| | | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Monday morning! Stop me if you've heard this one before, but there's a new lame duck bill that aims to improve state lawmakers' retirement benefits. No, it's not the one I wrote about on Thursday. That bill would allow a select group of politicians back into the pension system. This one lets every state lawmaker elected after 2010 take part in the State Health Benefits Program. New Jersey in 2010 enacted a law that removed new part-time employees — which lawmakers are — from that benefit. The new bill, sponsored so far only by Assemblymember Joe Danielsen (D-Middlesex and unrelated to Daniel-San from The Karate Kid), simply would allow them all to enroll. On Sunday I talked to Danielsen who told me that he does not need the bill but some of his colleagues "have had to resort to very creative yet undignified ways to get health insurance." '"Health insurance is one of the basic needs of humans, and that was taken away from us. And I don't think that was appropriate. It's not like we're asking for some glorious luxury or compensation," said Danielsen, who said being a legislator is a full-time job, even if it's officially designated part-time work. "This is just having the ability to protect your children and your family." Do with this information what you will . There's a legitimate debate to be had about what kind of benefits state lawmakers can have. But by bringing you this information as soon as the bill was introduced, at least I'm doing what I can to ensure there is debate and it's not one of those bills that sneaks through with as little notice as possible. Read more about it here. WHERE'S MURPHY? In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference. QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We need to help independent journalism survive, first by giving greater protection to journalists and standing up against states which target journalists." — Toms River native and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, who practiced courageous journalism in The Philippines against authoritarian forces. As quoted in Gannett, which in recent years has gutted Ressa's hometown paper and hundreds like it across the country, citing market forces. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, Electrical contractor Lenore Jenkins-Beauliere , NJASCU's Gene Lepore, Dem fundraiser Stephanie Wohlrab TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com
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STATEHOUSE STANDOFF — A judge has denied Republicans' request to stay the Statehouse vaccine-or-test mandate and assigned a court date all the way until April, ensuring that there will continue to be at least some kind of fight for the next four months. When I talked to the ringleader of the recent Assembly Republican protests, Brian Bergen (R-Morris), he told me that he and others planned to participate remotely in today's committee meetings while they await the result of the lawsuit. At the time, they expected Dec. 13 arguments. But that's not going to happen now. And Assemblymember Erik Peterson threatened to file criminal charges against anyone who physically blocks him from entering the Statehouse. But he's not in any committees that meet today. So stay tuned, I guess.
ACROSS THE RIVER — New York to impose statewide mask mandate, by POLITICO's Shannon Young: All New Yorkers must wear masks inside any business that does not implement a vaccine requirement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday, announcing one of the most stringent mandates in the nation. The new requirement, which takes effect Monday and will be reassessed on Jan. 15, comes amid a surge in Covid-19 cases throughout much of upstate New York, and as more cases of the Omicron variant are confirmed throughout the state. Hochul framed the policy not only as a move meant to protect the public health, but also the state's economy. EDNA HAMAN — " Who is Jane Parnell? The powerful new monitor for N.J.'s troubled women's prison," by NJ Advance Media's Blake Nelson : "Jane Parnell officially became the federal monitor for the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility on Aug. 24, when a federal judge signed off on a consent decree between New Jersey and the U.S. Department of Justice. For at least the next three years, Parnell will oversee reforms to reverse years of well-documented violence and sexual abuse at the Hunterdon County prison. She can make unannounced visits and has broad access to internal records. She'll write regular public reports, and neither New Jersey prison leaders nor the justice department will have oversight over those reports …[P]eople who worked with Parnell during a decades-long career in the Washington corrections system generally praised her as deliberative, a good listener and open to input from a variety of sources. Her selection also illustrates how a network of well-connected consultants are influencing prison policy both locally and nationally … Parnell retired in 2015. She became a consultant for The Moss Group the year after … Last year, New Jersey also hired The Moss Group to help negotiate reforms with the justice department. The consent decree bars Parnell from accepting consulting work that would create a 'conflict of interest' with her monitoring job, and she has not been part of Moss' work with Edna Mahan, according to Donna Deutsch, the firm's business development director." BRIAN BERGEN'S DISTRICT