines and ration care as a way of "saving money" to fund their multi-trillion-dollar wish list. Sign the petition and make sure Congressman Kim hears your voice today.