| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Presented by AARP | Good Tuesday morning! State Sen. Sam Thompson: Conservative. Pro-gun. Anti-abortion rights. Democrat. By now, you’ve likely heard that Thompson, quickly losing support from his own party, has decided to run for reelection as a Democrat in 2023. State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), who’s been hanging out with some Republicans lately, invited him to the party. In fact, Thompson told a gaggle of reporters in Trenton yesterday that he planned to stop by the Old Bridge municipal building and change his registration that morning but was thwarted by the building’s closure for Lincoln's Birthday. Then Thompson unexpectedly leaned in to kiss New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo on the cheek, and it was, um, awkward. Despite the Louisiana-born Thompson’s conservative voting record, he always had a good rapport with Democrats, who at least early yesterday seemed ready to welcome him into their caucus. What do they have to lose? They get to pad their caucus by one for almost a year, getting back the 25-vote majority they had before the 2021 election, and will presumably have Thompson on board for some key votes. What are the odds that Thompson is reelected as a Democrat? First he has to get through the primary. And while he doesn’t exactly have progressive bona fides, Democratic candidates in that district are normally just doing their party a favor by being sacrificial lambs. So while it’s not a given, the idea of Thompson making it through a primary is realistic. Given the district’s makeup, Thompson is the heavy underdog in the general election. But Democrats will be happy to have someone on the ticket who might force Republicans to invest some of their limited resources in a district they would normally not have to worry about. That's money that might otherwise go into negative ads against, say, Gopal. TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. STAFF NEWS: It is with great sadness that I announce that POLITICO recently lost, or will lose, two great journalists. Our New Jersey editor John Appezzato retired earlier this month, and Carly Sitrin will be moving to Chalkbeat Philadelphia later this month. I did not drive them away. QUOTE OF THE DAY #1: “I consider [Senate Minority Leader Steve] Oroho to be an asshole. I went up to say goodbye to my colleagues, and he refused to let me.” — State Sen. Sam Thompson QUOTE OF THE DAY #2: “Our caucus has always supported all of its members, including Sen. Thompson. It's clear he made a unilateral decision to switch parties without talking to anyone from either side. This afternoon, Sen. Thompson became extremely agitated after he was denied entry to our budget committee pre-meeting in the Senate Republican caucus room. He didn't seem to understand that it was inappropriate for him to try to join us after he announced he had become a Democrat.” — Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho WHERE’S MURPHY? At a high school in Newark for a 1:15 p.m. announcement. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Dennis Culnan Sr., Rich Locklear, Jim Logue | | | | A message from AARP: Many family caregivers in New Jersey struggle to keep their older loved ones at home – and out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes – often sacrificing their jobs and tapping into their savings to make it work. Now increases in the cost of gas, food, and housing are making it even more difficult. We need to give family caregivers financial relief. Tell your state lawmakers to pass the Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021) now. We need it. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
STATE SEN. JOE VITALE (D-SICK BURN) — Casino industry absent from smoking hearing, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A legislative hearing on Monday about the future of smoking inside Atlantic City’s casinos had a key player absent — the casinos themselves. For nearly two hours, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee heard from casino workers, public health groups and business organizations on the proposal to ban casino smoking, largely echoing arguments that have been made over the past year as debate over the idea has increased. But no representatives from the casino industry — which has been adamantly opposed to the legislation to ban indoor smoking in casinos — testified. “I'm surprised that [the casino industry] didn't come themselves,” Committee Chair Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex), who has been among the strongest supporters of the bill, said after the hearing. “But you know, it's unpleasant to be embarrassed in a public setting.”
STATE SEN. BRIAN STACK OF NOMINEES — “It isn't just empty judge seats in NJ. Half of all nominees await Senate confirmation,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Being called on by the governor to serve New Jersey is the peak of public service for many. Whether it’s getting named to a board or commission, to serve as a judge or to lead an agency, nominees almost always say at their confirmation hearing it's an honor to serve. But that honor may be just in getting the nomination, because that’s as far as some go these days. Right now half of all of the nominations made during this legislative session, 161 of 332 people, are sitting in the purgatory of the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to an analysis by The Record and NorthJersey.com. The assignments range from judgeships to the State Board of Education to Fish and Wildlife to the Port Authority … Of those still pending, many of the nominations happened in the spring and summer of 2022 … There have been 332 nominees for various posts submitted to the Judiciary Committee so far during the 2022-23 legislative session. Of those, 162 have been interviewed and approved by the Senate, eight have been withdrawn and 161 remain pending. There is one State Board of Education nominee who was considered on Jan. 30.” DU. DU HAST. DU HAST MURPH. — “Murphy heading to Germany for global security conference,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matt Arco: “Gov. Phil Murphy is hitting the road again later this week. The governor will be in Germany for four days to attend the 59th Munich Security Conference, according to his schedule. He’ll leave Wednesday night and return to the Garden State Monday afternoon. The conference is an annual event meant to discuss international security policy and attracts hundreds of officials from across the globe, including dozens of heads of state. Murphy is slated to lead a panel discussion on the role local leaders can play on international issues, such as climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.”