DOES NOT INCLUDE BERGEN COUNTY, MAKING HIM THE HUDSON-BERGEN LIGHT RAIL OF LEGISLATORS — "GOP state house protest is a stand for freedom," by Brian Bergen for The Record: " During the height of COVID-19, people peacefully and, in some instances violently, protested the awful murder of George Floyd. They protested for the right of a person to be considered innocent until proven guilty because lives are on the line. That is not much different from what Republicans are protesting. Livelihoods and liberty are at stake, and protests remain peaceful without another COVID-19 outbreak in both instances. Americans have been protesting government power over individual rights. Since Republicans protested — somewhat misrepresented in the media, though I am writing to express the media's right and duty to report how they see fit must not be made conditional — barricades and state police have been erected in front of every entrance to the state house. Instead of fighting gang violence or responding to emergencies, the State Police are checking the identification and vaccination of every legislator, staffer or member of the public who enters. Every time somebody steps out for a moment, they have to be checked again despite prior knowledge. That isn't about safety, it is about government exercising power over people." CONNER WEAK ANALYSIS — " N.J. audit slams Norcross-headed insurance broker for school contract," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: "The insurance brokerage helmed by Democratic power broker George Norcross erred in its analysis of health insurance plans for Pennsauken Public Schools employees, costing the district $1.6 million in potential savings, according to an audit released Friday by the New Jersey State Comptroller's Office. The 4,700-student school district in Camden County relied on an analysis done by Conner Strong & Buckelew — where Norcross is executive chair — in choosing an insurance company for its employees in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, according to the report. But the firm underestimated the cost of a private plan and compared two plans with disparate insurance coverage in its analysis, investigators said. The firm also didn't report its commission to the district as required by law, nor factor its commission into the cost analysis, the audit states. Enrolling in the state's health care plan would have been $1.6 million cheaper for the district, investigators determined … A Conner Strong spokesman called the report 'reckless and factually inaccurate.'" DON'T FORGET THAT CAREPOINT'S CEO TRIED TO HIDE A MILLION DOLLAR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION — Chiaravalloti proposes new oversight rules as CarePoint transitions to nonprofit, by POLITICO's Sam Sutton: Assemblymember Nicholas Chiaravalloti is introducing legislation that would require New Jersey's for-profit hospitals to get approval from state health regulators if they transition into a nonprofit, a move many will interpret as a counter to CarePoint Health's transition plans. Under the bill, NJ A6221 … licensed acute care hospitals operating in New Jersey would need to apply for a certificate of need if they want to change their profit model. Its introduction comes two months after CarePoint Health, a for-profit health system that operates Bayonne Medical Center in Chiaravalloti's hometown, announced plans to transition into a nonprofit health system. R.I.P. — "James Dugan, former senator and Dem state chairman, dies at 92" — "NJ Transit wants to spend its federal infrastructure money on these projects" —"Here's what election officials say needs to go better in N.J. next year" —"Progressives say NJ, like NYC, should let legal noncitizens vote" —" Friendly fire: Trenton shell games, Statehouse kops, and the Omicron threat"
| | | | JOIN TUESDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE 2021 REWIND AND A LOOK AHEAD AT 2022: Congress is sprinting to get through a lengthy and challenging legislative to-do list before the end of the year that has major implications for women's rights. Join Women Rule editor Elizabeth Ralph and POLITICO journalists Laura Barrón-López, Eleanor Mueller, Elena Schneider and Elana Schor for a virtual roundtable that will explore the biggest legislative and policy shifts in 2021 affecting women and what lies ahead in 2022. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
MURPHY SEEKS QUICK WAY TO BRING APPROVAL RATING INTO THE TEENS —"Democrats are solidly behind Biden. There's no consensus about a Plan B," by The New York Times' Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns: "None of the prospects would dare openly indicate interest … Still, a nexus of anxious currents in the Democratic Party has stoked speculation about a possible contested primary in two years … Should Mr. Biden change his mind and bow out of 2024, there is no consensus among Democrats about who the best alternative might be … Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, having survived a harder-than-expected re-election last month in a dismal political environment, could also run. A onetime Goldman Sachs executive and Democratic donor, he was named ambassador to Germany by former President Barack Obama. Since his victory, Mr. Murphy has had a series of conversations with prominent Democrats, including a dinner at a well-known New Orleans restaurant with the strategist James Carville that caught the eye of a number of other governors and conference attendees."
