News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy: Put all the gun bills up for a vote

Thursday, May 26, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Murphy: Put all the gun bills up for a vote

May 26, 2022

Presented by AARP New Jersey

Good Thursday morning!

Gov. Phil Murphy had already renewed his push for new gun control measures in advance of Buffalo and Uvalde. Now, he's going further.

The governor at a press conference Wednesday called for putting up not just those gun control measures, but bills that would loosen New Jersey' gun laws, while accusing Republicans of taking "blood money." It also implicitly called out Democratic legislative leadership.

That would presumably include the 15-bill package recently introduced by freshman Sen. Ed Durr, including one to allow concealed carry in New Jersey.

Regardless, if the Supreme Court overturns a New York "justifiable need" law for concealed carry that's similar to New Jersey's, we may have it soon here regardless of what the Legislature does.

Between this and his telling Republicans to "shove" their thought and prayers after Buffalo, the governor has taken an increasingly aggressive tone.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NONPROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 100

WHERE'S MURPHY? — Media: "Ask Governor Murphy" on your local NPR affiliate at 7 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I thought that he was my friend. … LeRoy cares about one person: LeRoy." — Senate President Steve Sweeney on Democratic State Chair LeRoy Jones (article below)

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com

NEED MORE PLAYBOOK? — Sign up here for NJ Playbook PM and get more news in your inbox care of POLITICO's Jonathan Custodio, minus the snarky headlines

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Americans are struggling to afford rising prices on everything from groceries to gas. On top of this, we're paying the highest drug prices in the world. Your elected lawmakers have the power to reduce this burden by enacting S329/A1747 and establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board is responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. It's time for real action. Tell Governor Murphy: Stand up to Pharma!

WHAT TRENTON MADE

STATE TAKEOVER TO BUILD SUCCESS OF STATE-RUN VETERANS' HOMES — "Court filing describes a horror show at N.J. nursing home facing takeover," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman and Susan K. Livio: "They described a nightmare. Months after Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center was put on notice that it could lose its federal funding over major violations that officials claimed had threatened the lives and safety of the hundreds of residents living there, problems at the Sussex County nursing home continued to mount. The state, which is seeking to take control of the long-troubled facility, detailed in a complaint and lengthy brief on Tuesday that things were not getting any better at Woodland, despite the ongoing oversight by a monitor the Department of Health put in place earlier this year. … At the same time, they disclosed Woodland is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, according to the Superior Court filing in Sussex County which sought the appointment of a receiver to take over the facility."

MR. JONES AND ME — "LeRoy Jones Jr.: The most powerful New Jersey politician that you have never heard of," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "From spending and taxes to the regulation of marijuana or whether a local soccer field gets new turf, Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Nicholas Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin essentially run New Jersey. And they all owe their power to one of the state's most influential but unknown politicians: LeRoy Jones Jr. He's chairman of the Democratic parties in his hometown of East Orange and Essex County, a blue stronghold crucial to Murphy's two elections — and anyone else seeking office. Last June he became chairman of the Democratic State Committee and months later helped broker a deal to make Scutari the Senate president, the most powerful position in the Legislature. … But in addition to leading three political organizations while his party is under threat of Republican momentum at the ballot box, Jones is also in the unprecedented position of running a lobbying firm in Trenton where he gets paid by special interests to influence the very lawmakers and governor for whom he regularly campaigns and raises money."

ABORTION — Scutari on abortion legislation: 'I believe it's been settled,' by POLITICO's Daniel Han: Senate President Nick Scutari said Wednesday that abortion legislation has already been "settled" in the state. "We passed the Reproductive Freedom Act just a few months ago," Scutari said when asked by POLITICO if New Jersey should move to expand abortion access as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act into law in January, not the Reproductive Freedom Act. The legislation Murphy signed had been a compromise version of the Reproductive Freedom Act. When asked again if he thought the issue was resolved, Scutari said: "I believe it's been settled."

NJ TRANSIT DID SOMETHING RIGHT? — "How NJ Transit dodged those record high fuel costs," by NJ Spotlight News' John Reitmeyer: "Gas prices hit record highs in New Jersey this month, but not for New Jersey Transit, the statewide mass-transit agency and a major fuel consumer. Instead of facing the same pain and uncertainty that many motorists have when filling their tanks, NJ Transit has been saving millions of dollars thanks to a proactive move to essentially lock in much lower prices. 'We hedged our diesel prices for our fleet, so for this year, we're in good shape, NJ Transit executive director Kevin Corbett told members of the Assembly Budget Committee during a recent hearing in Trenton. Corbett faced questions from lawmakers about how rising fuel prices may be affecting NJ Transit's finances as they prepare to draft a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1."