| | | | 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. | | | | | JUST NOT AT HOME — New Jersey’s cannabis market is poised for growth, top official says, by POLITICO’s Caroline Petrow-Cohen: The state’s cannabis market is on the verge of expansion, the executive director of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission told lawmakers Monday. “I’m extremely proud of the ground we’ve covered and confident in the direction we’re going in New Jersey,” CRC director Jeff Brown said at an Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee meeting. “We’re setting New Jersey up to be a national model for the safe and sensible regulation of cannabis,” he said. —“New poll shows how N.J. residents want legal weed tax revenue spent” —“How Is Trenton reacting to Sam Thompson’s party switch? Cautiously” —“On celebrated Essex-Hudson Greenway, some feeling buyers’ remorse” R.I.P. — “Fran Bodine, former assemblyman who switched parties, dies at 87” —“Prohibition ended a century ago. When will our antiquated liquor license laws catch up? | Opinion” —Protesting 'marriage penalty,' NJ couples with disabilities will rally at Montclair State —“23-year-old school board member challenging Clifton, Sauickie in 12th District” —“Tackling shortcomings in NJ’s nonemergency medical transport”
| | BIDEN TIME | |
NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE ALLOWS ED DURR TO LIVE RENT-FREE IN SOUTH JERSEY DEMS’ HEADS — “N.J. congressman spent millions on a campaign he won by 32 points. His reason may surprise you,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant: “For years, Rep. Donald Norcross would call state Senate President Stephen Sweeney a few hours after the polls closed in state legislative elections to congratulate him on winning another term in Trenton. But in 2021, Sweeney told Norcross that the race was close. ‘Eh, you’ll be fine, Steve,’ Norcross recalled telling him. Sweeney wasn’t fine. Republican Edward Durr, a commercial truck driver, beat the powerful lawmaker in a shocking upset. Norcross admitted it spooked him. And he vowed that wouldn’t happen to him a year later. So he spent big — really big — on a campaign in which he faced nominal opposition in a congressional district mapmakers had made more friendly to Democrats. Recently released campaign finance records show Norcross wound up spending $3.5 million — his highest total of his five congressional campaigns, and more than the $2.6 million he spent in 2018 and 2020 combined. It was 277 times more than the $15,544 spent by his Republican opponent, retailer Claire Gustafson, who he defeated, 65%-33%, a slightly wider margin than in his race against her two years earlier.”
—“Senator Menendez stands with Ukrainian leaders for 1-year anniversary of Russian invasion” | | | | A message from AARP:   | | | | | LOCAL | |
ADRIANA KUCH — “After teen’s suicide, a New Jersey community grapples with bullying,” by The New York Times’ Michael Rothfeld and Christina Caron: “The attack, which her father has accused the school district of mishandling, and Adriana’s suicide have reverberated through Ocean County communities near the Jersey Shore and across the state. Public grieving and outrage have led officials to grapple anew with the prevalence of bullying in schools, how it affects children and the response — or lack of one — by administrators. In recent days, students have protested in front of Adriana’s high school, the superintendent of the Central Regional School District has resigned and four girls have been criminally charged in connection with the assault. ‘There is obviously a great deal of rightful anguish and emotion with Adriana’s passing, from her family, friends and within our community at large,’ said Carmen Amato, the mayor of Berkeley Township, in an email … Most children who are bullied do not take their own lives. And experts say the factors that lead to suicide are complicated and often cannot be traced to any single cause. But there is a strong correlation between bullying and suicidal thoughts as well as attempts, several studies have shown.”
