News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Coughlicts of interest?

Friday, July 8, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: Coughlicts of interest?

Jul 08, 2022

Presented by Rise Light & Power

Good Thursday morning!

Colleen O'Dea and John Reitmeyer recently reported that the Union County and Middlesex County improvement authorities each got $20 million in funding in the budget. I'm sure you're aware of where Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin live.

The previously-unreported detail I can add here is that the law firm co-founded by Coughlin — one of the few politicians who has a real hand in crafting the budget — is general counsel for both of those authorities. In 2021 it was paid about $360,000 from the Middlesex one and $407,000 from the Union County one.

Coughlin's law firm started up five years ago, just as it became clear that he was in line to be speaker. Since then, its public sector billings have increased every year, from $1.8 million in 2017 to $6.6 million today. I suppose with that amount of public work it's inevitable you'll have situations like this, where the firm's getting money from public entities that one of the firm's named partners had a major hand in funding. I doubt this is the only public entity they represent that got money in the budget.

But at the very least, one could argue that this has the appearance of a conflict.

"Speaker Coughlin is proud to have sponsored this year's $50 billion budget, which included investments that will benefit millions of New Jerseyans and hundreds of localities throughout our state," Assembly Democratic spokesperson Gina Wilder said in a statement. "The Speaker routinely confers with counsel for any potential ethical questions, and we are confident there are no conflicts in this year's budget."

It might be a tough sell politically to raise lawmakers' salaries, but a full-time Legislature where members aren't allowed to hold other jobs is one way to avoid this type of thing.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 142

WHERE'S MURPHY? Italy

QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: ""I am not a conspiracy theorist, but nonetheless the coincidence of errors seems to be statistically impossible. Based upon the nature of this matter, I believe there is 'something rotten in Denmark.'" — Attorney Michael Hanafan, who represents Sussex County GOP commissioner candidate Bill Hayden in a defamation lawsuit against county Democrats, in a letter to judge William McGovern III.

QUOTE OF THE DAY #2 : "I cannot ignore Mr. Hanifan's misquotation of Marcellus' famous line, 'Something is rotten in the State of Denmark,' … Plaintiff's counsel's letter reminds me of a more appropriate line, also from Hamlet. Specifically, 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks,' as stated by Queen Gertrude in Act 3, Scene 2.'" — Attorney Christine Stripp in a response letter to McGovern

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Brian Bergen, Mercury's Mo Butler, Washington Post's Naomi Nix. Saturday for Ocean Dems' Ken Bank, NJBAC's Melanie Willoughby, Bergen County's Christian Sforza, former Rep. Scott Garrett. Sunday for POLITICO's John Appezzatto, Plainsboro Committeeman David Bander, WSJ's Heather Haddon, Porzio's Beau Huch, 12th District staffer Synnove Bakke, friend Margaret Morgan, former assemblymember Jack Conners

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

A message from Rise Light & Power:

The Clear Choice for NJ Clean Energy — What would advance New Jersey as a national leader in the fight against climate change and repurpose a decades-old brownfield? Transforming the site of a former coal plant into a gateway for offshore wind with strong community support. That's the Outerbridge Renewable Connector , an "extension cord" connecting clean offshore wind energy to New Jersey's power grid.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

BOAT CHECKS STILL FLOATING — New Jersey municipalities wasting 'many millions' on improper sick leave payouts, watchdog group says, by POLITICO's Carly Sitrin: New Jersey municipalities have wasted and are continuing to waste "many millions" of taxpayer dollars on improper sick leave payouts to public employees, according to a damning new report from the state comptroller's office. Of the 60 municipalities, the Office of the State Comptroller investigated, 57 of them, or 95 percent, are currently violating or have policies that will violate state laws that were enacted "to protect taxpayers from wasteful and abusive sick leave payments …

Investigators found examples of sick leave payments being permitted annually instead of just at retirement, municipalities simply not imposing the mandated $15,000 cap on sick leave payments, and policies and contracts that blatantly disregarded the state's sick leave reform laws instituted in 2007 and expanded in 2010. While the report does not offer an accounting of how much money is estimated to have been wasted, the investigators cite the borough of Palisades Park in Bergen County as one example. According to the report, the local business administrator there collected unlawful sick leave payouts of nearly $10,000 in 2018 and 2019 and was entitled to a $360,000 payout when he retired — including $160,000 in unlawful sick and vacation leave payouts. That's just for one employee in one municipality, but Walsh said there are potentially hundreds if not thousands of similar examples across the state.

