News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Christie Whitman: It's her (new) party too

Friday, July 29, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Christie Whitman: It's her (new) party too

Jul 29, 2022

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By Matt Friedman

Presented by NextEra Energy Transmission

Good Friday morning!

What is it about Central Jersey politicians wanting to establish third parties?

We already knew about Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski's effort to get a second spot on the ballot under the "Moderate Party" banner. But now former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman is joining former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang to form a new third party called "Forward," which they plan to formally launch in September.

Reuters, which first reported the story , said the the party is centrist and "has no specific policies yet." It wants to "reinvigorate a fair, flourishing economy" and to "give Americans more choices in elections, more confidence in a government that works, and more say in our future."

Political analysts are skeptical because of course they are. It's not like this is the first time people have tried to establish a third party.

My very basic analysis is this would be more likely to play spoiler for Democrats than Republicans, if it has any effect. Democrats have recently appealed to the kind of wealthy Republican suburbanites who live in Whitman's back yard to take the House majority in 2018 and the presidency in 2020. Republicans appealed to some more working class voters who used to vote Democratic. If Trump is on the ballot in 2024 and revulsion to him among the former group is again a factor in the election, it's not hard to see which group this new party would appeal to more. That's assuming it actually gets on the ballot in key swing states.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 163

WHERE'S MURPHY? No public schedule.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Anybody can be Joe Manchin. I can be Joe Manchin right now." — Sen. Robert Menendez on the " Inflation Reduction Act ," which doesn't include SALT deduction restoration

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Teaneck Councilmember Michael Pagan, Willingboro's Martin Nock, Catholic Business Network of South Jersey's Jeff Morris, Treasury's Jo Ann Povia, Kivvit's Allison Derman. Saturday for Middlesex Dem Chairman Kevin McCabe, Lawrence Dem Chair Elissa Schragger, Garden State Equality E.D. Christian Fuscarino, Burlington Commissioner Felicia Hopson. Sunday for state Sen. Sam Thompson, former Bergen Sheriff Leo McGuire

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

O'TOOLE FAMILY MATTERS: IT'S A RARE CONDITION, THIS DAY AND AGE, TO READ ANY GOOD NEWS ON THE NEWS WEBSITE PAGE — Port Authority chairman says he doesn't know about any investigation of family drama , by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: The chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Thursday he was not aware of any investigation into allegations, revealed in a bombshell lawsuit, that he used his political influence to block his sister's promotion within a local police department. Kevin O'Toole, who has chaired the Port Authority for the past five years on behalf of New Jersey, is implicated in a lawsuit brought by his sister against the township of Cedar Grove, where the O'Toole family has deep political connections. After details of the lawsuit were reported, WNBC reported, based on anonymous sources, that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office is investigating the claims. O'Toole said he was not aware of such a probe. "I'm not aware of any investigation other than the one that I was forced to go to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office on, a harassment issue," O'Toole told reporters Thursday after a meeting of the Port Authority's board.

—" Port Authority OKs $28M to fix aging NYC bus terminal, even as it plans replacement "

JABRONI & MIRES — " Car insurance could cost more in NJ. Two lawmakers pushing hike may benefit, experts say ," by The Record's Katie Sobko : "Two state senators − both personal injury attorneys − are pushing a bill that would raise the minimum requirement for automotive liability insurance and could lead to an increase in the cost of those premiums for drivers. Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, and Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-Union, claim the change would ultimately benefit motorists. But insurance experts — and even their colleagues in the Legislature — say the pair stand to gain financially from the insurance overhaul if Gov. Phil Murphy signs their legislation into law. Bramnick, who also practices standup comedy, and Scutari, the most powerful elected official behind Murphy, wasted little time bringing the legislation to the forefront … Bramnick said the legislation is happening now because 'you have somebody leading the Senate now who actually represents individuals and not insurance companies.' Both dismissed questions of whether their proposed legislation violates the state's policy on conflicts of interest … 'I've never asked' for a legal opinion 'because I know it's an unfair question, and I think if you raised it you're saying things that are 100% untrue,' Bramnick said.

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 .

VOTING BILLS: Gov. Phil Murphy last night announced he's signed a package of election reform bills, including measures to allowing minors to be poll workers and a controversial bill that elections officials have warned could have the effect of revealing the votes of some residents of small towns in low-turnout elections.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE RIGHT NOW — " After Springsteen uproar, top N.J. lawmaker orders hearing on 'obscene' ticket prices ," by NJ Advance Media's Brent Johnson and Matt Arco: "As controversy continues to swell over ticket prices for Bruce Springsteen's upcoming tour — including some premium seats going for more than $4,000 — a top New Jersey lawmaker is planning a hearing to examine whether the ticket industry's practices are fair. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, on Thursday said he's 'extremely troubled by the actions of Ticketmaster and other vendors.' He argued their policies have 'left so many unsuspecting fans with outrageous ticket prices and fees' and made attendance to some events "unaffordable for working folks.""