—“Suicide of 14-year-old N.J. girl prompts state offices to urge kindness, help” CARRYING WATTERMAN — “Two Jersey City council allies break silence on Amy DeGise’s hit-and-run,” by The Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario: “Despite the harshest condemnation of the July 19, 2022 incident — DeGise struck a cyclist and never even slowed down — by her Team Fulop mates to date, Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh and City Council President Joyce Watterman said they will leave it up to the voters determine DeGise’s fate. ‘Obviously what she did was horrible,’ Saleh said Monday. ‘But it is up to her at this point to have the best redemption story of all time and become an advocate for safe streets and bicyclists.’ ‘Democracy isn’t a game of ‘Survivor’ where you can vote someone off the island if they do something bad.’ Speaking to the Journal Square Community Association Saturday, Watterman defended her decision to remain silent on DeGise, citing her own long-standing policy on fellow councilmembers’ misdeeds.” ICKY BLUE EYES — “A South Jersey school district has pulled Toni Morrison’s ‘Bluest Eye’ from its curriculum,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Melanie Burney: “For four years, students at Washington Township High School in Gloucester County read Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye in their freshman honors English class. That was until a parent objected in November ... that the book was sexually explicit and inappropriate for students, [and] the board directed its Reconsideration Committee to take up the matter. One freshman English teacher had finished teaching the book and another was midway through it.” | | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE 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. 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. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | |
IT WILL BE BUILT IN THE SHAPE OF A GIANT STOVE — “Kill plan for $180M gas-fired power plant, Newark mayor and 20 lawmakers implore Murphy,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas: “Put a halt to a proposed $180M gas-fired power plant, which would be the fourth in New Jersey’s largest city. That was the message sent to Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday in a letter from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and 20 Democratic legislators, adding a growing furor that has surrounded the proposal for years. The letter came ten months after dozens of health experts and environmental justice advocates gathered in Newark’s heavily industrialized Ironbound section to oppose the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission plan. The area where the project is proposed for, officials said, is home to Black, brown and low-income residents who already suffer from multiple sources of pollution that emanate from power plants, an international airport, nearby highways and heavy truck traffic that courses through residential neighborhoods.”
—“Former Yaede staffer rumored to be front-runner to challenge Hamilton Mayor” —“Treasurer stole $29K from N.J. youth baseball league, authorities say” —“[Nutley] investigating illegal dumping of petroleum product into N.J. stormwater system” —“Social security numbers exposed in N.J. school district data breach” —“Garfield superintendent, school board quietly part ways. Here are the details”
| | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
WHALES — “Dead whale washes ashore near Manasquan Inlet; 8th since December in NJ,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “A dead whale beached along New Jersey on Monday, the eighth to have died along or offshore of the state's coast since early December .… The whale's death is likely to reignite the ire of groups who are blaming offshore wind energy development for the strandings … The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, and local whale experts say there is no evidence that those activities have any role in the animals' deaths. The more likely causes are ship collisions and entanglements with fishing gear, which account for about 40% of humpback whale deaths, according to NOAA. Years before offshore wind companies began any work in the ocean, NOAA began recording "unusual mortality events" among North Atlantic right whales, minke and humpback whales in the Atlantic Ocean. On Sunday, another whale — an endangered North Atlantic right whale — stranded in Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to The Virginian-Pilot.”
PRIME SUSPECT CLEARED — “Amazon cleared of violations in deaths of 2 more NJ workers,” by Gothamist’s Karen Yi: “Federal safety investigators have cleared Amazon of workplace citations related to the deaths of two more New Jersey warehouse workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded its six-month investigation into both cases, finding “no hazards that contributed to the employees’ death,” according to OSHA spokesperson Lenore Uddyback-Fortson. In late July, a Robbinsville Amazon worker struck his head after falling off a 3-foot ladder. He died three days later. The following week, another worker at the Monroe Township facility died. Authorities didn’t describe the circumstances of that incident. Their deaths came less than two weeks after a worker in Carteret died during the retail giant’s Prime Day promotion. OSHA cleared Amazon in that incident last month.” | | | | A message from AARP: Every day, thousands of people in New Jersey care for their spouses, aging parents, or other loved ones – helping them live at home instead of costly nursing homes. This saves New Jersey – and taxpayers – money since nursing home care is mostly paid for by the state, through Medicaid; yet, family caregivers pay out of their own pockets. The average family caregiver spends 26% of their income on caregiving activities, assisting with everything from bathing and dressing to medical appointments and transportation – often while juggling a job too. With inflation making everything more expensive, too many families are struggling to make it all work. That’s why we need state legislators to make family caregiving more affordable in New Jersey. The Caregiver’s Assistance Act (A1802/S2021) would provide a modest tax credit for families who take on caregiving expenses. It’s crucial financial relief that family caregivers have earned. Tell state 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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