News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The New Jersey establishment wins (mostly)

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: The New Jersey establishment wins (mostly)

Jun 08, 2022

Presented by New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx

Sorry, folks. But this November will not be known as the Crispi-Bacon election.

As expected, Tom Malinowski fried his primary challenger, Roger Bacon. And "America First" candidate Mike Crispi? Creamed by 42-year incumbent Chris Smith, who had some really harsh words for the young challenger, calling him "bush league" and "sophomoric."

Now that I've gotten that out of my system , the main thing I took away from last night's primary election is that it's really hard to crack the major party establishments. Trumpism didn't work in the New Jersey Republican primary, at least not against the county line and without Trump himself weighing in. And while a lot of liberal Democrats rolled their eyes at the prospect of another Robert Menendez serving in Congress, he had no problem cruising through the primary, effectively securing the seat for him in November.

It looks like Chris Smith will stay above 50 percent, but by the time I went to bed early this morning, Tom Kean Jr. was at about 46 percent — still roughly double his nearest opponent, Phil Rizzo, but a sign that some of the more moderate New Jersey Republicans could be vulnerable to challenges from the right if there aren't a million right-wing candidates to choose from. Bob Healey won the Republican nomination for the 3rd District, as of late last night with almost 53 percent of the vote.

If there were any surprises last night, it may be that, by the time I went to bed, Frank Pallotta, Democrat Josh Gottheimer's preferred opponent, was leading Nick De Gregorio by about 5 points in the 5th District Republican primary, and Paul DeGroot was leading Tayfun Selen by about 4 points in the 11th District Republican primary. There's enough of the vote outstanding to make those races too close to call for the AP, but there's not that much left. In both races both of the two leading candidates had at least some party support, though the trailing candidate had more.

Read my article about last night here and find the results here.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 112

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "We need state support. We need the state to actually fix their garbage laws and garbage directives so it stops idiots from being so emboldened that they can ever think of organizing crap like this without fear of prosecution." — Point Pleassant Mayor Paul Kanitra on pop up parties

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, DHS Spox Tom Hester

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

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

Costs in New Jersey are sky high – and that includes prescription drug costs. Every year, Big Pharma raises the price of life-saving medications. Fortunately, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate with drug companies to reduce Rx costs for patients. As this legislative session ends, let's remind our representatives to support patient advocates like PBMs and make all entities in the drug supply chain do their part to lower costs. https://www.affordablerxnj.com/.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

VIEW OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY FOR BILLIONAIRES STATE PARK — New Jersey lawmaker backs another attempt to redo Liberty State Park, this time with $250M, by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jersey state Sen. Brian Stack has introduced the latest bill aimed at overhauling land use at Liberty State Park by giving a task force in charge of redesigning the site a quarter billion dollars. The bill, NJ S2807 (22R), was introduced this week. It would charge a 17-member task force with creating a new plan for the Jersey City park's future and give the state Department of Environmental Protection $250 million to spend on the committee's priorities. The money does not appear to come with any restrictions beyond requiring that it be used to "improve recreational activities and maintain and upgrade scenic and wildlife habits and areas. "It's finally time for Hudson County to get the park it deserves and establish Liberty State Park as the crown jewel of New Jersey's park system," Stack (D-Hudson) said in a statement … Jeff Tittel, a longtime environmental activist in the state, said he feared the bill is designed to support a controversial golf course expansion. Billionaire Paul Fireman has for years wanted to expand his ultra-exclusive Liberty National Golf Course into Liberty State Park … The language in Stack's bill does not call for the sort of explicit privatization that has been in past bills aimed at the park. But it also does not clearly shield the park from privatization and also appears to encourage revenue-generating development.

