News: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: We're gonna keep this truckin' convoy from crossing into the left lane

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

POLITICO New Jersey Playbook: We're gonna keep this truckin' convoy from crossing into the left lane

Jul 05, 2022

Presented by Rise Light & Power

Good Wednesday morning!

The budget's been signed. The governor's going to Italy , livin' la dolce vita. And things are set to (hopefully) slow down for the summer, with the biggest scheduled event this week the Thursday mandatory retirement of Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin.

So allow me to take advantage of this slow time to highlight a bill involving slow trucks — something I mentioned on Twitter Friday that got a surprisingly large response.

As you've probably noticed on the Turnpike , big trucks are banned from the left lane. In fact, New Jersey law bars vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more from the left lane of any highway with three or more lanes in each direction. Under a bill (A4470) proposed by Assemblymembers Joe Egan and Wayne DeAngelo, that law would be expanded to bar trucks from the left lane even on two-lane highways, with some exceptions for obvious reasons. And it doubles penalties for this offense, which may cost some New Jersey drivers an entire minute of their lives — whatever minutes haven't been already shaved off by their daily Taylor Ham, egg and cheese consumption (OK, here I may be talking about myself, even though I'm technically no longer a New Jersey driver).

What I was most surprised about when reading this legislation was that it wasn't sponsored by state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth). Instead it's sponsored by what law librarian Eric Berg described as other members of the "You Know What Really Grinds My Gears?" caucus." But as soon as I tweeted that, O'Scanlon confirmed my instincts and signed on as a Senate sponsor.

We'll see if this bill actually advances. Given the Senate just voted 40-0 to shield New Jersey drivers from other states' speed and red light cameras, who knows? But one thing's clear: I spend too much time on Twitter.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 139

WHERE'S MURPHY? In Metuchen to sign gun control bills at 11:15 a.m. and tonight, per below, to Italy. Media: CNN at 7:45 a.m. and Instragram Live with Moms Demand Action at at 12:45 p.m.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "F-this-s-t!"— Seventeen-year-old Claudia Conway, daughter of Kellyann and George, at an Englewood pro-abortion rights March on Sunday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY —Moss Media's Kabir Moss, Murphy attorney Kate McDonnell, journalist Mark Mueller, Kim aide Ben Giovine, .

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

WHICH FULTON DID MORE TO REVOLUTIONIZE TRAVEL: BRENDA OR ROBERT? — "Controversial MVC chief Sue Fulton is out, headed to Veterans Administration post," by New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein: "Sue Fulton, the embattled chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, is leaving the Murphy administration today to take a post in the Biden administration, closing out a tumultuous 4 ½ years heading an agency that created liability for the governor in his re-election year. Gov Phil Murphy announced that he has named Latrecia "Trish" Littles-Floyd, a former New Jersey State Police lieutenant colonel, as acting chief administrator. Fulton is headed to the Biden administration to become assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. That is a consolation prize for Fulton, who had been nominated as assistant Secretary of Defense for manpower and reserve affairs in April 2021 but was unable to win confirmation by the U.S. Senate."

NOTORIOUSLY COURTEOUS NJ DRIVERS WILL INSTINCTIVELY KNOW WHAT TO DO — "N.J.'s 'safe passing' law to protect bikers, pedestrians faces education challenge," by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: "Summer is when people take to the streets on bikes, skateboards, scooters and on foot. But educating them and drivers on a recently enacted New Jersey law about how to pass them safely has gotten off to a slow start. The state Division of Highway Traffic Safety awarded a $78,342 grant to a cycling and pedestrian advocacy group to create the Safe Passing 4 NJ resource website and education program, which launched in May. But the division's own website didn't mention that website or link to it until last week … The new law was passed in August 2021 and took effect in March, requiring drivers to leave 4 feet between vehicles and people sharing the road on bicycles or on foot."

FAIRER AND LATER — Fund for undocumented immigrants excluded from budget, but Murphy 'committed' to get it up and running, by POLITICO's Daniel Han: A fund to provide direct payments for undocumented immigrants who file tax returns was not included in the fiscal year 2023 budget Gov. Phil Murphy signed Thursday, although the governor remains "committed" to starting up the program and may be able to do so without legislative approval. In March, Murphy proposed a $53 million fund to provide one-time payments for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number filers.

QUIJA-NO COMMENT — " Quijano entirely missing from spring legislative session," by New Jersey Globe's Joey Fox: "Assembly Majority Conference Leader Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth), Elizabeth's primary representative in the state legislature since 2008, was re-elected to a sixth full term last November. But during the legislature's entire spring session, she did not make a single appearance in committee or on the Assembly floor. Instead, Quijano has used aides as her voting proxies, gotten other assemblymembers to substitute for her in the two committees she sits on, or simply not voted at all. Quijano repeatedly declined to comment for this story, as did the Assembly Majority Office. The reason for her absence appears to largely be health issues, which are understandable and not uncommon in Trenton – but Quijano hasn't provided any actual explanation to the press or to the constituents who elected her."

