| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | Good Friday morning! There should be a rule on reporting about legislation. The more benign or well-meaning sounding its name, the more skeptical we should be about its intentions. The “Elections Transparency Act,” revived yesterday in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, is one example. While I reported on the gist of the planned amendments to it Wednesday, I sat in a committee room yesterday for a couple hours before an OLS staffer read summaries of the actual amendments into the record. This bill would completely overhaul New Jersey’s campaign finance system, double most contribution limits, allow state and party counties to seek even more contributions for “housekeeping accounts” and gut the state’s patchwork of state and local pay-to-play laws. It does have some pro-transparency aspects, like requiring the disclosure of donors to electioneering non-profit groups we typically refer to as “dark money organizations.” But it’s the latest changes to the legislation involving the structure and function of the Election Law Enforcement Commission that have really stood out. Changes to the bill last month — ones designed to oust ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle and defang the agency by putting a two-year statute of limitations on its ability to act on violations— derailed its progress in the Senate back then. Yesterday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee massaged the anti-Brindle provision, but it would still give the governor the ability to oust him by letting him make unilateral appointments to ELEC’s board. And that two-year statute of limitations remains in the bill. Shortly before the committee took up the latest version of the bill, Brindle sued Murphy and his three top staffers, claiming a conspiracy to get him out of the job, using an allegedly anti-gay email he sent as a pretext to go after him because he’s been an outspoken opponent of dark money in politics. Read about Brindle’s lawsuit here. TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If our University can be intimidated by the transient impulses of the mob mentality to disregard their own esteemed standards, what guarantee is there that the University will stand firm against those who would seek to undermine the Nation, or indeed, Humanity itself?” — Princeton student Larry Giberson in a 2020 letter protesting the removal of Woodrow Wilson’s name from the university’s school of public policy. Giberson was charged this week with civil disorder for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Christian Callegari, Jerry Cantrell. Sunday for Patrick Diegnan, Angelic Jimenez, Anjali Mehrotra. Missed yesterday: Philip Carchman WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE ANARCHY ACT — Controversial ‘Elections Transparency Act’ gets back on track, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Intense opposition and a lawsuit from the Election Law Enforcement Commission’s executive director could not stop the progress Thursday of the “Elections Transparency Act” — a controversial bill that would drastically overhaul New Jersey’s campaign finance system. The bill, NJ S2866 (22R), was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee by a vote of 7-3 with one abstention following a series of last-minute amendments that were derided by opponents as anything but transparent. Still, it’s not clear whether the legislation will have enough support to pass the full Senate at its next session on Monday. Changes to the bill that were designed to oust ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle over an allegedly anti-gay email he authored stalled its progress during a Senate session last month. The latest version of the legislation still includes what appears to be an attempt to oust Brindle, although less directly
NEW ‘LIBERTINE STATE PARK’ WILL FEATURE RED LIGHT DISTRICT AT CAVEN POINT — No large-scale development will happen at Liberty State Park, DEP says, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is preparing to unveil a three-part plan for Liberty State Park and break ground on some improvements this fall. The state plans to show off detailed renderings of its vision for the park next week. The head of DEP, Shawn LaTourette, pushed back against concerns that the park would be commercialized, as many conservationists have long feared. In a call with reporters on Thursday morning, he said the plans don’t include any large-scale developments, like a large community center, entertainment venue or track and field stadium. “Liberty State Park will never be a youth sports complex, Liberty State Park will be a park for the people that we will ensure is capable of meeting multiple ends,” LaTourette said. THE VIN NUMBER IS 100 MILLION — Legislative Democrats, governor's office within reach on deal to ease school aid cuts, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: Legislative Democrats and the governor’s office are within reach on a deal to lessen state aid cuts to school districts, according to three people familiar with the matter. The total relief could be up to $100 million, which would restore about two-thirds of cuts that districts would see under Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget