News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Roeverberations

Thursday, May 5, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Roeverberations

May 05, 2022

Presented by The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association

Just how much is the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade going to change the political environment?

In a recent column, The Record's Charles Stile notes it could be a big motivator for a group that helped Democrats flip Republican seats in Congress in central and North Jersey in 2018: suburban women voters.

Of course, this comes as Republicans are courting the same voters with attacks on the state's new sex education curriculum standards.

As pollster Patrick Murray pointed out in Stile's piece, it's unclear if Roe will inspire anyone to vote who wasn't going to already. Meanwhile, "irregular" voters may be inspired to turn out by concerns about economic inflation, which, at this point, wouldn't help Democrats.

Prognostication aside, there are concrete signs that politicians themselves see this as a bigger issue for Democrats to capitalize on by Republicans. InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack yesterday pointed out the disparity in Republicans and Democrats issuing statements on the draft — both in numbers and the tenor of the language.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I'm taking some time off. Katherine Landergan will write Playbook until I return on May 16.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NONPROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 79

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Montclair for a 9:45 a.m. event to highlight his "Main Street Recovery Fund" proposal

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

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY — friend Allison Foley, Pascrell staffer Ritzy Moralez-Diaz, former Assembly candidate Bill Weightman

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I may have sung in my past about killing someone; Ian actually did kill someone." — 3rd District House candidate Bob Healey to Ian Smith during a debate

A message from The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association:

In the fight to make prescription drugs more affordable, PBMs are the only part of the prescription drug supply and payment chain dedicated to lowering drug costs. In fact, PBMs lower patient prescription drug costs by nearly $1,000 every year, enabling safe and seamless prescription drug delivery to patients, and helping New Jerseyans stay on their medications. Learn more about how PBMs advocate on behalf of patients at https://onyourrxside.org/state/new-jersey.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

SEX ED — New Jersey's sex education standards will remain in place, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: The New Jersey State Board of Education will not reopen a review of the state's sex education learning standards, with a majority of the board and the acting education commissioner defending the language that's come under fire by some conservatives. At the board's monthly meeting on Wednesday — the first since outrage and misinformation about the sex education standards started circulating in April — most members stood behind the standards and defended the local process that allows districts to set individual curriculum for their schools. "Our local boards of education have the rights, responsibility and the direction to do what's appropriate for their community," Kathy Goldenberg, the board president, said. Goldenberg said that while she understands the rights of parents to raise their kids as they see fit, she has "a little bit of qualm" with the idea being put forth by some parents, right-wing commentators, and lawmakers that passionate parents and community members should fully control school curriculum and 'can tell the district what they can and can't teach." "Are we going to go back to saying the world's flat, not round? Are we going to go back to say we didn't have evolution?" Goldenberg said.

Republican board member Joseph Ricca, who has been a vocal critic of attempts to politicize the state standards, said the system in place is there to ensure New Jersey schools are a 'free marketplace of ideas' that are age-appropriate and take into consideration all students from all backgrounds. 'I cannot allow my individual feelings to guide my policy decision-making behaviors,' Ricca said. 'To start talking about things like limiting education to topics that make us comfortable, or banning books, because we don't like what they say, these are un-American steps. These are fear tactics.'"

SDPAY — "NJ Schools Development Authority to pay again in scandal fallout. Here's what it will cost," by The Record's Dustin Racioppi: "The Schools Development Authority has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit with a former employee, the latest financial cost for the agency in the fallout of a patronage scandal three years ago. The agreement with Aaron Goss, a longtime employee who claimed he was wrongly included in a mass firing following the scandal, brings the cost of two settlement payouts by the authority to $900,000, with two other suits pending. Goss, at the time a director at the authority, was fired in July 2019 along with 29 other employees, after independent reviews corroborated reporting by the USA TODAY Network of improper hiring under the former chief executive officer, Lizette Delgado-Polanco. … Goss and two others not linked to improper hiring — vice president Tom Schrum and records custodian Kristen MacLean — were also fired. MacLean, like Goss, sued the authority and her case is pending in court."

ANY OFFICER NAMED GREEN SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM DRUG TESTS — "Marijuana is legal, but these cops who used CBD for pain are still fighting for their jobs ," by The Record's Nicholas Katzban: "In April 2021, Officer Tahron Green, a six-year veteran of the Montclair Police Department, submitted to a randomly scheduled drug test … out of fear of the stigma associated with marijuana as a recreational drug, he privately advised a supervising lieutenant that he was enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program and explained that the products he used did not induce a 'high,' referring to the cannabis extract CBD. Green also noted that he did not take the medication while at work. But when the department received his results, he tested positive for THC … and was recommended for termination in June 2021. Despite a disciplinary ruling in his favor, almost a year later, he remains on paid leave with no return date in sight. Green, who filed suit against his department for reinstatement in February, is not alone."