'FAIR LABOR' JUST TOO MUCH TO ASK — "Newark Airport deal for $432M Amazon air hub collapses," by The Record's Daniel Munoz: "Amazon and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have walked away from a controversial $432 million air freight hub proposed for Newark Liberty International Airport. Without specifying what led to the breakdown, the Port Authority, which owns the airport, announced in an emailed statement Thursday that the two sides were parting ways after almost a year of talks. 'Unfortunately, the Port Authority and Amazon have been unable to reach an agreement on final lease terms and mutually concluded that further negotiations will not resolve the outstanding issues,' Port Authority Chief Operating Officer Huntley Lawrence said in the statement … [S]ome labor groups and environmental advocates have been sharply critical of the deal, citing what they call Amazon's poor record on worker safety and warning of increased pollution for nearby neighborhoods. After the Port Authority's June board meeting, board Chairman Kevin O'Toole told reporters that the agency was pushing for guarantees of 'fair labor' practices at the hub, but did not elaborate further. It's not clear what role these conditions played in the deal collapsing."

THE GUNDEN STATE — " Gun owners sue to overturn N.J.'s assault weapons ban," by New Jersey Monitor's Dana DiFilippo: "A group representing over a million New Jersey gun owners has sued New Jersey law enforcement officials in federal court to overturn the state's ban on semiautomatic firearms and assault weapons. The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs Inc. filed the complaint Friday, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Maryland to reconsider a similar ban there in light of its ruling declaring a constitutional right to carry handguns in public. Scott Bach, who heads the association, hopes the Maryland remand means New Jersey's 32-year-old ban will fall too — like its 'justifiable need' requirement did after the U.S. Supreme Court last month relied on the Second Amendment to overturn a concealed carry regulation in New York. 'We've been waiting decades for this moment,' Bach said."

—"N.J. gun laws face new legal challenges after Supreme Court strikes down concealed carry law"

—"Justice Barry Albin — 'the common sense jurist' — steps down from N.J. Supreme Court"

—" Legislators want non-disparagement provisions barred in discrimination cases"

—"DeCroce ready to run again"

—"N.J. is now an abortion safe haven for those from other states. Here's what that means"

—Opinion: " New Jersey can play a pivotal role in providing abortions for women in other states"

—"Medical marijuana is now tax-free for New Jersey patients "

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.

BIDEN TIME

NO SLEEP IN BEDMINSTER — "Anti-Trump group uses cable ads to tweak ex-president staying at his N.J. golf club," by NJ Advance Media's Jonathan D. Salant: "Residents living in and around Bedminster will begin seeing an ad proclaiming how Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has stolen Donald Trump's thunder. The ad is aimed at one person: the former president. "We've got this thing we call the audience of one, basically getting into Trump's head," said Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Republican group. The ads will run on Fox News and the Golf Channel while Trump is spending the warmer months at his Bedminster golf club"

—" Sen. Booker among lawmakers calling on Biden to end federal ban on cannabis"

—" Picatinny Arsenal's contamination may be larger than previously known, report shows"

A message from Rise Light & Power:

LOCAL

POWER HOARDING DISORDER? — "George Gilmore wins race for Ocean GOP Chairman by 7 votes ," by New Jersey Globe's George Christopher and David Wildstein : "George Gilmore will return to the helm of the state's most powerful Republican organization, winning back his job as Ocean County Republican Chairman by seven votes, 330 to 323, a 50.5%-49.5% margin against Sheriff Michael Mastronardy. Gilmore had sought return to the post he held from 1996 to 2019 before a conviction on federal tax-related charges triggered his resignation. Frank B. Holman III, who succeeded Gilmore in 2019, endorsed Mastronardy, along with all five county commissioners and the Ocean Republican legislative delegation. Gilmore received a pardon from President Donald Trump before he served any jail time and has since become a thorn in the side of the Ocean County Republican establishment, backing challengers to local Republican incumbents and fundraising for a rival Republican organization."

IN UNRELATED NEWS, I'M SUDDENLY FEELING VERY SPIRITUAL — "Lawsuit may slow vacant church in Hunterdon becoming marijuana farm," by MyCentralJersey's Mike Deak: "A lawsuit has been filed alleging that the Hunterdon County Health Department's approval of a septic system for a proposed marijuana cultivation facility was invalid because a report on the system made "false representations." The suit, filed by WoodMeier Farms on Rock Road West, also names Green Medicine NJ and GMNJ Properties, which want to convert a vacant church at the intersection of Rock Road West and Route 518 into the cultivation facility. The lawsuit, filed June 30 in Superior Court in Hunterdon County, comes as the township's Planning Board has scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. July 14 at South Hunterdon High School to continue a public hearing on the plan for the facility, which has drawn vocal community opposition"

FERRY FOLLIES — "N.J. ferry war moves to court after NY Waterway sues to keep running Shore service," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higg s: "NY Waterway filed a lawsuit this week against Monmouth County and a rival ferry company that was recently awarded a lucrative contract for a route to New York as the fight over the lucrative commuter service from the Jersey Shore escalated. Named in the suit filed Wednesday were the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, the county and SeaStreak LLC, which awarded the contract last month for the Belford-to-New York ferry service. NY Waterway has run that route since 1999 from a county-owned ferry terminal in the Belford section of Middletown.The suit seeks a temporary court order blocking the county from implementing the contract awarded to SeaStreak on June 21 by the board of commissioners."

