| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP New Jersey | Good Monday morning and happy Halloween! There's a lot of scary stuff going on in New Jersey politics. More than usual, even. The news of the latest scandal involving New Jersey's senior senator is still developing, and now we learn the feds have popped a major Democratic operative in New Jersey politics. Could we please just have one corruption scandal at a time? Tony Teixeira, chief of staff to Senate President Nick Scutari, resigned over the weekend and plans to plead guilty to federal tax violations. We know that the state was looking into tens of thousands of dollars in payments to Teixeira by former Democratic operative Sean Caddle, who has since pleaded guilty to federal charges of hiring hit men to murder an associate. We also know that Caddle is cooperating with the feds, who have been investigating his former network of PACs and dark money groups. And Caddle's sentencing last week was delayed for a third time — from early December to late March. I can't say whether Caddle's case is linked to Teixeira's upcoming guilty plea. But the confluence is impossible to ignore. (No word on whether Teixeira remains chair of the Democratic Party in Elizabeth, New Jerey's fourth largest city). So will this be the extent of it? Despite essentially admitting to killing someone, Caddle has been on house arrest for a year since striking the deal. Given that, it's hard to imagine that the feds would grant him that kind of leniency just to go after another operative on tax charges. The big question is whether Teixeira has cut his own deal and is cooperating with a wider probe. Here's what I can say: Caddle was just an operative. While he made money off the network he set up, he wasn't the only person involved and the money that flowed through it helped elect people to office. Operatives do things for the people that hired them. I've documented this stuff pretty extensively over the years . Perhaps most importantly here . DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE'S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 267 TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com WHERE'S MURPHY? — On "Ask Governor Murphy" at 7 p.m. on local NPR affiliates QUOTE OF THE DAY: "When we're on the table dealing, we're within a foot from the player, and when they blow smoke towards us, [we're] not allowed to turn around — we're just stuck there. We have millions of dollars in front of us at any given time, and we just have to suck in the smoke and it's really horrible." — Atlantic City casino dealer Pete Naccarelli HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Ralph Caputo, Workers' comp judge Joann Downey, former Bergen Freeholder John Driscoll, Menendez spox Jennifer Morrill, Woodbridge Dem Chair Tish Coughlin, Stanley COS Rob Zuckerman. HAPPY DEATHDAY — All the ghosts and ghouls (I mean actual ghouls, not the former punk band fronted by the congressional candidate). | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist older loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. That's a huge burden. But NJ lawmakers can give family caregivers the relief they need by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021). | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
MUOIO MONEY MUOIO PROBLEMS — 'Patently erroneous': Muoio disputes GOP claims Treasury wasn't transparent about public workers' health insurance , by POLITICO's Daniel Han: State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio is pushing back against what she called "patently erroneous" claims from Republican lawmakers that her department was not transparent during the budget process about increased costs associated with the public workers' health insurance program.
In a strongly-worded letter to GOP lawmakers , Muoio said Treasury provided "thousands of pages of information and responses to hundreds of questions" during the budget process — responses she said were to inquiries about the State Health Benefits Program. "We think you will agree, after reviewing this information, that any claims about a lack of transparency are patently erroneous," Muoio wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO. EVEN THE NJ ASSEMBLY HAS A GUARDIAN — " Thousands of NJ residents are in court-ordered guardianships. Some fight to get rights back ," by News 12's Walt Kane: "More than 36,000 people in New Jersey live under court-ordered guardianships, essentially losing many or most of their rights, a Kane In Your Corner investigation finds. Some say the guardianships were unnecessary and imposed against their will. But terminating a guardianship can be difficult and costly. ... "New Jersey has no diagnostic standards to determine if a person lacks capacity, according to state judiciary spokesperson, Peter McAleer. Instead, it 'requires courts to determine the functional capacity of the individual, regardless of their diagnosis.' In other words, if a judge says someone needs a guardian, then they do. The National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse says guardianships may be necessary in some cases, but are too easily abused, given the consequences." —" New bill could give power back to NJ cops to talk to rowdy teens " —Mulshine: " New Jersey Democrats are under the gun on the Second Amendment " —" N.J. regulators approve the first round of licenses for new recreational weed companies " —" N.J. residents support climate change defenses but don't want to pay for them, new poll finds " —" Platkin announces robust plan to represent interest of voters, combat election irregularities and fraud | | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
MENENDEZ INSISTS HIS CONDUCT WAS KOSHER. BUT WAS IT HALAL? — " Menendez inquiry said to involve company that certifies halal meat ," by The New York Times' Tracey Tully, Benjamin Weiser and William K. Rashbaum: "For years, at least four companies in the United States were authorized by the Egyptian government to verify that halal meat exported for sale to the country's 90 million Muslims had been prepared according to Islamic law. Then, in April 2019, Egyptian officials made an abrupt pivot, U.S. Department of Agriculture documents show. All halal certifications would instead be done by a single company: IS EG Halal, a New Jersey start-up that had begun operations that same month and had no known experience in halal certification, according to the U.S.D.A.
