News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Democrats cry not foul enough

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Democrats cry not foul enough

Oct 12, 2021

Presented by the Consumer Action Network

I only lead New Jersey Playbook off with the biggest news. So here we go:

Jack Ciattarelli has gone after Phil Murphy for not being New Jersey enough. For eating pizza badly. For liking the Red Sox. And for just generally being rich and out of touch.

But now New Jersey Democrats are using New Jersey's (alleged) love of the four letter word to challenge Ciattarelli's own Jersey credentials.

The Democratic State Committee dug up articles about a 1994 Raritan ordinance Ciattarelli voted for when he sat on its council to ban swearing. Then they put out a "man on the street" style video of people cursing out Ciattarelli.

The ordinance made national news when it passed. There wasn't much follow up on it after a few years, and so during yesterday's holiday I was unable to find whether it's still on the books. I'll work on that today.

Whatever the case, it's hard not to laugh thinking about how in New Jersey, not having a potty mouth is considered a political liability. At least among some. Or does this threaten to offend people by playing into crass stereotypes? Say, when was the last time you heard Phil Murphy swear?

"Jack is living rent-free in Governor Murphy's head," said Ciattarelli adviser Chris Russell. "Phony Phil from Massachusetts is desperate to 'act Jersey' and I guess he thinks feeding into the worst stereotypes about the state is the way to do it. What's next - auditioning to replace Ronnie on Jersey Shore next season? If so, I suggest he get back to his Italian Villa after he loses and works on that tan."

WHERE'S MURPHY? At Rowan in Glassboro for his second and final debate with Ciattarelli at 8 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I have been on every side of the 'line' fight — and won each time." — State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email Katherine at klandergan@politico.com. HATE MAIL? Email Matt at mfriedman@politico.com.

SPECIAL THANKS to Katherine and Daniel for handling Playbook Friday. Please don't tell my editors you liked it better that day.

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

New Jersey families deserve access to health care that works best for them. The state legislature unanimously passed a bill that would allow patients to keep seeing their providers in a way that works best for them. The bill requires that doctors and nurses keep getting paid fairly, just as they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell Gov. Phil Murphy: Sign the telehealth bill today. Make your voice heard.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

A TOTALLY NON-POLITICAL EVENT — Harris visits New Jersey to build support for child care in reconciliation bill, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Child care deserts, working moms and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill were top of mind for Vice President Kamala Harris as she traveled through North Jersey on Friday to drum up support for the Biden administration's Build Back Better agenda. With North Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer causing headaches for progressives over his attempts to decouple the reconciliation bill from a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, Harris used a visit to Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill's neighboring 11th Congressional District to spotlight how the Build Back Better legislation would benefit working families in the Northeast. Gottheimer said he is supportive of both bills, and "I'm committed to doing what it takes to get them both across the finish line."

—"How Phil Murphy is taking full advantage of the power of incumbency in N.J. governor's race," by NJ Advance Media's Matt Arco and Brent Johnson : "Gov. Phil Murphy spent much of Friday crisscrossing Essex County with one of the nation's most famous officials. Vice President Kamala Harris trekked to New Jersey to discuss child care and COVID-19 vaccinations, with Murphy at her side. And at the trip's end, they even stopped at a Newark cupcake shop together. It wasn't technically a campaign event for Murphy, a Democrat who's up for re-election next month. But it might as well have been … The high-profile appearances are on top of a gubernatorial schedule often peppered with events in which Murphy signs feel-good bills into law."

—Snowflack: "Murphy, Klobuchar, and 'the enthusiasm gap'"

THIS MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON 2,500 LASER POINTERS FOR FOOTBALL COACHES — "Jack Ciattarelli takes aim at Lakewood for its $1 million-a-year school board lawyer," by The Asbury Park Press' Joe Strupp: "Two days after Gov. Phil Murphy called school board attorney Michael Inzelbuch's $1 million annual payout from taxpayers "eye-popping," GOP opponent Jack Ciattarelli said there was a 'fundamental problem' with Inzelbuch's compensation. 'That's excess compensation and that Board of Education needs to be held accountable,' Ciattarelli said during a meeting with editors Thursday. He later noted that 'a discussion needs to be had as to what is the right approach to public school financing in Lakewood.'"