— "NJ Transit paid more in overtime in 2021. Here are the reasons why that happened"

DON'T MISS THE 2022 GREAT LAKES ECONOMIC FORUM: POLITICO is excited to be the exclusive media partner again at the Council of the Great Lakes Region's bi-national Great Lakes Economic Forum with co-hosts Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This premier, intimate networking event, taking place June 26-28 in Chicago, brings together international, national and regional leaders from business, government, academia and the nonprofit sector each year. "Powering Forward" is this year's theme, setting the stage to connect key decision-makers with thought leaders and agents of change to identify and advance solutions that will strengthen the region's competitiveness and sustainability in today's competitive climate of trade, innovation, investment, labor mobility and environmental performance. Register today.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, FOOLISHNESS — States are battling to bring Hollywood to Main Street — and paying big, by POLITICO's Joseph Spector: The men spent months plotting their escape. They cut through the deepest recesses of the Clinton Correctional Facility, one of New York's most infamous maximum-security prisons, before finding their way out through a steam pipe on June 5, 2015 — setting off a three-week manhunt involving 1,000 officers scouring the dense woods near the Canadian border. The dragnet cost a small fortune, including $23 million in overtime. And taxpayers didn't pay once, but twice: First for the search, then for a critically acclaimed TV series about the ordeal. The state doled out $21 million last year to subsidize the Showtime mini-series, "Escape at Dannemora," starring Benicio del Toro and Patricia Arquette, according to public records obtained by POLITICO. The money is part of $420 million in film tax breaks New York gives out annually, and it highlights an escalating war between states intent on attracting Hollywood productions with massive incentives. It's an endeavor many economists see as financially foolish, but still features states like California, New York, Georgia, New Mexico, New Jersey and a handful of others.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF BOAT CHECKS — " $25M state fund would reimburse towns for abandoned boat removals under new bill," by NJ Advance Media's Steve Rodas: "Two months after NJ Advance Media's report outlined the issue of abandoned boats in New Jersey, Sen. Michael Testa says he will introduce a bill Thursday that dedicates at least $25 million in state funds to help reimburse towns for removals. The bill would also create a new group — made up of residents, as well as local, state and federal officials — focused on tackling the complicated and costly problem statewide."

— " Conaway signals openness to Murphy abortion plan, but says he hasn't seen details"

— "We, seniors, have a better idea about how to spend that $900M set aside for the Anchor Program | Opinion "

— "N.J. residents need immediate tax relief, Assembly Republicans say as revenues surge"

— "2 years after George Floyd, we need legislative change to confront white supremacy | Opinion"

— " Doherty will seek re-election in 2023"

— Platkin directive: Don't take people with minor bench warrants into custody

A message from AARP New Jersey:

BIDEN TIME

KEAN'S NOT TAKING ADVICE FROM JOHN CUSACK — "A New Jersey Republican's political strategy: Say less," by The New York Times' Tracey Tully : "Tom Kean Jr., a New Jersey Republican locked in the state's most competitive congressional race, has refused to debate his primary opponents. He has avoided talking to most reporters. And he has dodged questions about whether he agrees with the Republican National Committee's characterization of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol as 'legitimate political discourse.' Mr. Kean, the scion of a storied political family, has adopted what appears to be a core strategy as he tries to avoid alienating moderate swing voters while facing challengers from the right: to keep his mouth, basically, shut. 'I'm calling it the vow of silence,' said Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. … Mr. Kean's campaign said he was not available for an interview and said it did not provide his public schedules, while noting that he planned to attend several parades and events over Memorial Day weekend."

WOULDN'T 'ELEPHANTSHIT' BE MORE APPROPRIATE? — "Norcross: Republican excuses for inaction after mass shootings are 'bullshit' ," by Donald Norcross for New Jersey Globe: "We see our phones — 14 children slaughtered, and an adult. You gotta say, 'What the F is going on?' It's absolutely remarkable what's going on in our nation and somehow, we can't do anything about it. Well, let me tell you, we aren't even allowed to study it because of laws that were put in place prior to many of us being able to change that. So, gee, go study the issue. But somehow it's: put your head in the sand and say, 'We just can't do it, it's just people.' Well, I don't buy that bullshit — excuse me — I don't buy it at all. I understand hunters. I've worked with them. I used to hunt. But at no time did we think hunting included people. That we needed those weapons of mass destruction which are designed to do nothing but kill people — those automatic weapons, you don't need that for sporting."

WHITEY, YOU'RE DOING A HECK OF A JOB — How FEMA helps white and rich Americans escape floods, by POLITICO's Thomas Frank: City planner John Morck had an ambitious plan to fix a chronic flood problem — and a racial injustice. Decades ago, officials in this former tobacco-farming town built public housing next to a creek that overflowed, causing the barracks-style apartments to flood repeatedly. The city of Wilson condemned 52 buildings in 2017, leaving them as boarded-up blights in a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood. But when Wilson asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency last year for $12 million to demolish the homes and rebuild on higher ground, the agency said no.