A $400 FINE AND SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO COUNTER THE GOP CAMPAIGN ADS — "Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey failed to properly disclose husband's stock sales," by Business Insider's Kimberly Leonard : "Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat of New Jersey, failed to properly disclose up to $350,000 in stock sales, in violation of a federal conflict-of-interest law … Sherrill's husband, Jason Hedberg, sold between $100,001 to $250,000 worth of stock in financial services company UBS in April. He then sold between $50,001 to $100,000 worth of USB stocks in June. Sherrill reported the transactions on December 3, months beyond the 45 day-deadline for such trades … Sherrill is the 48th member of Congress Insider and other news organizations have this year identified as failing to properly disclose their stock transactions … Sherrill's office attributed the late filing to an oversight and said she proactively paid a late fee. Hedberg, her husband, is a managing director at UBS Investment Bank, where he is head of equity derivative sales. 'These two transactions were the sale of vested stock earned by Rep. Sherrill's husband as part of his employment compensation,' Bryan Doherty, Sherrill's communications director, told Insider … Sherrill is one of only three members of Congress who has provided evidence to Insider that she paid a fine for violating the STOCK Act. The document provided as evidence showed Sherrill paid $400 … Doherty said that the House Ethics Committee did not contact Sherrill about the missing report nor ask her to pay the fee. Instead, he said, Sherrill 'proactively paid the late fee.'" MERCURIAL MOVE —"DuHaime leaving Mercury," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "After thirteen years running Mercury's New Jersey office, Michael DuHaime will leave the global public affairs firm at the end of the year amid a partnership shakeup triggered by issues with the company's California, New York and London offices. Michael Soliman, a Mercury partner, will replace DuHaime as head of the firm's substantial New Jersey operation. DuHaime made his announcement at a staff meeting on Friday, days after giving the firm his notice, the New Jersey Globe has learned." —Moran: " The Jersey guy behind Amtrak's coming rebirth" | | LOCAL | |
THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS GAME — "An inside game: Was politics in play when public bidding laws were cast aside for a $123.8M project?" by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Even as Union County officials began the planning for a massive new government complex in Elizabeth, the project seemed like a done deal. There was no public bidding for the contracts, which went to a hand-picked group of companies at a cost to taxpayers of $123.8 million. The project manager for the Union County Improvement Authority — who also serves as the county's finance director — recommended the selection of one of the architects as well as the construction manager responsible for protecting the authority's best interests during the project, according to court depositions. Those associated with the two companies later contributed thousands of dollars to her failed election campaign for state Assembly. And a law partner of New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, serves as redevelopment counsel to the authority. To date, the firm — whose members last year contributed $50,700 to the Union County Democratic Committee as well as several county election campaigns — has so far billed $312,116 for its work on the proposed new complex, records show. The project is now being challenged by one of the companies that was denied the deal. It went to court, claiming that the authority skirted state public bidding statutes intended as a bulwark against corruption, favoritism or excessive costs when it awarded the contracts for the project — a charge that county officials deny."
JAILS — "N.J.'s public defender: Breakdowns in our jails have led to tragedies," by New Jersey Public Defender Joseph E. Krakora: "County governments have a moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety of inmates in their jails and provide them access to their attorneys. As more and more counties seek to close their jails under the guise of saving money, they are failing to meet that obligation. The starkest example of that is occurring as we speak in the Essex County Jail. Union County closed its jail recently and entered a so-called shared services agreement with Essex County to house its inmates. The impact on those inmates has been catastrophic … It is not just Essex and Union that are failing to meet these basic obligations. Our office has been in litigation against Mercer and Cumberland as they seek to shut down their jails and move our clients as far away from their attorneys and families as the Hudson County Jail — all under the guise of saving money. In the meantime, they have allowed conditions in their current jails to deteriorate to a deplorable state; they then argue that we as public defenders do not care about our clients because we oppose moving them out of such inhumane conditions. It is a disingenuous argument at best and a disgraceful one at worst." —" As advocates question response to N.J. jail attack, emails reveal officials praised it" —"Monmouth County jail locked down after COVID-19 outbreak" WELL, THEY SMOKED UP AND ORDERED FROM THE CHICKEN MAN IN AC LAST NIGHT — " Can Atlantic City become Jersey's weed destination?" by The Press of Atlantic City's Bill Barlow: "Even before New Jersey residents voted to legalize marijuana in 2020, supporters described the possibility as the birth of an entirely new billion-dollar industry. 'This doesn't happen too often,' said John Fanberg, an attorney with the firm Brach Eichler in Essex County. 'The last one was casinos.' … Interviewed after the event, he said Atlantic City is well-placed to be a major player in that new industry. The city has the entertainment, the dining and the existing accommodations for a huge influx of visitors. It also has the beach. City officials are already thinking big. 'Big is not even the word to describe it. We are in the position to become the No. 1 cannabis destination on the East Coast,' said Kash McKinley, aide to Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. McKinley envisions a city where visitors can access the highest quality marijuana, and later infused edibles if New Jersey eventually allows those sales as well. McKinley cited Small as a driving force in this vision of the city as a leader in the new industry." 