—" COVID relief money would build new schools in poor areas, Jack Ciattarelli says"

—"New Jersey GOP candidate vows to 'declare economic war' on New York"

HISTORY —" 15 things you should know about the new legislative redistricting tiebreaker," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "After Kean won the 1981 gubernatorial election by 1,797 votes, Carchman found himself in the middle of the most consequential event in New Jersey political history as one of the prosecutors investigating allegations of massive voter intimidation. A group funded by the Republican National Committee hired off-duty police officers to wear 'Ballot Security Task Force' armbands, place large signs at polling places explaining that people could go to jail for voter fraud, and placing aggressive challengers inside polling locations targeting communities of color. Carchman declined to press criminal charges against those involved in the Trenton ballot security effort, but the event led to the Democratic National Committee alleging Voting Rights Act violations in a federal lawsuit."

HOW TO ALIENATE TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS — "Ciattarelli isn't crazy about N.J. legalizing weed. Could he slow things down if elected?" by NJ Advance Media's Amanda Hoover: "Reversing the referendum would not only prove widely unpopular (67% of voters said yes to the ballot question last year), but isn't so easily done … In a Democratic-controlled Legislature, getting an anti-legalization question before voters would be all but impossible. … A reluctant governor has hampered the industry before. Former Gov. Chris Christie's made the medical marijuana program among the more restrictive in the nation after inheriting it from his predecessor Gov. Jon Corzine. Through the state Department of Health, Christie kept the first round of licensing small. And the medical program languished as Christie sought guidance on the clash of federal and state law on marijuana … 'The governor could severely hamper the nascent cannabis industry if inspired to do so,' said Fruqan Mouzon, chair of the Cannabis Practice Group at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, and the former general counsel for the state Senate Majority Office."

LTCS — "Families reach $6.2M settlement in 2018 Wanaque Center outbreak that killed 11 children," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "Thirteen families of children who either died or became severely ill from a viral outbreak in 2018 at a pediatric nursing home in Wanaque have reached settlements totaling $6.2 million with the facility's former owners and other entities. Reached within the past month, the settlements mark a partial end to one of the biggest nursing home disasters in New Jersey history prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven children died and 25 others were sickened at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation from an adenovirus that spread rapidly in part because the facility had poor infection control measures, investigators found. 'This was a siren call for what the world needed to be prepared for when the pandemic hit,' said Paul da Costa, an attorney who represents the 13 families. 'It showed that all long-term facilities needed to take their duty and obligation all the more seriously and remember it is something that should never be betrayed.'"

THEY NEED AN INTRODUCTION — "School nurses: We're now the 'de facto health department,'" by NJ Spotlight News' John Mooney: "School nurses — about 2,500 of them statewide — have long played a big role in New Jersey's public schools, even in the healthiest of times. But with COVID-19 omnipresent, nurses are now tasked with serving as what one called the 'de facto health department,' tracking cases and their contacts. Nurses are facing special stresses and strains — and calling for help. 'It's not sustainable,' said Eileen Gavin, president-elect of the state's school nurse association and a Monmouth County high school nurse. 'I have people who are reaching out and saying they are just holding on,' Gavin said."

RADIO STATION WITH ALL WHITE ON-AIR 'TALENT' TAKES ISSUE — "NJ state agency asks employees to avoid speaking at all-white, all-male panels," by NJ 101.5's Erin Vogt : "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority confirmed its existing Event Process and Governing Policy when asked about it by New Jersey 101.5. The policy has been in effect for more than a year. 'Under most circumstances, NJEDA staff should not participate when the panel/speakers are wholly comprised of white males,' a spokesperson said in a written response. 'If staff are asked to participate in such a panel, they should inform the requester of NJEDA's policy and, if appropriate, may suggest additional, diverse speakers.'"

