News : POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Congressional candidate's mom donates $2M to super PAC

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Congressional candidate's mom donates $2M to super PAC

Jun 15, 2022

Presented by New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx

Good Wednesday morning!

Super PACs are allowed to raise and spend as much money as they want to support or oppose a candidate, as long as they don't coordinate with campaigns.

If you've read this newsletter long enough, you've seen me rant about how absurd this "coordination" barrier is. Super PACs and campaigns have ways of coordinating messages without violating the letter of the law. And do you think politicians aren't paying attention to who's giving to the super PAC that supports them?

Which brings me to a particularly interesting case here in New Jersey. Third District Congressional candidate Bob Healey Jr. is getting help from a super PAC that's got about $2 million in its coffers. The source: Healey's mom.

The possibilities for conflicts are endless. For instance, if he sent her flowers for Mother's Day, which fell just weeks after she made the donation, how can we know whether it was an act of love or a quid pro quo?

Read more about it here .

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 119

WHERE'S MURPHY? — At the South Brunswick Municipal Building for an 11 a.m. announcement with Speaker Coughlin.

QUOTE OF THE DAY : "He deserved it" — Parents shouting from the stands after a coach punched an umpire during a 13-and-under baseball game in Branchburg, breaking his jaw.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — LD8's Kristin Januseski

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

PERHAPS ILLINOIS IS LOOKING TO BE THE MIDWEST CALIFORNIA OF THE EAST — Could New Jersey's environmental justice law could become a model for other states? By POLITICO's Ry Rivard: New Jersey regulators, community activists and industry groups may not see eye-to-eye on a new law and proposed rule to promote environmental justice, but they do agree that all eyes are now on the state. State regulators are putting the finishing touches on a rule designed to block construction of heavy industrial facilities in overburdened communities. Lawmakers in other states appear to be watching the developments as they think about laws of their own. The state Department of Environmental Protection put out a 150-page draft rule last week requiring companies to consider how eight different kinds of industrial facilities might further pollute what the state calls overburdened environmental justice communities — those with many people of color, low-income households or residents who don't speak fluent English.

THE LAW SURVIVES — "N.J. law allowing terminally ill people to end their lives upheld by appeals court," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio: "A state appeals court has upheld New Jersey's three-year-old Medicaid Aid in Dying law that has allowed 95 terminally ill residents to end their lives by taking a lethal dose of medications prescribed by a doctor. A doctor and rabbi, Yosef Glassman, a pharmacist and an observant Hindu, Manish Pujara, and a resident with a terminal illness, Anthony Petro, challenged the law on religious grounds. They had appealed a 2020 trial court decision preserving the law, arguing it violates the New Jersey Constitution and 'presents a danger to all New Jersey citizens' because it could result in 'a non-voluntary death' by coercion. State Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy ruled in a 2020 decision that the plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge the law because they had suffered no harm from it. Doctors and pharmacists may refuse to cooperate with a terminally ill patient's request to die, but the physician must share the patient's medical file so the patient can search for a doctor willing to carry out the patient's wishes, the judge wrote. In the decision published June 10, Appellate Court Judge Arnold Natali upheld Lougy's ruling, noting 95 people had used the law to end their lives 'without, to our knowledge, a single family member or interested party objecting to those unquestionably difficult end of life decisions. Nor has any report surfaced that any person utilized the Act for an improper or illegal purpose.' Natali found the challenge to be 'without merit.'"

PERHAPS IN SOME OTHER STATE BUT NEVER IN NEW JERSEY — Proposal to fund state parks raises pay-to-play worries, by Ry: A bill to help pay for New Jersey's state parks and forests has caused concern among, of all people, park advocates. The measure, NJ S1311 (22R) would create a nonprofit organization to help fund the parks. Such a nonprofit is something several environmental groups, including the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, have made a top priority as a way to boost park funding. But the bill creates a nonprofit that would be embedded within the Department of Environmental Protection and stacked with political appointees. The proposed nine-member board to oversee the nonprofit would include at least seven people picked by the governor. Looking at it one way, it's a state-backed entity to raise money from private donors.

SEN. THOM YORKE (R-WELLINGBOROUGH) PROPOSES FAKE PLASTIC TREES — "Advocates urge more recycling, manufacturer responsibility to reduce plastic waste," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo : "Six weeks after New Jersey's plastic bag ban started, those worried about plastic piling up in landfills or polluting waterways are already plotting what's next to reduce or recycle an immortal material once hailed as a scientific wonder. Some are counting the days until a new state law takes effect in January 2024 that bans polystyrene packing peanuts and requires manufacturers to use more recycled content in packaging. A Rutgers professor who invented plastic lumber says builders should use plastic instead of wood to construct bridges and railroads. One lawmaker envisions paving some of New Jersey's 39,000 miles of public roadways with plastic. 'The statewide law focusing on reusable bags was the first step. Now we want to make sure the next step that's taken is strong and can help address the plastics pollution problem,' 'said Kari Martin, Clean Ocean Action's advocacy campaign manager."

