| | | | |  | | By Katherine Landergan | Good Friday morning! State lawmakers finally had the chance to question the top staffer of the state's Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Thursday's legislative hearing with Jeff Brown, the CRC's executive director, and Senate President Nick Scutari, had been highly anticipated, as Scutari had announced it shortly after the CRC declined to authorize recreational sales in March. Since then, recreational sales have launched at 12 dispensaries across the state. Both Democrats and Republicans probed Brown about workplace regulations, specifically the development of guidelines around how to examine whether someone is high on cannabis in the workplace. The CRC, which is tasked with creating regulations for the experts that would make those determinations, has not done so yet. "I would only ask you that the word expeditious come across in capital letters and you get this thing done, like ASAP," Sen. Fred Madden (D-Gloucester) said. "Get something out to us so that we can start providing the people some direction. It is extremely, extremely critical." Read about the back and forth from POLITICO's Daniel Han here. DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 87 WHERE'S MURPHY? — No public schedule. First Lady Tammy Murphy will visit a Newark elementary school. 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 |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | | DISMISSED — DWI charge against Cunningham dismissed, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: The DWI charge against state Sen. Sandra Cunningham was dismissed on Thursday, her office confirmed. Prosecutors told a Bergen County judge the state lacked sufficient evidence to prove their case and the driving-while-intoxicated charge was dropped, NJ Advance Media reported . Cunningham (D-Hudson) was charged March 4, 2021, after police said she sideswiped two parked cars at 9:30 a.m. on Culver Avenue in Jersey City, not far from her home. Cunningham was uninjured in the accident, but police body camera footage showed her sometimes appearing disoriented and having trouble keeping her balance. The lawmaker told police she thought she had struck a snowbank. ABORTION — " Anti-abortion advocate decries Murphy's push to strengthen abortion rights," by NJ Spotlight News' Briana Vannozzi: "In New Jersey, where abortion rights are already codified, Gov. Phil Murphy proposed expanding those rights to include mandatory insurance coverage of abortion, among other items. That drew quick criticism from anti-abortion advocates, who say New Jersey has an 'abortion problem.' New Jersey has some of the highest abortion rates in the nation, according to nonpartisan research. In an interview with NJ Spotlight News, New Jersey Right to Life director and anti-abortion advocate Marie Tasy, said, 'We're happy for the pro-life fortresses in states like Texas and Florida and South Dakota, and certainly other states as well that are moving in that direction. And we do believe that eventually New Jersey will get there.'" — "Vitale initially noncommittal on Murphy abortion package," by the New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge), the chair of the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee, said [Thursday] that he won't yet take a stance on Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed package of abortion access legislation, which was unveiled in broad terms [Wednesday] but has yet to be put in writing. 'I haven't had any conversations [with the governor], and I haven't seen anything in real detail,' Vitale said. 'Until I do, I can't really take a position on it.' Pressed for his opinions on two of the governor's plans – an insurance coverage mandate for abortions and an expansion of the pool of potential abortion providers – that had already been laid out in detail in last year's Reproductive Freedom Act, Vitale still did not lay out a clear opinion." JUDICIAL PICKS — "Murphy to nominate six new Essex judges," by the New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Gov. Phil Murphy will nominate six new Superior Court judges in Essex County – five of them women — a move that will substantially reduce the number of Essex vacancies if the Senate confirms his picks. The judicial nominees include a career federal prosecutor, two veteran government lawyers, two former elected officials, and a former assistant counsel to a New Jersey governor. Three of the picks are young enough to serve more than two decades on the bench, if they are confirmed by the Senate." REST IN PEACE — " Jack McGreevey, veterans advocate and former N.J. governor's father, dies at 93," by Brent Johnson and Susan K. Livio: "Jack McGreevey, a proud U.S. Marine, dedicated advocate for military veterans, and father of former Gov. Jim McGreevey, died Thursday. He was 93. Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement that McGreevey 'so perfectly represented the selflessness of all who wear our nation's uniforms.' 'He put our nation above all and his fellow New Jerseyans before himself,' Murphy said. 'We should all endeavor to be such an example.' His wife of 62 years, Veronica 'Ronnie' McGreevey, a respected nurse and educator, died in 2018. They had three children: the former governor, Caroline Jones, and Sharon McGreevey. McGreevey enlisted in the Marines on his 17th birthday and later served in both World War II and the Korean War. He was also a drill sergeant in San Diego."