STRONGER AND FAIRER OR SOMETHING — " Civil rights group: If NJ won't tackle school segregation, we'll call in the feds ," by Gothamist's Louis C. Hochman: " A coalition of New Jersey racial justice activists is looking to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene in what it says has been intolerable inaction by the state around school segregation. The New Jersey Coalition Against Racial Exclusion, or NJ-CARE, hand-delivered a letter to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke at last week's NAACP convention in Atlantic City. The letter says the coalition will soon file a federal complaint alleging New Jersey uses federal funds 'to knowingly promote and perpetuate one of the most segregated and unequal public school systems in the nation.'"

IF YOU WANT FUNDING JUST CHANGE YOUR GROUP'S NAME TO 'MIDDLESEX COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY' — " Anti-gun violence groups to lose funding from N.J. leaving life-saving resources in limbo ," by NJ Advance Media's Daysi Calavia-Robertson and Joe Atmonavage: "A statewide violence reduction strategy that provides services to gunshot victims at local hospitals will not have additional funding come September, a move public safety advocates say will strip away 'life-saving resources' and could lead to more violence on New Jersey streets. In a July 21 email sent to community groups and hospitals providing the services, an official at the state Attorney General's office wrote that the state could not 'continue to fund the [Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs.]' The person noted the 'limited amount of [Victims of Crime Act] funds available' as the reason for the change, and also informed the groups that "the next competitive cycle for non-profit victim service providers" would begin in September 2023. 'That's more than a year away. What are we supposed to do now? We're in limbo,' said Liza Chowdhury, co-founder of nonprofit Reimagining Justice Inc. and head of The Paterson Healing Collective"

FULL UP — Fulop super PAC has amassed $5.4M war chest as his allies talk up gubernatorial run , by POLITICO's Matt Friedman : A super PAC closely tied to Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has built up a multi-million dollar war chest and has pledged to spread the money around the state, as Fulop's allies increase their talk of his potential gubernatorial run in 2025. Coalition for Progress, which was founded in 2015 as Fulop prepared an ultimately-aborted run for governor in 2017, has more than $5.4 million in the bank, according to its latest filing with the Federal Election Commission on July 15. It raised $456,600 in donations during the last quarter, though it lost about $120,000 in its stock market investments. … But in the past year, the super PAC has spent just $36,347 — about 0.6 percent of its funds — on two local candidates in Union County: Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese in a December runoff and Roselle Council President Denise Wilkerson in the June Democratic primary.

—" As markets struggle, so does NJ pension fund "

—" LaRue named chair of Garden State Equality "

—Stanfield: " Being tough on crime means helping those released from prison to move forward "

A message from NextEra Energy Transmission:

BIDEN TIME

—" Who is N.J.'s Most bipartisan member of Congress, really? "

—" Congressmen call for Amazon probe after worker's death "

—" New diss from Jersey for Dr. Oz's Senate run in Pennsylvania: nomination to the N.J. Hall of Fame! "

LOCAL

'CAUSE 2 OUT OF 15 AIN'T GOOD — " N.J. Comptroller: North Bergen BOE had 'litany of excuses' to not reform public fund spending ," by Hudson County View's John Heinis: " The North Bergen Board of Education had "a litany of excuses" not to reform public fund spending after receiving recommendations following a 2019 audit, Acting New Jersey Comptroller Kevin Walsh said … 24-page follow-up report released by the comptroller's office today says that they indicated that they made 15 recommendations in their August 1st, 2019 report. Out of those 15, the North Bergen Public Schools fully implemented 2 recommendations, partially implemented 6 recommendations, and failed entirely to implement 7 recommendations, the OSC said. Of those alleged issues that haven't been addressed, the district has not developed detailed policies for employee benefits, has not eliminated vacation leave payments, renegotiated collective bargaining agreements, or reviewed its wasteful and excessive employee benefits to align its practices with state law – among other thing including utilizing outside law and public relations contracts."