ABORTION — "NJ has strong abortion law, but not necessarily easy access," by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo Stainton: "Access to abortion remains a 'fundamental right' for anyone present in New Jersey, state officials underscored Tuesday, regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court's intention to overturn the decision known as Roe vs. Wade. But that doesn't mean abortion is easy to access in New Jersey or will be in the future. The costs involved can be high — even for insured patients — and abortion providers are scarce, especially in rural areas, health advocates said. And state lawmakers could tweak or reverse these statutory protections in the future. New Jersey's law technically enables women from out of state to obtain abortions here, but experts noted that requires those women to have resources, like child care and travel money. If Roe v. Wade is overturned — as a draft Supreme Court opinion leaked late Monday suggests — women and children are at higher risk for sickness and death, they said, and poor and minority women suffer most."

— "Abortion is a frequent, favorite driver of legislation in New Jersey "

— "How New Jersey abortion providers are preparing for more patients"

— " NBA legend is the newest minority owner of Gov. Murphy's soccer team"

— "Police, pot & problems with youth: Will summer 2022 be a repeat?"

— "Oversight hearing over delayed opening of N.J. legal weed market set for next week"

Top Headlines. Insights. Issues that Matter. News moves fast in the Garden State. Want to make sense of it all? NJ PBS's Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz offers an insiders' view on the stories that are making headlines in Trenton and throughout the Garden State. Hear from the key players making news and the journalists reporting on them and the issues that matter to you, your community, your business, your state. Saturdays at 6pm; Sundays at 10am on NJ PBS. Learn more.

BIDEN TIME

TRENTON MAKES — "Hamilton native — and U.S. Supreme Court Justice — Sam Alito's legacy will be outlawing abortion," by The Trentonian's Jeff Edelstein: "No matter your political stripe, if you're a Trenton or Hamilton native — or an Italian — you had to be prideful of the fact there was a time when both municipalities were represented on the United States Supreme Court. There's over 35,000 cities and towns in America, nine Supreme Court justices, and there we were, with Trenton's Antonin Scalia and Hamilton's Samuel Alito both sitting in their robes. Of course, Scalia passed away in 2016, having served on the nation's highest court for 30 years. Alito is still there, with this year marking his 16th year on the bench. Scalia is, and will be, remembered as one of the court's staunchest 'originalists,' basically using the United States Constitution more as a sacred text than as a living document. Alito, while also in the originalist camp, will not be remembered for his strict constitutional views. Nope. He will, however, apparently be remembered as the justice who wrote the majority opinion that overturned a Roe v. Wade."

MORE TAX BREAKS! — " Stay in N.J. and we'll give NYC companies a tax break to move here, congressman tells commuters," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "Commuters concerned about how NYC's proposed congestion pricing plan would affect them received three simple words of advice from a congressman – Stay in Jersey. But U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer's, D-5th, home state appeal for commuters to continue working from home also came with something for their New York employers, possible tax incentives to open satellite offices in New Jersey. Gottheimer … suggested Wednesday that workers already working from home should continue to do so and asked Manhattan-based employers to consider opening a remote office in New Jersey. … Gottheimer wants state legislation to provide tax incentives for Manhattan-based companies to open regional hubs in New Jersey, which two lawmakers are working on, he said. 'We should do whatever we can to encourage people to stay in New Jersey and tax incentives for New York businesses to open facilities in New Jersey,' he said."

— "NJ activists fear potential Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade a sign of more to come"

— ELEC: County parties flush with cash

— Menendez reiterates call for DOJ to probe former Florida lawmaker

WATCH — CD3 debate between Bob Healey and Ian Smith

A message from The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association:

LOCAL

OCEAN GATE GATE — "Mayor charged with theft had on-duty county workers do construction at his house, authorities say," by NJ Advance Media's Jeff Goldman: "A New Jersey mayor already facing charges of official misconduct and theft is now accused of stealing money that supporters contributed to his re-election campaign as well as arranging for county workers to perform construction work at his home while they were on the clock. Ocean Gate Mayor Paul Kennedy, 66, is charged with three more counts of theft in connection with the new allegations, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday. Prosecutors allege Kennedy used money for personal expenses that had been donated to 'Friends of Ocean Gate' for the re-election campaign of Kennedy and his running mates. He also used his job with the Ocean County Buildings and Grounds Department to get work done at his home on East Lakewood Avenue in Ocean Gate, authorities said."