POLITICAL MUSCHAL — "Muschal, facing censure, called on to resign over ex-Trenton police director's claims," by The Trentonian's Isaac Avilucea: "In the twilight of his career in public service, South Ward Councilman George Muschal faces calls from political rivals to resign over allegations that he used his "power and influence" as an elected official to interfere with the management of Trenton Police. The retired Trenton cop, who has been under attack for weeks, is also accused of wielding his position to "obtain courtesy" from cops who responded last summer to a neighbor's residence for an alleged break-in, according to the resolution sponsored by West Ward Councilwoman Robin Vaughn … The resolution says it's in the "best interests" of Trentonians for Muschal to step aside. He has been in office since 2009, when he won a special election to fill the unexpired term of Jim Costin, who resigned for a pastoral position in Waco, Texas. Muschal was not available for a phone interview Thursday afternoon, ahead of the impending vote. However, his wife, Theresa, had choice words for Council President Kathy McBride and Vaughn, promising an explosive showdown at the meeting."

— @IsaacAvilucea : "Muschal censure fails in a 3-3 tie."

—"Clark Township agrees to pay $825K to settle two lawsuits against embattled police department"

—"Massive [West Windsor] warehouse project approved but faces more scrutiny"

— " New Jersey gives Long Branch $500K to prevent pop-up parties"

—"Are South Jersey inmates being shipped to Hudson County?"

—"Zisa wins re-election in a 2-1 blowout"

—" Hoboken Yard, municipal budget and 20-mph speed limit all approved by Hoboken City Council"

—"Hoboken council allows HCIA to consider acquiring Poggi Press site for municipal complex"

INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.

EVERYTHING ELSE

TIRED: COMPLAINING THAT TWITTER IS SHADOW BANNING YOU. WIRED: TRYING TO GET LIBRARIANS ARRESTED FOR BOOKS — "With rising book bans, librarians have come under attack ," by The New York Times' Elizabeth A. Harris And Alexandra Alter: "Martha Hickson, a high school librarian in Annandale, N.J., heard last fall that some parents were going to call for her library to ban certain books … A parent stood up and denounced two books, 'Lawn Boy' and 'Gender Queer,' calling them pornographic. Both books, award winners with L.G.B.T.Q. characters and frank depictions of sex, have been challenged around the country and were available at the North Hunterdon High School library. Then the woman called out Ms. Hickson, who is the librarian there, by name, for allowing her 16-year-old son to check out the books. 'This amounts to an effort to groom our kids to make them more willing to participate in the heinous acts described in these books,' said the parent, Gina DeLusant, according to a video recording of the meeting. 'It grooms them to accept the inappropriate advances of an adult.' … Ms. Hickson's district in New Jersey, a complaint was made to the Clinton Township Police Department about obscene materials in a library book. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office said none of the information it received indicated criminal conduct"

GEORGE III POISED TO TAKE OVER REPUBLIC — " Appeals court backs Republic rebels, clears new board majority to take over bank," by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Joseph N. DiStefano: "Investors in Republic First Bancorp Inc. who oppose chief executive Vernon Hill's expansion plans on Wednesday cheered an appeals court ruling that favored a rival board faction led by Hill's predecessor, Harry Madonna, in a fight for control of the 33-branch, Philadelphia-based bank. The decision by a three-judge Third Circuit federal appeals court panel in Philadelphia overturns Judge Paul Diamond's actions, which had kept Hill in power with the support of just two other directors on the seven-member board and called for an appointed custodian to set up elections that could settle a board fight between the two groups … Madonna supporters include Cooper Health chairman, insurance executive and Democratic Party leader George Norcross, a leader of a group that owns nearly 10% of the bank, and Greg Braca, a former TD Bank executive and potential Hill replacement."

—"NJ home schooling spikes sharply amid COVID-19 pandemic"

—"Former N.J. priest indicted for sexual assault dies by suicide after shooting 3, killing 1 in Ecuador"

—" Dog rescued after swimming more than a mile into Raritan Bay during firework display'

—"'I'll probably break down and cry.' Moving Wall memorial arrives in Randolph "

A message from Rise Light & Power:

The Outerbridge Renewable Connector (Outerbridge) – a proposal before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities – would enable the state to harness offshore wind energy by repurposing an abandoned brownfield, revitalizing an industrial-zoned waterfront, and supporting the local and state economy without impacting our beaches.

Outerbridge, proposed by Rise Light & Power, would be an underground electrical transmission project functioning as an "extension cord" and connecting energy generated by offshore wind farms to New Jersey's power grid. Outerbridge would support New Jersey's economic growth and resilience strategy. It is projected to deliver clean energy to 1.4 million homes and generate more than $1 billion in economic activity.

The project would minimize community disruption, protect environmentally sensitive areas and repurpose the past to power the future. Outerbridge would play a key role addressing the health and economic dangers of climate change while protecting the Jersey Shore we know and love.