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LET THE RAIN (NOT) FALL DOWN — "We need better rainfall predictions after Ida, N.J. lawmaker says. Her bill just cleared the House," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "The remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed into New Jersey last September, bringing torrents of rain, heavy winds, extensive flooding, and power outages. A tornado touched down in Mullica Hill. At least 30 people died. Perhaps better data could have helped the state prepare for the storm, and legislation that passed the U.S. House Wednesday would provide that information. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., would provide new funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct studies and collect data that take into account the impacts of climate change, and to help develop the best way to estimate precipitation."
CHRIS SMITH — "NJ's most veteran GOP congressman faces dual challenge from the right," by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "The Republican primary in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District showcases virtually all sides of today's GOP political discourse, including pro-Trump rhetoric, conspiracies about COVID-19 and complaints about critical race theory. Rep. Chris Smith has been in office since Jan. 3, 1981, in the last days of Jimmy Carter's presidency. That he has spent 41 years in Congress is reason enough for voters to replace him, argue opponents Mike Crispi and Steve Gray. Both challengers also espouse positions that put them much further to the right than Smith. While the incumbent is still considered a conservative, given the party's overall shift, he's now ranked as among the most moderate Republicans in the House by govtrack, an independent Congressional monitoring website. Crispi, who hosts a conservative talk show on YouTube, and Gray, a former FBI agent who says he now runs a small family business, are both using many of the talking points heard in right-wing media." JUDICIARY RIGHTS — "GOP senator blocks bill named for slain son of N.J. jurist that aims to protect federal judges ," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Just days after the U.S. Senate sped through legislation to boost protection for U.S. Supreme Court justices, a Republican U.S. senator on Thursday blocked U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's effort to increase security for the rest of the federal judiciary. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected to Menendez's motion to pass the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, which would keep judges' personal information secret. The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in December with only one dissenting vote, was named after the 20-year-old who was gunned down at U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas' home in North Brunswick in July 2020 by someone claiming to be a FedEx delivery driver and had planned to kill the judge." — NJ Advance Media: "Trump rips Christie over Georgia election. Christie slaps back." | | LOCAL | |
NEWARK — "And Now For Round Two: How Runoffs Work in Newark Municipal Elections," by TAPintoNewark's Mark Bonamo: "The results of Tuesday's citywide nonpartisan municipal elections are a reminder that under certain conditions, Newark voters get to speak not once, but twice. Voters, get ready for the runoff election season. The campaigning won't last long since Runoff Election Day is June 14. The tallies tabulated in the East, South, and West wards, which are still unofficial, show no clear winner. A candidate must receive 50% plus one vote to be declared the winner of a race."
SUSSEX ED STANDARDS — "Sussex County commissioners pass resolution against NJ's sex education standards," by the New Jersey Herald's Bruce A. Scruton: "Sussex County commissioners voted to back proposed legislation dubbed 'The Parents Bill of Rights' in opposition of the state's newest sex education standards at their meeting Wednesday night. The Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution that takes issue with the teaching of 'sexually specific and highly sensitive curricula to New Jersey children generally and Sussex County children particularly, as early as grades K-2.' The resolution demands that Gov. Phil Murphy, the state Legislature and the Department of Education 'ban the sexually specific and highly sensitive curricula.' The commissioners, who have no authority over schools, said they want parents to be notified of the curricula being taught to their children in schools and allow parents to 'make their own informed decisions regarding their children's education and exposure to sensitive information' … Much of what the commissioners' resolution outlined is already part of how the new sex education standards will be rolled out this fall."
| | | | 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. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | | PRICE DROP — "These N.J. gas stations to offer price drop Friday to promote self serve ," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "Dozens of New Jersey gas stations plan to offer discounted fuel on Friday in the latest push to convince state leaders to allow for self-service. You won't have to pump your own gas to get the price break from record high gas prices during the Fuel Your Way NJ coalition's Self-Serve Day of Awareness. The cost drops will vary by location, but are meant to reflect how much consumers could save per gallon with self serve available. 'With the cost of gas prices continuing to rise, it's taking a bigger and bigger bite out of people's wallets,' Sal Risalvato of Fuel Your Way NJ said in a statement. 'We want the public to know that one of the quickest ways we can reduce gas prices is to allow gas stations the ability to offer self-serve in New Jersey.'" — NJ Spotlight News: "How are parents coping as shortage of baby formula continues?" — POLITICO: U.S. cannabis industry on track to top $52B by 2027
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