"A report issued at the time by the U.S.D.A.'s Foreign Agriculture Service warned that the sudden change in policy could disrupt markets and drive up prices. Seven months later, F.B.I. agents working with prosecutors from the United States attorney's office for the Southern District of New York searched the offices of IS EG Halal and the home of its president, Wael Hana. They seized computers, cellphones, Mr. Hana's passport and 'every single piece of paper' in the company's Edgewater, N.J., headquarters, Mr. Hana's lawyer said in a 2020 court filing seeking return of his client's property. That search now appears to be linked to the investigation of Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the Democratic chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee." —" Bob Menendez makes first public appearance since news of federal investigation " —" Opinion: Menendez's federal probe, Murphy's discrimination suit " YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS ARE NOT YOUR ENEMIES — " Unforgivable 'The Hug' changed American politics. How a Chris Christie-Barack Obama greeting signaled the death of civility ," by NJ Advance Media's Adam Clark : "Republicans demonized Christie for working with Obama, turning 'The Hug' into a scarlet letter during his 2016 presidential bid — a black mark that some conservatives use against him to this day. And all that mockery amid the rising tide of Trumpism sent a dangerous message throughout the party, [University of Virginia presidential historian Barbara] Perry said. To hell with civility. To hell with bipartisanship. To hell with whatever you thought mattered. Don't. Play. Nice. With. The. Enemy. Ever. 'It says to the true believers in Trumpism … do not even shake hands with or be seen on the same stage or in the same photo with someone from the other party,' Perry said. "A decade later, NJ Advance Media interviewed Christie, Romney, Republican strategists and political experts, who say the legacy of 'The Hug' is complicated yet profound. Christie still gets grilled about 'The Hug' as he mulls a 2024 presidential run. Romney told NJ Advance Media he's long since moved on. And Obama — well, he wouldn't comment on what happened, maybe because Democrats never complained about it in the first place." — At Sandy commemoration, New Jersey Democrats recall GOP's unwillingness to help , by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Top New Jersey elected officials on Friday toured a quarter-billion-dollar flood control project meant to prevent some of the destruction seen a decade ago when Hurricane Sandy came ashore and damaged more than 700 homes in [Port Monmouth]. While the event had somber elements, there were also moments of partisan elbowing. Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, both Democrats, contrasted Republican opposition to post-Sandy spending with Democrats' willingness now to throw taxpayer money at Republican-led Florida after Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, devastated parts of that state last month. WHAT ABOUT BOB? — " Menendez probe provides last-minute surprise in sleepy House race in 8th District ," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Munoz: "The quiet race in New Jersey's 8th Congressional District got a jolt this week after reports revealed Sen. Bob Menendez is under federal investigation again. Menendez's son, Rob, is the candidate in that district — though with fewer than two weeks left until Election Day, a district that is overwhelmingly Democratic, and a Republican opponent who is not mounting a real campaign, the younger Menendez will likely be spared any immediate repercussions from a scandal involving his father, political observers say." —Moran: " Kean's team is lying again. He's the one with stock problems, not Malinowski —Steinberg: " No word from Tom Kean, Jr. on attempted murder of Paul Pelosi. Have you no sense of decency, Senator Kean? " — " Debate flashpoint: the second Gottheimer v. Pallotta rodeo " —" Rallying In Rahway, Malinowski says don't count him out just yet " —" Voter anger over abortion rights could be big wild card in N.J. and nation at Biden midterm " —" N.J. Rep. Andy Kim has to beat an ex-punk rocker turned yacht dealer to serve another term " —" Sandy survivors say U.S. disaster recovery system is 'broken.' Here's how they'd fix it " —" Pascrell says Republicans bear some blame for assault on Paul Pelosi " —" Where do I vote? Your NJ town may have been split into 2 districts " —" Day 1 of early voting in N.J. sees 26,658 votes cast in-person" | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
IF WE CAN'T COUNT POLITICAL SIGNS HOW DO WE KNOW WHO WILL WIN AN ELECTION? — " 'Like 42nd Street': Wayne mayor is taking very hard line on unsightly political signs ," by The Record's Philip DeVencentis: "Pumpkin pie, warm cider and a mishmash of political signs cluttering the right of way. It is fall once again, and Mayor Christopher Vergano just lost his appetite. He said he handed down explicit orders to the public works department to start plucking the pesky signs off of empty lots, grass medians and other places where they should not be — and that pretty much leaves your front lawn. 'It's totally out of hand,' he said. Some municipalities may overlook candidates staking campaign signs on government-owned properties, but not this one. 'We run a pretty tight ship,' the mayor said. They are 'ugly,' he added, and they 'do nothing for the community.' 'No voter lives on the island of Route 46,' Vergano said. 