— NJ Transit looks to advance bridge key to Gateway project

—"COVID-19 deaths means thousands now orphaned"

—" Polistina calls for county to partner with running Atlantic City, more dredging"

R.I.P. — "George Richardson, former Assemblyman first elected in 1961, dies at 90"

—" Report: N.J. Parole Board too often refuses to release inmates, needs oversight"

—"Bail reform pays dividends as number of low-risk defendants jailed pre-trial drops again"

—" Jersey City police union backs Murphy, Fulop"

—Stile: "Ciattarelli steers clear of a big tax cut promise — a break from the GOP playbook"

—Moran: " Offshore wind is coming. It's Murphy's legacy accomplishment"

—Steinberg: "The final lap: Ciattarelli and the New Jersey politics of race"

THE MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2021 IS HERE: POLITICO is excited to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage and insights from one of the largest and most influential gatherings of experts reinventing finance, health, technology, philanthropy, industry and media. Don't miss a thing from the 24th annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, from Oct. 17 to 20. Can't make it? We've got you covered. Planning to attend? Enhance your #MIGlobal experience and subscribe today.

BIDEN TIME

GOT THE LINEHEIMER — Josh Gottheimer is taunting the 'far left.' He's still unlikely to face a serious primary, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: The three-term congressman from New Jersey has led a small group of Democrats who have sought to decouple the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a larger $3.5 trillion Democratic-backed spending bill. That went against the legislative strategy not just of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, but of the Biden administration as well. The fight has energized some party activists, who say Gottheimer is ripe for a primary challenge after he's taken shots at the "far left" for trying to "kill an historic infrastructure bill" — and even Speaker Nancy Pelosi ... But by all appearances, Gottheimer is not feeling any heat from the left, even as activists hold protests outside his suburban North Jersey district office, about 25 miles from New York City. No primary opponents have emerged to challenge Gottheimer in 2022, partly because he's a massive fundraiser who, sitting on $11 million in campaign cash, would dominate the airwaves in the nation's most expensive media market ... Also working in Gottheimer's favor is New Jersey's unique ballot system, which gives sweeping influence over primaries to party leaders and makes the already tough challenge of ousting an incumbent even more daunting.

NOT THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE WORRIED ABOUT A PRIMARY CHALLENGE — "Rep. Josh Gottheimer hires Republican Ron Desantis staffer to craft his legislative agenda," by The Intercept's Sara Sirota: "While Gottheimer refers to Colvin as a 'former' Republican who shifted to the Democratic Party after Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, she led DeSantis's legislative affairs between May 2015 and July 2016, according to her Legistorm profile, as he advocated far-right policies that Trump himself would go on to implement."

TRUMP SUPPORTERS: MEAN TWEETS ARE DISQUALIFYING — GOP senators target Pentagon nominee over 'offensive' tweets, by POLITICO's Connor O'Brien: "Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday said they were opposed to Pentagon nominee Brenda Sue Fulton, citing her past tweets and statements criticizing the GOP and evangelicals. During a confirmation hearing for a trio of nominees, several Republicans — including Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Dan Sullivan of Alaska — said they would outright oppose Fulton's confirmation to be assistant secretary of Defense for manpower and reserve affairs. The rocky session was reminiscent of the rough reception GOP senators gave Colin Kahl, whom President Joe Biden nominated to be the Pentagon's top policy official, over his tweets. Kahl was later confirmed … Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, followed by other Republicans, noted a January 2018 tweet labeling the GOP 'racist' for not calling out racism. "Let's be real," Fulton wrote. "When one of our two national political parties is unable to call out racism, our system is broken. It's not a political statement to say the GOP is racist; it's a moral statement, and one backed up by an increasing mountain of evidence. #FixThis."

FWEEDOM — Senators call on DOJ to decriminalize marijuana, by POLITICO's Mona Zhang: Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D.N.J.) are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to decriminalize marijuana. The pair sent a letter to Garland this week, asking him to remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list. The senators are calling on Garland to use his authority under the Controlled Substances Act to remove marijuana as a scheduled drug in consultation with the HHS secretary. "Decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level via this descheduling process would allow states to regulate cannabis as they see fit, begin to remedy the harm caused by decades of racial disparities in enforcement of cannabis laws, and facilitate valuable medical research," the senators wrote.