I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE MORE DOCTORS SMOKE CAMELS — "Why are some health advocates against casino smoking ban? Money," by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo H. Stainton: "New Jersey expects to collect more than $425 million in taxes on gambling in the next fiscal year and that money is dedicated, by statute, to fund an array of programs supporting low-income seniors and disabled individuals. Taxes on casino revenue help pay for prescription drugs, community programs and housing for disabled individuals in state institutions … In mid-May the New Jersey Association of Area Agencies on Aging, or NJ4A — which advocates for organizations that support seniors and disabled residents in all 21 counties — wrote state lawmakers to warn them that eliminating tobacco use at casinos would have a "devastating impact" on programs for vulnerable state residents. The COVID-19 pandemic and the growing population of seniors have increased demand for these services, the group noted … Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), who has sought to end smoking in casinos since 2006, called it a "bizarre-world" argument from elder advocates … 'They are just trying to scare seniors,' Vitale said of the group's letter. 'And it's awful.'"

—" Hard Rock boss confers with NJ governor on casino smoking"

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.

POLICING PLACES — "Voter intimidation law prompts NJ schools to go remote over security concerns. Here's why," by The Record's Phil DeVcentis: "Thousands of students will stay at home on Tuesday due to rampant security concerns and a new law that sets strict parameters for the presence of police officers at ballot drop boxes and polling sites, including schools. The law, a partisan bill signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in January, is meant to protect voters from harassment and intimidation, but critics say the safety of children in school should be paramount, especially when strangers are pouring in and out of the building. Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano was quick to blast the legislation. 'It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of,' he said. … In Wayne, six of the township's 15 public schools will be used as polling places for the primary election … This week's election is the first time that the new law is applicable since the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24 … On Friday, the state Department of Education encouraged districts where schools are being used as polling places to consider virtual instruction. Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the department, said 25 districts had reported by Monday that they would offer only virtual instruction for students in one or more schools. That statistic was expected to change, he said."

— " Lawmaker wants to make discrimination against weight, height illegal"

—"Lawmakers want to bring 'senior freeze' tax relief in from the cold "

—New Jersey suing for-profit cosmetology school alleging it 'defrauded students'

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

BIDEN TIME

FUSION VOTING: DEFINITELY BETTER THAN FISSION BOMBING — Republican who backs Democrat Malinowski wants to bring 'fusion voting' to New Jersey, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: There's a new group that calls itself the "Moderate Party," and it's seeking a radical change to how New Jersey conducts its elections. East Amwell Township Committee Member Rick Wolfe, a Republican, recently co-founded the group and has filed petitions for Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) to run under its banner. The idea is for New Jersey to allow "fusion voting," a system in which candidates can appear on the ballot multiple times under different party lines. The practice was barred in New Jersey just over 100 years ago, but is used in several other states, including New York and Connecticut … Wolfe said he expects his group's petition to be rejected. At that point, he said, the group will appeal and eventually file a lawsuit challenging New Jersey's "unconstitutional" election laws that prohibit fusion voting. "The goal here is to try to change the election laws so that the Moderate Party can support moderate candidates," Wolfe said in a phone interview. "Whether they're Republican or Democrat, we want to support moderate candidates, particularly in difficult elections, so we can try to reduce the polarization that currently exists within our political system."

MORE MALINOWSKI NEWS — Last night I confirmed with Malinowski's campaign that they've parted ways with campaign manager Stacy Cohen. I got the tip last night, but I can't say for certain whether this occurred then. The campaign hasn't yet gotten back to me. I'll seek more information on this later, but suffice it to say it's unusual for this kind of separation — I don't know whose decision it was – to happen at this point in a campaign.