YOU MUSK GIVE US A SUBSIDY — "NJ to lower electric vehicle incentive, wants to spread $35M among more buyers," by The Asbury Park Press' David M. Zimmer : "As New Jersey's electric vehicle incentive plan enters its next phase, the state's Board of Public Utilities wants a little more mileage out of its money. The state board's Charge Up program plans to reduce its maximum incentive for the 2023 fiscal year to $4,000 in an effort to 'allow the existing funding to go further and provide more incentives for EVs in New Jersey,' BPU records show. Most recently, the program provided residents up to $5,000 off the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission vehicles … Since its inception in 2019, the program has intermittently closed due to a lack of funding. That risk continues, said Jim Appleton of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, who said the funding may be gone by mid-September if BPU officials do not petition the Legislature for more money. The coalition, Tesla Inc. and others have claimed the $35 million in funding is inadequate given New Jersey's EV goals - even though the state's EV consumers pay no sales tax."

—Murphy signs abortion bills to counter restrictive out-of-state laws, says there's 'unfinished business' on access

—"Christmas in June. Dems added more than $2B to N.J. budget, including millions for pet projects"

—Platkin: " SCOTUS gun ruling undermines efforts to deter gun violence"

—Kelly: "Let's use power of government purchasing to improve gun safety "

—Mulshine: "Bill banning the release of driver information to other states is just the ticket"

—"Man waits 10 months for answers. Where is his $19K in unemployment benefits?"

—" A N.J. push to investigate health and education needs hidden within the term 'Asian American'"

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

—Moran: "The gloom and doom over the Supreme Court's climate ruling is overblown"

A message from Rise Light & Power:

LOCAL

MONMOUTH COMMISSIONERS DELIVER FOR CONSTITUENTS: LESS SERVICE AT HIGHER PRICE — " NY Waterway ferry vows to fight after Monmouth boots it from Belford in favor of Seastreak," by The Asbury Park Press' Katie Sobko: "On the verge of losing a route that it served for 20 years, NY Waterway officials said Thursday they plan to fight the decision by Monmouth County to award a contract to provide ferry service between Belford and New York to its competitor, Seastreak. Armand Pohan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of NY Waterway, said his company offered to provide more frequent service and cheaper tickets than Seastreak. But the bid was dismissed on what he said was a technicality … NY Waterway proposed 16 daily trips during weekdays — seven in the morning and nine in the evening — with a ticket price of $21.50 each way. Seastreak proposed 11 daily trips during weekdays — five in the morning and six in the evening — with a ticket price of $28 one way. Monmouth County officials, however, said NY Waterway's proposal was noncompliant because it didn't submit a Consent of Surety ... NY Waterway officials protested, saying it had a letter of credit from a bank instead of a bond that would prove its financial stability."

MCIVER CAN SOLVE FUTURE BUDGET DEFICITS WITH TWO PAPER CLIPS, SCOTCH TAPE AND A TRANSISTOR RADIO — " McIver Newark Council President," by InsiderNJ: "Councilwoman Lamonica McIver is Newark's new council president. The Ras Baraka ally assumed the seat of legislative power today at Newark's reorganization. The veteran McIver, councilwoman of Newark's Central Ward, became the favorite when Dupre 'DoItAll' Kelly defeated Chigozie Onyema for the West Ward seat."

KOCH OUT — " Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch retires, plans time with family," by The New Jersey Herald's Lori Comstock: "Francis Koch has undoubtedly been'"all in' when it came to vacations and family events with his wife and three children, but as Sussex County's top law enforcement officer, there have been quite a few times he's been pulled away for work. 'When that phone rang, I had to answer it, whether at the shore or Disney, you have to be able to handle it,' Koch said by phone this week. But Koch, while admitting the role of county prosecutor was taxing on both he and his family, says he feels a sense of pride walking away after serving eight years in the most rewarding job he's ever had. Koch, who was sworn in as Sussex County's prosecutor in June 2014 and has served 25 years in law enforcement, has retired, effective July 1. His final day was June 30."

THEY SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THE NAME TO A COUNTERFEIT SNEAKER COMPANY — "Plainfield dissolves PMUA, garbage and sewer services to be handled by city," by MyCentralJersey's Suzanne Russell : "The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) has been dissolved. The action stems from the City Council's adoption of two ordinances at a special meeting on June 30. The management of solid waste and sewer services will now transition to the city administration, the city announced in a statement on July 1. The newly formed solid waste and sewer utilities will be managed by the Department of Public Works, led by Director Oren. K. Dabney Sr. Last November after Mayor Adrian O. Mapp won another term in office he announced plans to change the PMUA in response to continuous complaints and pleas by residents and business owners about the agency. Mapp said the city could not in good faith stand aside and allow the accumulation of garbage around the city."

—"South Jersey Democrats lambast local gun resolutions"

—" Haddonfield school district plans to press charges against students who vandalized its stadium"

—" North Haledon sergeant breaks gender barrier in modest fashion, credits 'natural instinct'"

—"Jersey City BOE appoints Dr. Norma Fernandez new superintendent of schools"

—"Armed officers will be at all 15 Wayne schools next year. What parents, kids should expect"

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

WHAT WOULD JULY 4 BE WITHOUT PREDATORY CAPITALISM? — "Hard Rock deal ends casino strike threat in Atlantic City," by The AP's Wayne Parry: "Hard Rock casino reached agreement with Atlantic City's main casino workers' union Saturday, removing the last threat of a strike during the busy holiday weekend and clearing the way for the gambling halls and their workers to concentrate on bouncing back from financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic. Local 54 of the Unite Here union said it reached a tentative agreement with Hard Rock, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for 12:01 a.m. Sunday."

—" Nonprofit that saved NJ environmental school poised to take over — with $1M in funding"

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.