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.

YORKE: CALL THEM SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK ALIENS — "Remove term 'illegal alien' from N.J. statutes, lawmaker says," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "In New Jersey statutes about education, taxes, and even lottery prizes, undocumented immigrants are referred to as ='illegal aliens"'more than 80 times. That term may not remain there too long under a new bill that would change the outdated term to a more humanizing one. 'When I hear alien, I think of another planet — that's what we use that word for. Not people, just because they're from another country,' said Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden). 'It's important that they know they are welcome here.' The legislation (S2599) would replace all references to 'alien' and 'illegal alien' in New Jersey statutes with 'foreign national' and 'undocumented foreign national.'"

— "White men dominate most N.J. government boards. This bill aims to change that," by NJ Advance Media's Susan K. Livio and Kelly Heyboer: "State boards and commissions that collectively control billions of dollars and make decisions affecting everyday life in New Jersey must include more women and minorities, under a bill approved by state Senate committee Monday. Women make up 51% of the state's population of 9.2 million people, according to 2020 Census data. The population also consists of 20% Latino residents, 15% Black residents and 10% Asians. But white men vastly outnumber women on nearly all of the state's most powerful boards and commissions, according to an analysis by NJ Advance Media in May 2021."

THE TRANSCRIPT WILL HAVE MANY PERIODS AND FULL STOPS — "Fired N.J. Health Department official seeks to question Murphy under oath in whistleblower lawsuit," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "Days after a Superior Court judge dropped two top administration officials as defendants in a whistleblower lawsuit, lawyers for the former state Health Department assistant commissioner are now seeking to question Gov. Phil Murphy. In a new filing in the ongoing case, attorneys for Christopher Neuwirth — who sued the state after he was fired from his high-level health department job at the height of the pandemic — asked for an order to compel the deposition of the governor."

—" N.J. must 'repair the harm' of huge wealth gap between white and Black families, advocates say"

—" NJ orders 51K doses of COVID vaccine for infants and toddlers, but will there be demand?"

—"Prices soar and stocks tumble as N.J. budget negotiations continue behind closed doors"

—"NJ considers 'microstamping' requirement for all new guns"

—Golden: " The Murphy strategy"

—Mulshine: "Pop-up parties at the Jersey Shore: What's race got to do with it?"

A message from New Jerseyans for Affordable Rx:

BIDEN TIME

TURN OUT FOR WHAT? — "A handful of people choose your candidates for Congress," by NJ Spotlight News' Colleen O'Dea: "Each New Jersey congressional district has about 773,600 people living in it. But in almost all cases, fewer than 80,000 — roughly 10% — are deciding who gets to represent them. As exemplified by last week's primary election, where fewer than 15% of the electorate voted for congressional candidates statewide, low voter turnout has become a fact of life in New Jersey politics. Some is the product of voter malaise — and some arguably by design to protect party favorites. But as the state moves to the general election in November, the victors in a half-dozen districts are already decided by the primary where barely one in eight voted."

'I WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT THE CANDIDATE I'M CURRENTLY ADVISING IS ESPOUSING' — "Will Bill Stepien help end Donald Trump's big lie? Anything remains possible," by The Record's Charles Stile: " As much as Stepien's testimony suggested a break from Trump's post-election absurdity, he did stick around long enough to champion the pardon for former Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore, who was convicted in 2019 of filing a false loan application and of failure to remit payroll taxes … And Stepien is now a campaign adviser to Harriett Hageman, a Republican Wyoming House candidate who has raised doubts about the outcome of the 2020 election. Hageman is seeking to oust Rep. Liz Cheney, who is co-chair of the select committee."

—"Seven N.J. Dems just voted against increasing security for Supreme Court justices. Here's why"

—" Amtrak trains will move through NJ faster after these upgrades. Here's what's new"

—"Judge tosses NJ-7 Libertarian candidate from ballot"

—"NJ congressman [Gottheimer] has a plan to cut supermarket food prices NJ"

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

COUNCILMAN COUNCIL — "Patrick Council wins Newark South Ward city council seat " by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Patrick Council, the powerful South Ward Democratic Municipal Chairman, has captured the open South Ward seat on the Newark City Council. Council defeated Terrance Bankston, a former aide to Newark Mayor Cory Booker in today's runoff election."