PAUL MULSHINE AND ANDREW ZWICKER AGREE ON SOMETHING — " Donald Trump spoiled that Pa. primary; let's stop spoiling Jersey primaries," by The Star-Ledger's Paul Mulshine: "The Maine voters have a penchant for supporting independents for major positions. This made it possible for a candidate to win even general elections with margins well short of a majority. In 2010, a guy by the name of Paul LePage won the Republican primary with 37 percent of the vote. He then went on to win the general election with just 38 percent of the vote. As you can see from those numbers, LePage was not a popular guy. So in 2016 the voters passed a referendum instituting what's called'"ranked-choice voting' or 'instant-runoff voting.' … This is a reform that is long overdue for New Jersey, at least as it applies to primaries. Unlike in Maine, we don't have a lot of independent and small-party candidates acting as spoilers in general elections. But when it comes to primaries, our fields are often so crowded that voters are – ironically enough – deprived of a real choice. What might seem like a vote for the winner may turn out to be a vote for the spoiler. Ranked-choice voting could solve the spoiler problem for Republicans. As for the Republicans' Trump problem, only time will solve that.

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

"THE WHO'S TOMMY" IS BOTH A PLAY AND WHAT FULOP WILL SAY IF YOU MENTION BERTOLI — "Former Fulop insider Tom Bertoli now headed to trial ," by JC Times' Aaron Morrill: The on again, off again federal court case of Tom Bertoli, former advisor to Mayor Steven Fulop, is now headed to trial. Bertoli, who advised Fulop in his runs for city council and mayor, was indicted for tax evasion in June 2020. The eight-count indictment alleges Bertoli failed to file income tax returns, concealed income by using check cashing services, used a business account for personal expenses, and gave false statements to the IRS … An indefinite postponement of the the case in December had stoked speculation that Bertoli might have entered into a cooperating agreement with authorities. However, in a January 1 phone call, Bertoli co-counsel Jack Arseneault, shot down such speculation, saying 'it's not what you are insinuating.'Instead, Arseneault said that the indefinite postponement was due to a 'very significant health issue' leading some to surmise that Bertoli might be ill. Today, Arseneault said 'I never said the health issue was Mr. Bertoli's health. We are going to trial.' At yesterday's status conference, Judge Brian R. Martinotti scheduled the trial for February 2, 2023. In 2019, Bloomberg reported that Bertoli was being pressured by prosecutors to provide information on Fulop and other New Jersey political"

NEWARK — "N.J. is supposed to replace Newark's crumbling schools. So far, it hasn't," by Chalkbeat's Patrick Wall: "[T]he average Newark school building was erected more than 90 years ago, district officials say — more than twice the national average — and many suffer from leaky roofs, outdated boilers, and dilapidated restrooms. Rundown buildings can dampen students' enthusiasm for school and, in some cases, impair their learning. Now, Newark wants to modernize its aging schools — a dream which, in the past, has been dashed by inadequate funding. The district is looking to construct 10 new school buildings and undertake major repairs at more than 60 existing schools, according to an ambitious five-year capital plan, which the state approved in March … Each new building would cost between $15 million and $75 million, and the repairs alone would total $350 million, according to district estimates. There's no doubt as to who should write the check. Thanks to a landmark court case, New Jersey must pay for school construction and renovation in Newark and 30 other high-poverty districts — a rarity in the U.S., where districts often must cover their own building costs. Yet New Jersey has fallen far short of its obligations, spending just $200 million on school construction this year when officials estimate that more than $6 billion is needed. And as Newark asked for dozens of new schools over the past two decades, the state paid for just eight. As a result, the district patches up antiquated campuses using money that otherwise could buy new books and computers."

THE BLOCK PARTY — "Ocean County employee caught on camera removing campaign signs of commissioners' opponents," by The Asbury Park Press' Erik Larsen: "Ocean County Administrator Carl W. Block has ordered a moratorium on the removal of all campaign signs along county roads, after a Road Department worker was captured on camera pulling out and collecting the lawn signs of candidates running against his bosses — namely, the Board of Commissioners — in today's Republican primary. The photos show a county government employee removing red signs in support of the Donald Trump-aligned, "America First" commission candidates Ashley Lamb and Sergio A. Fossa, while appearing to ignore a blue sign in support of incumbent Rep. Chris Smith. Smith is at the top of the Regular Republican Organization's ticket, which includes Commissioners Jack Kelly and Virginia E. Haines, both seeking reelection this year … In the interest of fairness, Block said he instructed county Road Supervisor Scott J. Waters on Monday afternoon to leave the signs in place unless they represent a clear obstruction or hazard to motor vehicle traffic"