PUTIN ON THE FRITZ — "Kremlin puts Julie Roginsky, a refugee from Russia, on Putin's enemies list. She's honored," by The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran: "Julie Roginsky was six years old when her parents packed up the family and left Moscow for the West, joining the early surge of Jewish refugees from the old Soviet Union that grew to be nearly 2 million strong. It was 1980, and the three of them were scared and broke, with $90 to their name. But it was better than Moscow, where her family's history reads like a horror story: A great-grandfather shot dead during Stalin's purges. A grandfather forced into hard labor for a decade. And what she calls the 'gratuitous cruelty' of the Soviets refusing to allow her grandparents, her primary caregivers, to join the family's 1980 exodus. So when Roginsky learned last week that the Kremlin put her on a list of roughly 1,000 people it branded as enemies of the Putin regime, banning them from entering Russia, she felt nothing but pride."

— "The New Jersey politics of the Texas atrocity"

— "Jersey City attorney Evelyn Padin wins confirmation as federal court judge"

— " 'Buy the line': Text messages in 2020 NJ primary raise questions about Bergen ballots"

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

LOCAL

ANOTHER POTENTIAL BIDDER IS A WHOOPEE CUSHION MANUFACTURER THAT WOULD RENAME THE FACILITY 'FART MONMOUTH' — "With more of Fort Monmouth selling, is Netflix still interested in the 'Mega Parcel? '" by The Asbury Park Press' Dan Radel: "[Fort Monmouth] awaits the deadline for offers on the 292-acre Mega Parcel, the giant piece of land that could be the centerpiece of efforts to revitalize the former Army base. The bids will be revealed on June 6. All eyes are on Netflix. The streaming giant confirmed last October that it wanted the property for a production studio following a summer of rumors. Of course, that was before the company reported it lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter. That was the first time the company recorded a loss in a decade and that might not be the end of it. The company expects to lose even more subscribers in the second quarter. The news resulted in a 35% drop in the value of its stock that day alone. … However, a source close to the matter told the Asbury Park Press that Netflix is still interested in the Mega Parcel."

HACKEN CAN'T SACK — "In costly bid to dismiss two cops, Hackensack hit with loss by state Supreme Court," by The Record's Megan Burrow: "The state Supreme Court has rejected the city's bid to overturn a decision by the Civil Service Commission that suspended two city police officers instead of letting the city dismiss them. The order, issued Friday by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, is the latest setback for Hackensack in its yearslong effort to oust the officers from the department. Hackensack will continue to proceed in a related matter pending before the Appellate Division, said Phil Swibinski, a spokesman for the city. … Detective Rocco Duardo and Officer Victor Vazquez were among seven officers involved in a 2016 warrantless search in which they were accused of illegally entering a Prospect Avenue apartment, mishandling evidence and falsifying reports."

TICKED — "Shore city mayor where thousands came to party threatens legal action against social media companies," by NJ Advance Media's Vashti Harris : "The mayor of the Shore community flooded by thousands of people Saturday night attending a party promoted on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook has threatened legal action against those social media platforms. Long Branch Mayor John Pallone said the city is looking into legal action against social media platforms that allow the promotion of similar events in the city. 'These gatherings start as social media posts which entice young people to come to the beach area and attract most visitors to come here by train,' Pallone said in a statement provided to NJ Advance Media. 'These flyers promote drinking and smoking in public areas, which is illegal.'"

LAMBERTVILLE TO PRINCETON: 'HOLD MY BONG' — "Lambertville approves three recreational marijuana stores," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "The city on the Delaware River is closer to welcoming retail marijuana stores. The city's Planning Board recently approved proposals to open three stores — Baked by The River, 10-12 Church St.; Jersey Girlz, 80 Lambert Lane and Union Chill Cannabis Company, 204 N. Union St. Baked by the River and Union Chill Cannabis Company were unanimously approved by the Planning Board while Jersey Girlz was approved by a 5-4 vote with the condition that a traffic study concludes that there will be no negative impact on neighborhood traffic."

— " Polling places aren't handicapped-accessible and need to be, Newark says in lawsuit"

— " Primary challenge for GOP nomination for Upper Township Committee"

— "Two years after George Floyd's murder has anything changed in Asbury Park?"

— "'From rebellion to renaissance': Plainfield mayor charts course for city's future"

— " Suspended Vernon cop accused of misconduct heading to trial. He faces 51 years in jail"

— "Fate of Somerville's sewer system could be left to voters "

— "Bhalla confident about Hoboken municipal complex: 'There's no way it's not gonna happen'"

— "Ringleader or victim? Closing arguments clash in Paterson sergeant's corruption trial"

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jerseyans are struggling to afford rising prices on everything from groceries to gas. On top of this, Americans are paying the highest drug prices in the world. It's time to enact S329/A1747, which establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board is responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. Governor Murphy has introduced legislation that addresses prescription drug costs, but it simply does not go far enough. It fails to address the root cause of the problem – the high prices set by drug manufacturers. Tell Governor Murphy: Stand up to Big Pharma!

EVERYTHING ELSE

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— "South Jersey minister indicted in child sex assault case"

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