SOMEHOW THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE SANE STORIES TO RECENTLY COME OUT OF TRENTON — "Wilson says Trenton councilman pledged support if he investigated bloggers," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "In a full-throated defense of the job that he's done as city police director, Steve Wilson ripped legislators at a meeting Tuesday night, calling on council president Kathy McBride to investigate a councilman for pressuring him to open an investigation into citizens in exchange for the legislator's support. Wilson told The Trentonian in a phone interview Wednesday that he was so troubled by at-large councilman Santiago Rodriguez's overture that he reported it to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office."

MAYOR KRANJAC IS A STALWART ADVOCATE FOR FREE SPEECH, SO LONG AS HE AGREES WITH IT — "NJ mayor invites Twitter to move to his borough that 'unabashedly supports free speech,'" by The Record's Jessie Gomez: "Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac is calling on Elon Musk to move Twitter's headquarters to North Jersey. Moving Twitter's headquarters to Englewood Cliffs would be 'the perfect opportunity' for Musk, Kranjac said in a press release. … 'This is the perfect opportunity for Twitter to relocate to a community that unabashedly supports free speech and is located right next to the media capital of the world,' Kranjac said. 'Perhaps Englewood Cliffs will soon be known as Silicon Cliffs. … The mayor added that, like Musk, he is an 'unabashed supporter of free speech.' … in 2020, Kranjac made national headlines for billing a teen for $2,500 for police overtime after she organized a Black Lives Matter protest in the borough. He rescinded the fee, but not before a host of public officials criticized the move. The Bergen County Commissioners said 'charging people for police overtime as a prerequisite for holding a public gathering creates a chilling effect on free speech.'"

RETALIATION BY THE CAPULETS, NO DOUBT — " Embattled Montague superintendent on leave sues board members for retaliation," by The New Jersey Herald's Lori Comstock: "The embattled superintendent of the Montague school district is suing the board members who placed him on leave last spring, claiming they had a vendetta against him after he pointed out their violations of the law. Timothy Capone, whose tenure at the K-8 district was marred by controversy, says the then-board, most still active members, acted with malice when he refused to abide by what he called illegal actions they made to move board elections and non-renew tenured staff members, according to the lawsuit filed in Sussex County Superior Court."

— "South Jersey schools opt to close on Hindu holiday next year"

— " Once-struggling mom returns to Passaic agency that gave her a hand — this time as director"

— "Holmdel OKs 50 affordable apartments near Hazlet boundary, with first move-ins by 2023"

— "Saddle River resident files lawsuit to invalidate affordable housing approval"

— " Burlington GOP files new suit to remove Eckel from county commission"

— " Hackensack, Teaneck may need more firefighters amid housing boom. Here's their fix for now"

— "Palisades Park officer's job is up for council discussion in wake of computer seizure"

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

HOUSING — "Killing the American Dream: Report finds large corporations are buying homes, blocking middle-class buyers," by News 12's Brian Donohue: "Rutgers University and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have turned their attention to an issue that has become more dramatic in the Brick City than anywhere else in the nation. Large corporations are buying thousands of one- to four-family homes and forcing out the middle class. 'They're taking this money, they're flipping it and they're buying everything in the neighborhood,' says Newark resident Q Little. Up and down the block on Columbia Avenue in Newark's Vailsburg section, one can hear different versions of the same story. … It is all part of a phenomenon detailed in a paper by two Rutgers University professors entitled 'Who Owns Newark?' It is a report about the explosion of home purchases by large anonymous corporations. Between 2017 and 2020 researchers found that 47% of all sales of one- to four-family homes were made by institutional buyers using opaque limited liability corporations — a threefold increase since 2010."

— "Atlantic City casino workers asking for 'significant' pay raise in contract talks"

A message from The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association:

Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs, are working on behalf of millions of New Jersey patients with health insurance to reduce prescription drug costs, expand access to medications, and improve patient outcomes.

Here are the key facts to know about PBMs:

• PBMs negotiate with drug companies to lower prescription drug costs, reducing patient drug costs by nearly $1,000 each year.
• PBMs work with pharmacies to deliver prescription drugs to New Jersey patients safely and seamlessly.
• Over the next ten years, PBMs will save New Jersey patients more than $29 billion dollars.
• PBMs advocate for patients in the fight to keep prescription drugs accessible and affordable.

Learn how PBMs advocate for patients at https://onyourrxside.org/state/new-jersey