—"Kelly and Haines beat Crispi-backed candidates in Ocean GOP primary "

SEITZ UNSEEN — "Ex-N.J. schools superintendent joked about lap dances, pedophiles, lawsuit says," by NJ Advance Media's Anthony G. Attrino : "LeRoy Seitz, who resigned as superintendent in December for personal reasons, joked about pedophiles and lap dances within earshot of the woman who worked for him, Marie Deane alleges in a lawsuit filed in March. When Deane reported Seitz to the members of the Holmdel Board of Education, they retaliated against her by forcing her to work from home and transferring her from her prestigious job in the superintendent's office to a lesser one at the high school, according to the suit filed in Superior Court of Monmouth County. Among her claims are that Seitz told the interim director of student services – in Deane's presence – that women who attended a Sept. 24, 2021, meeting with him dressed provocatively in an attempt to sway him on various topics during a discussion. On another occasion, Seitz said that while a woman hairstylist cut his hair, he had 'a good view when she was leaning over (and) it would have been great to have a lap dance,' according to the suit. … In an answer to the complaint filed April 19, attorneys for the district denied the most serious allegations."

—" Red Bank mayor primary: Newcomer beats local Democratic party choice for nomination"

—"Monmouth GOP incumbents appear to fend off primary challenges"

—"Rivals accuse Trenton councilman of waiving gun at police in year-old incident"

—" Judge orders pinkin to pay plaintiff legal fees after canceling ballot draw"

—"Video captures sleepy bear's midnight nap up a Morristown Green tree "

—"Eva's Village drops lawsuit against Hoboken developer who reneged on $2M gift. Here's why"

—"Grand jury clears Clifton police officer who fatally struck pedestrian in 2020"

EVERYTHING ELSE

JERSEY MAN CONSIDERS NOT LETTING HIS EMPTY F250 IDLE WHILE BUYING COFFEE IN WAWA — "NJ gas prices top $5 a gallon for first time as summer travel looms," by The Record's Daniel J. Munoz: "The pain at the pump has hit a new milestone in New Jersey. On Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of gasoline crept past $5 a gallon for the first time ever, according to figures released by AAA Mid-Atlantic. A gallon of gas cost $4.75 a week ago, $4.42 a month ago and $3.06 this time last year. The price spikes come as global crude oil trades at roughly $118 a barrel, with no sign of slowing down for the summer travel season, which has seen Americans consider reexamining their travel budgets and plans."

PINELANDS — "Off-road vehicles are tearing up N.J.'s Pinelands, says new report," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Frank Kummer: "Lack of money, staff cuts, crumbling historic structures, and off-road vehicles that run roughshod over sensitive wetlands and forests have taken a toll on New Jersey's state parks, especially in the Pine Barrens, according to a new report presented by an environmental coalition. The report released Monday by Ecological Solutions, a N.J.-based private consultant, says the state parks and wildlife management areas are neglected and calls for a new approach by the state's Department of Environmental Protection and its Division of Parks and Forestry."

—"NJ is a cheapskate with state parks, environmentalists claim"

—" Rising NJ boat fuel prices? Doesn't matter. Boatmakers still overwhelmed by demand"

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

We can all agree that costs in New Jersey are already sky high – and that includes prescription drug costs. Year after year, big drug companies raise the price of life-saving medications to increase their profits. Patients deserve better. As this legislative session comes to an end, let's remind our elected officials in Trenton to hold Big Pharma accountable and make all entities in the drug supply chain find real solutions to increase access to affordable prescription drugs without impacting services. That means supporting patient advocates like Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that negotiate with Big Pharma to reduce Rx costs and put money back in the pockets of New Jersey families. It's time to stand up to special interests, cut unnecessary red tape, and let these advocates do what they do best - save patients money. https://www.affordablerxnj.com/.