AMY DEGISE STILL SILENT — " Hit-and-run victim calls for Jersey City councilwoman's resignation, says he's considering lawsuit ," by The Jersey Journal's Jake Maher : "The man thrust into spotlight when he was struck by Jersey City Councilwoman-at-Large Councilwoman Amy DeGise in a hit-and-run last week says DeGise's decision to leave the scene shows she is unfit to hold office. "Anybody can make a mistake," 29-year-old Andrew Black told The Jersey Journal Thursday, 'but a hit-and-run is a felony.' (Hit-and-runs can be either misdemeanors or felonies in New Jersey, depending on whether they cause injury. In this case, DeGise has not been charged with a felony offense.) He joins a growing chorus of Jersey City residents and some politicians in calling for DeGise to resign from the council seat she was elected to in November. Video of the July 19 crash shows DeGise striking Black as he enters the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Forrest Street, without slowing down, even after the crash that left Black with a small laceration and lasting pain. Black also said he has hired an attorney, Brandon Broderick, and is considering suing DeGise. 'I'm not going out for vengeance or anything like that,' Black said. 'I just want justice.'"

—" Lincoln High principal signals interest in DeGise's seat, while progressives focus on demanding she resign "

—" Saleh on DeGise: 'We should use this as an opportunity to make safer streets' "

AT LEAST WE KNOW MARTY MCFLY WILL SHOW UP — " Gusciora calls for meeting to fill vacant Trenton council seat, 3 expected to no-show ," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "It's a political no-showdown. Mayor Reed Gusciora called for a special meeting Friday to fill the vacant seat of ex-At-Large Councilman Santiago Rodriguez. It remains unclear how many of the six legislators plan to attend the meeting. The move comes a day after a judge sided with Council President McBride in a court battle waged by council members George Muschal and Joe Harrison. 'They gotta decide whether they want to do the responsible thing. They'll only not show up if they're chicken,' Gusciora told The Trentonian. It's expected Elvin Montero, one of Gusciora's chief advisors and a former council candidate who ran as part of a 'Fab Five' slate in 2018, is getting nominated for the seat if the meeting goes forward."

PROSECUTORS WILL TRY TO MAKE FINCH SING LIKE CANARY — " Fired cop indicted on charges he beat man, kneed him in face, lied about it ," by NJ Advance Media's Jeff Goldman: "A fired Paterson police officer has been indicted on charges he attacked and beat an agitated man in the hallway of a city apartment building and then fabricated a story to justify his actions. Spencer Finch, 45, of Mahwah faces charges of official misconduct, aggravated assault, tampering with public records perjury and a weapons offense, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday."

— " Will Toms River GOP war continue? County chair wants to broker peace "

—Snowflack: " The [Morris County[ clash over guns "

—" Remote meeting question raised in Upper Township "

—" Pricey units are going up in Newark. Expanded rule will require affordable ones too "

—" Passaic jail mistakenly releases two inmates, sparking manhunt. Here's how it played out "

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EVERYTHING ELSE

YOU CAN'T SPELL CONTRACT WITHOUT 'AC' — " Atlantic City casino contracts bring 4 years of labor peace ," by The AP's Wayne Parry: "Atlantic City casino workers are getting substantial raises and the gambling halls will enjoy four years of labor peace now that all nine casinos have reached new contracts with the industry's main employee union. On Thursday afternoon, the Golden Nugget reached agreement with Local 54 of the Unite Here union on a new contract, the last of the city's casinos to ink a deal. The agreement contains the same basic economic elements as those approved at the other eight casinos, including a $22 hourly rate for housekeeping employees in the fourth year of the contract."

—" NJ tops list of costliest rental markets, and the reality is worse than the numbers show "

—" Stressed NJ nurses, heroes amid pandemic, get mixed results in contract talks. Here's why "

—" NJ advocates say schools abuse students with disabilities. Here are their ideas for change "

—" USC, UCLA will receive full Big Ten revenue share before Rutgers: Here's why "

—" N.J. added jobs at a faster rate than most states over the past year, new report shows "

A message from NextEra Energy Transmission:

NextEra Energy didn't become the world's largest generator of wind and solar power overnight. We've been building and operating large-scale energy projects across North America for decades and powering New Jersey for nearly a quarter-century. Our first solar farm in the Garden State was built in West Deptford. Yet, our contributions have gone far deeper—from counseling local businesses on how to reach clean energy goals and operating battery storage facilities to providing dozens of solar sites on buildings from Cape May to High Point and working to help New Jersey reach its offshore wind goals. We know how to get big, complex projects done on time and on budget. We power homes, neighborhoods, and entire cities, all while putting customers first, prioritizing the environment, and working with local communities to create jobs and limit disruptions. NextEra Energy Transmission is committed to empowering a greener New Jersey.