'The corner of Alps Road and Ratzer Road looked like 42nd Street until we had it cleaned up.'" PALISADES PARK — " How this North Jersey town is helping Asian immigrants navigate voting ," by The Record's Mary Chao: "Asians are the fastest-growing racial group in New Jersey, accounting for 10% of the Garden State's population of 9 million people. Yet despite their growing influence, it's a group that's least likely to vote. More than 20% of Asian Americans polled in 2020 by Insider, a global news publication, say they do not plan on voting, making Asians more likely than Black and Latino respondents to indicate they won't turn out … Understanding the importance of the vote, Kim has helped other immigrants from South Korea with the electoral process. [Peter] Kim and other naturalized citizens in Palisades Park assist their friends with questions, teaching them how to vote." —" [Mount Lauren] cop accused of hacking a woman's Facebook and Snapchat accounts to illegally post her nude photos " —" A decade after Sandy, devastated Meadowlands towns still adding defenses, still vulnerable " —" Lawsuit: Ex-Union City worker says she faced retaliation after reporting sexual harassment " —L.A. Parker: " Done deal — Fight to save aging city hospital looks over " —" Hawk inside [Toms River] library for days has apparently escaped " —" Westfield residents voice frustration over 'creepy' portrayal of town in Netflix's 'The Watcher' " | | | | DON'T MISS POLITICO'S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, "At a Crossroads: America's Defense Strategy" on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America's national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
R.I.P. — " Bruce Locklin, legendary Record investigative editor, dies at 84 ," by The Record's Mike Kelly: "In the post-Watergate era of the late-1970s and 1980s, as American journalism took on an increasingly watchdog role, political and business figures across New Jersey harbored an almost universal fear — that the phone would ring and The Record's chief investigative editor, Bruce Locklin, would be on the line. From political schemers to rule-bending law enforcement officials and all manner of mobsters, car dealers and stock traders in between, Locklin ran up a string of award-winning investigative reports that brought national acclaim to The Record and set exacting standards that still live at the newspaper. Award-winning Record investigative editor, Bruce Locklin. Locklin died Monday at his home in Cranbury, New Jersey. He was 84."
CLASS ACTION IN JACKSON — " Lawsuit argues Six Flags should pay employees for time in security screenings ," by The Courier-Post's Jim Walsh: "A class action lawsuit seeks a potential payment of more than $5 million for past and present employees of Six Flags Great Adventure. The suit contends hourly employees must be paid for time spent walking through the 510-acre park at the beginning and end of each workday. It says workers are required to go through a security screening at the Jackson park's main gate before walking to time clocks inside the park. They make the same walk in reverse at the end of a shift, signing out at the time clock and then walking to a second security screening. The practice violates New Jersey's wage and hours regulations, asserts attorney Richard Hayber, one of the lawyers who filed the suit Oct. 26 in Trenton federal court. He contends the workers also should be paid for time spent in security screenings." TURNS OUT THEY FOUND BIGFOOT'S NJ COUSIN, BIGHAIR — " The results of the latest New Jersey Bigfoot expedition ," by NJ 101.5's Joe Kelly: "They went, they searched, and they came up empty. Well, kinda. BFRO (Bigfoot Research Organization) organizers held a Northern New Jersey Bigfoot Expedition last week, searching for bigfoot in the Garden State. The 'hunt' happened October 20 - 23, with participants hoping to have some sort of sasquatch encounter. The result? Not as successful as was hoped. Larry Rippon, the organizer, says, 'We heard some odd sounds and found a potential print and hair.' No sightings, though. Rippon says he's glad they did what they did because 'You have to have boots on the ground or you'll never know what's out there.'" BAIL REFORM'S FAULT — " Why do people leave cars unlocked as thefts are on the rise in NJ? We try to find out ," by The Record's Liam Quinn: "Much has been made about the growing car theft problem in New Jersey, and the state is once again on pace to surpass its previous year total. But why are more cars being stolen? A big factor is a lack of owner responsibility … Local law enforcement figures have also emphasized that an effective way to avoid getting your car stolen is to make sure it's locked and that the key fob isn't left inside. It might sound like a no-brainer to many, but not everyone is following best practice. A high-profile example of this occurred in January, when an SUV belonging to former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci was stolen in Paramus because the vehicle had been left unlocked with a spare key fob in it. Fortunately for the Mooch, the car was recovered later that day." JERSEY MIKE'S TO THE RESCUE — " Shortage of subs adds to teacher stress ," by NJ Spotlight News' Bobby Brier: "New Jersey teachers continue to face stress and additional mental health challenges this school year after navigating the emotional toll of remote and hybrid learning brought on by the pandemic. And that stress placed on educators has been exacerbated by a statewide substitute teacher shortage that has added an additional burden for full-time teachers." | | | | A message from AARP New Jersey: Caring for a parent, spouse or other older loved one can be financially and emotionally draining. Every day, family caregivers struggle to assist loved ones often using money out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends about a quarter of their income on caregiving activities. Many take on debt or tap into savings to make sure their loved ones get the care they need. That's a huge burden. And their sacrifices save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of costly nursing home facilities. New Jersey family caregivers provide more than $13 billion a year in unpaid care. It's past time to give them some financial relief. NJ lawmakers can take action by supporting the Caregiver's Assistance Act (A1802/S2021). This bill would provide a modest tax credit for family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Tell lawmakers: support (A1802/S2021). | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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