'PLEASE GO CHASING OUR WATERFALL' — "Paterson mayor calls for nationwide search for new city schools superintendent ," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Mayor Andre Sayegh has called for 'a thorough and extensive search' for a new city schools superintendent. 'Cast a nationwide net,' he said … Sayegh said finding a replacement for Eileen Shafer represents 'the first real test' since the Paterson Board of Education regained control over the city schools after the state ran the district for three decades … Passaic County Commissioner T.J .Best, a former member of the Paterson school board, said the city needs someone with high-level experience in urban education in New Jersey. Best said there are not many people qualified to take on the task of running New Jersey's third-largest school district, adding that Paterson would have been in a better position to find Shafer's replacement if it were not at this stage of the school year." —"Amid COVID, Paterson leaves $500,000 for city recreation programs unspent" MAHWAHUANA — " Will a marijuana retail shop open on Route 17 in Mahwah? A vote is set for next week," by The Record's Marsha A. Stoltz: "An ordinance that would allow a retail cannabis store to operate on Route 17 north failed to secure Township Council approval at a hearing Monday. A vote was postponed until Thursday … It would rezone the former gas station property … to allow retail sales of marijuana products to adults age 21 and older. If approved, the ordinance would rezone only one property for cannabis retail sales. The owner — listed as ADPP Enterprises — would still have to apply to the township's Planning Board for approval. However, Township attorney Sue Sharpe cautioned that once approved, the property would be 'grandfathered,' or protected against future bans on marijuana retail sales." —"I ate 12 of Wawa's cold sandwiches and ranked them from worst to best" VOTING NOW OPEN TO ANY MILITIA MEMBER — "Judge invalidates June race ror Bergen GOP chairman, calls for new election," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "A Superior Court Judge [Friday] overturned a June election for Bergen County Republican chairman, forcing incumbent Jack Zisa to face a new election in early next year. Zisa had called an election for the week before the June primary. County committee elections initially scheduled for June 2020 were postponed for two years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In that race, Zisa defeated Oradell GOP municipal chairman Michael Gardner by a vote of 350 to 164. In a lawsuit filed by a Republican county committeeman, Robert Taschler, on July 19, Judge Estela De La Cruz ruled that the statute required the election to be run one week after the primary, not before. De La Cruz also ruled that Taschler, an appointed district leader from New Milford, had standing to challenge the election." —"President of the Jersey City teachers' union says school district's No. 2 should be named acting superintendent" — " Jersey City school board aims to wipe away all student lunch debt" —"Pleasantville residents, school officials discuss concerns over school safety" —" A.J. Oliver and the perils of being a pro-life Democrat" — "In Englewood Cliffs, feud erupts over hiring of law firm that is now owed nearly $900K" —" AC rehabs affordable housing, but climate change is growing threat" —Snowflack: "The Morris County dominion of Mastrangelo" —Steinberg: " Cultural warrior Mike Testa, Jr. shamelessly plays the race card" —"Second victim sues Ewing over dead custodian's serial sex abuse" —" 'Perspectives from all sides': Jackson mayor names community leaders to Planning Board" —"Abrupt closure of cosmetology school leaves students wondering - what's next?" —" NJEDA awards $6.3M in tax credits for Paterson apartment renovation project" —"Piscopo, Sinatra family, and Hoboken officials gather to unveil city's 1st statue of Ol' Blue Eyes"
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THEY BLEW IT ALL AT THE BOOK FAIR AND IN THE VENDING MACHINE — "K-12 schools in NJ got $2.4 billion in COVID aid from the feds. How are they spending it?," by The Record's Mary Ann Kornbluth: "Bequeathed an unprecedented windfall of federal COVID relief aid this year — and few restrictions on how to spend it — many North Jersey school districts have been using the bulk of their money to address long-overdue facility maintenance such as window replacements and electrical upgrades, pay for new ventilation systems and even hire more staff, a review of district plans by NorthJersey.com has found. New Jersey's 686 school districts received $2.4 billion in this round of federal COVID-relief — the third and largest aid package since the pandemic hit in March 2020 … While there's no indication that schools are not using the money responsibly, there's no single system to track or monitor the spending, though district administrators say the state Department of Education has done a good job with guidance."
MAN WHO CLEARLY HAS THE PUBLIC INTEREST AT HEART DESERVES PUBLIC PARK LAND FOR AN UBER-EXCLUSIVE GOLF COURSE — "When you're a billionaire, your hobbies can slash your tax bill," by ProPublica's Paul Kiel, Jesse Eisinger and Jeff Ernsthausen: "Even if their horses finished far out of the money, some owners had a salve for the sting of defeat: tax write-offs. Six of the 20 thoroughbreds selected to run in this year's Derby were owned by ultrawealthy Americans whose horse-racing operations have produced a combined $600 million in losses that they could use to offset their federal taxable income, according to ProPublica's analysis of IRS data. Among them was Paul Fireman …. Fireman hasn't spent all his time on horse racing and cattle ranching. He also used his fortune to launch upscale real estate projects, including golf courses, as well as a country club and a residential development on Cape Cod. These have allowed him to tap into the tax benefits enjoyed by real estate professionals. From 2008 through 2017, because of the deductions from his various businesses, Fireman was able to entirely offset $360 million in income. He paid nothing in federal income taxes in eight of those years." —"Largest ferry of its type in U.S. ready to take to the water between N.J. and NYC"
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