plan, according to three people familiar with negotiations. A deal could be unveiled Friday and put on the legislative fast-track with the Senate preparing to vote on it Monday, two of the people familiar with the matter said, although the Senate may reconvene to vote on it later next week if needed. The Assembly is expected to vote on it later this month … Negotiations were underway all of Thursday. Senate Education Chair Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) — who represents a top battleground district in the November 2023 elections — reportedly played a key role in negotiating the partial restoration of aid. 20.1 MASTROS — “How Jersey Shore schools lost $188 million in school funding,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “Toms River School District has laid off scores of teachers. Asbury Park and Neptune have closed schools. Several districts say they have seen declines in academic achievement, blaming lost services … Analysis of state aid data by the Asbury Park Press shows Monmouth and Ocean Counties have lost $188 million in state aid over the last four budget cycles since Senate Bill 2, or S-2, upended how the state doles out public aid to schools. “When you see these dramatic cuts, especially this year, you have to question the equation,” said Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. ‘The attempt was to create greater fairness but this is a very complicated issue, one district doesn’t necessarily look like the next.’ While experts say Gov. Phil Murphy has been following the school funding formula “to the letter,” doing so has created intense disparities, sometimes even in the same town.” MICKEY FAILS TO BLOW GOP’S MIND — Durr challenger drops out, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: State Sen. Ed Durr appears to have a clear path to the Republican nomination for reelection. Durr’s challenger, Salem County Commissioner Mickey Ostrum, announced he’s pulling out of the race Thursday. It followed Durr’s endorsement by all three Republican organizations of the counties that make up the district: Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “I got in this because I truly feel I have value to offer as (a) senator from the district and to represent my county better, and we put it out there to the leadership of the party and all three involved counties and they didn’t see fit to endorse me,” Ostrum said. “I don’t see a clear path forward, so that’s why I made the decision I made.” GOVE BABY GONE — “Gove will not seek re-election to State Assembly,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove (R-Long Beach) will not seek re-election to the Ocean County seat she’s held since 2009 after losing party support for another term. ‘I’m disappointed, but it is what it is,’ Gove told the New Jersey Globe. ‘That’s the process. I’ve had a pretty good run.’ … The former public school teacher became a casualty of a change in party leadership. She had endorsed Michael Mastronardy for Ocean County GOP chairman last year — so did [Assemblymember Brian] Rumpf — while [Greg] Myhre supported the winner, George Gilmore. Still, Gove is disappointed by what will likely be an Ocean County legislative delegation entirely made up of men.” —“Rizzo improperly terminated campaign account during trial, FEC regulations show” —Democratic leadership non-committal on letting corporate tax surcharge expire —An economic downturn seems imminent after banks collapsed. And New Jersey is prepared this time, experts say —“NJ clergy push for state to let incarcerated people reduce burdensome debt while in prison” —Mulshine: “Phil Murphy’s ready to serve - even if it’s just drinks” —“The O’Toole Chronicles: Others will wear Ron Rice’s shoes, but nobody will ever fill them” —Port Authority says LaGuardia AirTrain is DOA after report scraps project
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WIND BRAKE — “Opponents of N.J. wind farms say whale deaths should put project on pause for further studies,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jason Nark: “They arrived at the beachfront parking lot early, holding up signs that showed burning wind turbines, sad whales, and caricatures of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. An acoustic song, ‘Save the Whales,’ blared while a line formed to get into the Wildwoods Convention Center for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s hearing: “‘An Examination Into Offshore Wind Industrialization’ … Van Drew and his hearing were denounced, ahead of time, by numerous state nonprofits, including the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, which accused the former longtime Democrat of abandoning constituents and flip-flopping ‘in order to align himself with MAGA Republicans and their friends in the fossil fuel industry.’ The 400-plus people inside the convention center Thursday afternoon treated Van Drew, a Republican who represents Atlantic and Cape May Counties, like a rock star, giving him a standing ovation as he took the stage. Most in the room wanted to pump the brakes on New Jersey’s plan to build a vast wind farm off the coast, or kill it outright. ‘This is the most profound transformation of the Atlantic Coast in the history of the United States,’ Van Drew said, repeating the line twice for dramatic effect.”