—"Feds interview residents, staff at two NJ veterans homes where 194 died from COVID-19"

—Testa: "Congress needs to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill"

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

LOCAL

HOW TO EMOTIONALLY SCAR YOUR CHILD — "Beachwood father refused to bring COVID-exposed child home, yelled at staff: police," by The Asbury Park Press' Nicholas Fernandez: "A borough man screamed at Beachwood Elementary School staff Thursday and refused to bring his child home after being told the student was required to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19, police said. John Wehrle showed up at the school and started screaming at staff members in the main office, demanding to speak to the vice principal, after receiving a call from the school nurse that he needed to pick up his child due to exposure to the virus, according to officials … The parent entered the building without approval, following behind contractors who had just been buzzed in, according to police … Wehrle continued to refuse to take the student home, but later agreed after Meissner said he would call the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, according to authorities."

—"Disastrous flooding, pollution threaten Navesink, Shrewsbury rivers"

—" Rescues say they'll take N.J. zoo animals caught in Ida floods. County still assessing zoo's future"

BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.

EVERYTHING ELSE

TIME FOR SOME GAMBLING PROBLEMS IN FORT LEE — "At the George Washington bridge casino, your bets are a bike ride away," by The New York Times' David Waldstein: "You can spot them, especially on autumn Sundays, sitting by their bicycles, scooters and Vespas on the New Jersey side of the bridge, staring at their phones as they process the numbers on their screens … New York legalized online sports gambling in April, but until the state negotiates a deal with an operator — which is likely to take months — bettors cannot wager on sporting events on their phones within the state lines. They could go to a handful of brick-and-mortar sports books upstate, but the closest one to Manhattan is hours away. The entrance to the George Washington Bridge, on the other hand, is close to thousands of people who live in Upper Manhattan and even the Bronx. Cooper's home is only 18 blocks from the entrance to the bridge, and like other savvy Manhattan and Bronx residents, he hops on his bike — avoiding the toll of up to $16 for cars — and crosses the imaginary boundary separating the two states. Once a person's phone confirms they are officially in Fort Lee, N.J., they can legally bet on applications such as DraftKings and FanDuel."

I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE FINAL WORD ON COLD CUTS WILL BE WRITTEN BY PETE GENOVESE — " Will the final word in the biggest 'cold case' in N.J. history be written by this man?" by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "With the stunning order this past week by the New Jersey Supreme Court to reconsider its controversial split 3-3 decision on whether the evidence was sufficient to convict Lodzinski of the murder in the death of her 5-year-old son some three decades ago, the senior judge of the Appellate Division was temporarily assigned to hear renewed arguments in the case. That role will fall to Judge Jose L. Fuentes. Assuming none of the six justices on the high court are swayed one way or another in a new round of oral arguments later this month, Fuentes would be the tie-breaker in the high-profile case of a woman who was found guilty in the death of her young boy almost a quarter century after she first reported him missing in 1991."

AND VOORHEES IS PROBABLY JASON'S ANCESTRAL HOME — "Inside New Jersey's spooky connection to a horror movie classic, 'Halloween'," by The Courier-Post's Tammy Paolino: "While the iconic Halloween slasher film is set in a fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, it is inspired, at least in part, by the upbringing of the late cinematographer Debra Hill, who was born in Haddonfield, in Camden County, and later moved to Philadelphia."

—"New Jersey's tidal wetlands could disappear because of sea rise, says Rutgers study"

—"Vicious beatings, fence crucifixions. N.J. corrections officer turned prison kitchen into 'Fight Club,' feds, prisoners say"

—"Still not the season to be jolly: After the CDC flubs COVID holiday guidance, businesses and public health experts are wary about the holidays"

—"'No end in sight': Coalition argues $1.5B in NJ beach replenishment has been a waste"

—"'Shopping sheet' gives New Jersey college students a true financial loan picture"

REMINDER: Today is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming election. But if you're interested enough in New Jersey politics to read this far into the newsletter, then there is zero chance you're not registered already.

A message from the Consumer Action Network:

The COVID-19 pandemic proved that expanding access to care is critical for reaching medically underserved communities and making sure overburdened health systems can meet the needs of New Jersey families. That includes telehealth visits for low-income individuals, people of color, and others who have difficulty getting to a physical facility for their care. It's clear that New Jersey families deserve to have access to health care that works best for them. The state legislature has already unanimously passed a bill that would make this a reality, it's time for Gov. Phil Murphy to sign the bill into law. No state has vetoed a bill supporting expanded access to telehealth services since the pandemic began. New Jersey should not be the first. Tell Gov. Murphy: Sign the telehealth bill today. Make your voice heard.