—"Silva wins "

—"Kelly defeats Onyema in the west"

MCDONALD TO LEAVE JUDICIARY AFTER OVER 99 BILLION SUBPOENAS SERVED —"Superior Court Judge John McDonald nominated for Somerset County prosecutor," by The Courier-News' Mike Deak: "Superior Court Judge John P. McDonald has been nominated to become the next Somerset County prosecutor. The nomination, made by Gov. Phil Murphy on June 9, was forwarded to the Senate Judiciary Committee which, if approved, will go to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. McDonald became a Superior Court judge in July 2017 and has served in the Family Division. He faced mandatory retirement in 2024 at age 70."

SADDER BERNHARD — " Pleasantville moves to revoke sewer concession deal but challenges could lie ahead," by The Press of Atlantic City's Christopher Doyle: " Attempts to back out of a controversial concession of the city sewer system are continuing apace — but there could be hurdles ahead to ending the deal, with the private equity company involved in the deal vowing 'appropriate action' should that happen. City Council introduced on June 6 an ordinance to repeal its authorization of a concession of the Pleasantville sewer system to private equity firm Bernhard Capital Partners. The vote came during a council meeting that was more than 4 ½-hours long. Opponents of the concession have argued that it would make sewer rates too volatile and leave the sewer's managers less democratically accountable … Kent Rowey, an attorney for Bernhard Capital and its subsidiary Pleasantville Environmental Partners, spoke during the public comment section prior to the vote. He said Bernhard Capital would take whatever action necessary to recoup what it has already spent in pursuing the deal"

HONORS STUDENTS TO BE CHALLENGED WITH 'LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER,' 'ULYSSES' — " Wayne BOE member says NJ sex ed standards are 'extreme,' calls for a vote rejecting them," by The Record's Phil DeVencentis: "A school board member tried to convince his colleagues that the state's new standards in health and physical education are "extreme" and should not be adopted in any form. Trustee Harry Prassakos, who was elected in the fall under an "Education First!" banner, made a motion at the June 2 meeting of the Board of Education to reject the standards, but his proposal did not have enough support. Prassakos, 45, a banking executive, was also the only trustee who took issue with the K-12 district's summer reading assignments, which are up for a final vote on Thursday. Some of the books, including classics like 'Of Mice and Me' by John Steinbeck and 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne, are much too easy for an honors class, Prassakos said. 'I feel like we should challenge our students, and do better,' he said.

A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY A 900-MEMBER BODY JUST SCREAMS DEMOCRACY —"Vainieri elected Hudson Democratic county chairman," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Hudson County Democrats elected Anthony P. Vainieri, Jr. as their new county chairman, replacing Amy DeGise as the head of one of New Jersey's most fabled county political machines. The vote among the 900-member Democratic county committee was unanimous. … The move to seat Vainieri, who is also the chief of staff to North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, was part of a deal reached in February following the approval of a new legislative redistricting map."

—" Oakcrest student found with gun magazine, bullets during field trip"

—"Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh poured $280K into final days of election campaign "

—"Hoboken heads toward 20 mph speed limit on all streets"

—" Judge says Paterson must release police videos in Felix DeJesus missing person case"

—" Judge won't stay [South Hunterdon] school referendum vote as group plans appeal"

BIDEN TIME

DR. SPACEMAN — Top University Hospital official garnering local support to be its next CEO, by POLITICO's Daniel Han : One of University Hospital's top executives is getting some local support to be named the next CEO of New Jersey's only public hospital. In separate letters to the Newark hospital's board of directors and Gov. Phil Murphy's office, dozens of local and state elected officials, community leaders, academics, health care professionals and residents voiced their support for Dr. Chris Pernell, University's chief strategic integration & health equity officer, to be named the hospital's next CEO.

DR. DOE — " Nurse faced retaliation after raising alarm over allegedly intoxicated, impaired doctor, lawsuit says," by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: "The pediatric specialist would often show up to work impaired or intoxicated, claimed a nurse who worked with her. There were photos of her in the office, face down on a computer keyboard at a desk, the lawsuit alleges. 'At times, (the doctor) was incapable of formulating basic sentences,' claimed lawyers for Allison Stec, an advanced practice nurse at Cooper University Health Care in Camden of the physician, who said the doctor at times 'could not spell basic words,' or was unable to stand without leaning against a wall … In a whistleblower lawsuit, her attorneys claim she was subjected to retaliation by the hospital for simply doing her job with integrity, when she reported that the welfare of patients was being endangered. One of her attorneys, Matthew Luber of McOmber McOmber & Luber in Marlton, said Stec did everything she could to help the physician, identified only as 'Dr. Doe' in the lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Burlington County. He added that the nurse had begun 'waiving the red flag long-before 'Dr. Doe's' tragic death' last year … Cooper denied the charges. "The allegation that a Cooper physician treated patients while intoxicated or impaired is simply false," said the hospital system in a statement. "Cooper thoroughly investigated this matter. The New Jersey State Department of Health and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners also investigated the plaintiff's allegations. Cooper will aggressively defend against the false allegations contained in this lawsuit.""

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/.