—Against the wind: Why Jeff Van Drew, co-chair of the wind caucus, is taking on the industry, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Environmentalists have accused Van Drew, who switched parties to become a Republican in 2019, of flip-flopping on wind issues given his past statements supporting the offshore wind industry and his co-chair position in the caucus, which was created two years ago to advance bipartisan solutions for the industry. Congressional caucuses are usually for people who support the thing the caucus is about. Van Drew rejects the criticism and said the offshore wind farms that are now planned aren’t what he signed up for. He traces his support for offshore wind back to a small-scale wind farm known as Fisherman’s Energy a decade ago. —“Former military college student from N.J. sentenced for actions during Jan. 6 riot” —“Hillary Clinton coming to Montclair State to speak at women’s history month celebration” | | LOCAL | |
PATERSON —“NJ school bus company in driver scandal just got new routes from Paterson district,” by The Record’s Joe Malinconico and Colleen Wilson: “The city school board is awarding three new student busing contracts to American Star Transportation, a company whose manager pleaded guilty 10 days ago to using unqualified drivers and operating unsafe vehicles. In addition to the guilty plea by manager Henry Rhodes, criminal charges are pending against American Star owner Jwel Khalique and his brother, Shelim Khalique. Paterson Public Schools’ new American Star contracts are worth $50,250 and cover three routes involving students from four city elementary schools and several day care programs, according to public documents. District officials said they are required under state law to award the contracts to American Star because the company bid the lowest price for the job and has not been disqualified by the state Education Department.”
FAIL CESARE! — “Trouble in Maplewood,” by InsiderNJ’s Fred Snowflack: “The suit by Gerald Giaimis, the ousted administrator, was filed last November, but has gained more prominence with the arrest this week of Cesare Riccardi, the township’s DPW superintendent … Officials in Maplewood …, were confronted last spring with a seemingly mundane project – fix a bathroom in the municipal building … Three bids were submitted for the job and according to the suit, Administrator Giaimis learned from the town engineer that all the bids were ‘abnormally high.’ … Not only that, something about the bids seemed fishy. The suit says that upon review, one individual submitted all three bids on a “single Microsoft document,” but “represented” to the township that each quote was from a separate company. DPW Supervisor Riccardi, the suit says, recommended the hiring of one of the bidders, 28 Sunrise Way, for $20,950. But that was only part of it. The suit says that the same pattern was detected with other public works projects totaling more than $100,000 … It was this activity that led to Riccardi’s arrest Monday on charges of second degree official misconduct by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.” EMBAR-RAS-SED BARAKA — “Mayor: ‘Daily Show,’ nj.com took cheap shots at Newark,” a letter to the editor by Ras Baraka: “We made a mistake, and we owned it. But it came from our commitment to partner with global cities for mutual enrichment, and we have sister cities in Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon and China, and most recently signed with Belize City and San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. Still, NJ Advance Media decided to make “news” out of this Kal Penn line: ‘There must have been so many red flags. The biggest one being that anyone wanted to be sister cities with Newark.’ It was a tired cliché and lazy poke at our city in front of a national audience. We would hope that nj.com, as a leading New Jersey media outlet, would have been as offended as we are” —“Lakewood's Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva to add 600 apartments for students, staff” —“[Belvidere] school district eyeing up to 10 staff cuts plus tax hike” —“Dead dolphin washes ashore at [Middletown] marina” —“Over half of Monmouth, Ocean nursing homes have COVID outbreaks; most staff unboosted” —“Candidates line up for county executive races” —“Video, 911 calls, released in fatal police shooting of Paterson’s Najee Seabrooks” —“He needed help but got a bullet, activists say. Rally demands takeover after police shooting” | | | | 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. | | | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
—“Are more N.J. colleges doomed to collapse? ‘These are very, very traumatic times,’ official says”
— “A Cherry Hill man who befriended Sam Bankman-Fried as a teen at math camp is central to the feds’ investigation of FTX” —“'If he's found guilty, I'm free:' NJ man yearns for conviction of ex-Cardinal McCarrick”
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