News : Public contractor contributions declined. Don't expect that to last.

Friday, April 7, 2023

Public contractor contributions declined. Don't expect that to last.

Apr 07, 2023

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By Matt Friedman

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Good Friday morning!

Public contractor donations decreased about 15 percent between 2021 and 2022, according to a report by ELEC.

Do not expect that to last.

One lesser-noted (though not ignored) aspect of the newly signed “Elections Transparency Act” is the fact that it gutted New Jersey’s pay-to-play laws that prevented major contractors from donating more than $300 to politicians or political parties that could hold sway in deciding their contracts. Local ordinances that actually had teeth are gone. What’s more, the new law expands the “fair and open” loophole, (still) ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle told me. That means the pay-to-play restrictions that still are on the books won’t apply to a project so long as it’s advertised in a vaguely “fair and open” manner. For all intents and purposes, there really isn’t much of a pay-to-play law left in New Jersey.

But that’s not all! In addition to removing the pay-to-play restrictions, the new law triples campaign contribution limits: It doubles what was previously allowed and then adds a new category of “housekeeping” accounts that can take in half of the new contribution limits.

I usually try to avoid making predictions. But it’s hard to imagine that this won’t result in a lot more contractor money in New Jersey politics. Of course, you could argue that this isn’t a bad thing, since this money will be traceable, as opposed to hidden through networks of dark money groups and super PACs. We’ll see if the latter method of campaign finance loses any steam, but I’m skeptical.

Read ELEC’s latest report here.

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “To my own mistake, I was misled to believe that the slogan ‘WWG1WGA’ was a patriotic and military slogan.” — Republican 37th District state Senate candidate Robert Bedoya, who had the QAnon slogan on his business cards.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Storm Wyche, Rob Vivian, Bill Killion. Saturday for Michael Patrick Carroll, James Gee, Bob Yudin. Sunday for Cleopatra Tucker, Michael Egenton, Jonathan Atwood, Justin O’Leary, Bert Baron, Stephen Yellin

WHERE’S MURPHY? Puerto Rico

A message from Alibaba:

New Jersey businesses, like local beauty brand Nuria, are among thousands of American companies that sell their products to one billion consumers in China on Alibaba. These sales added $1.2 billion to the state’s GDP and supported over 10,000 jobs and $694 million in wages for New Jersey residents. “We’re very excited about the results we’re seeing in China,” said Josh Ghaim, CEO of Nuria. Learn more about Alibaba’s impact on the U.S. economy.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

ADMINISTRATION OFFERS LECTURERS TURNS IN BASKETBALL TEAM’S $12,400 POWER NAP MACHINE — “Possible Rutgers strike looms: ‘Important decisions’ to be made Sunday,” by Gothamist’s Karen Yi and Louis C. Hochman: “Rutgers University faculty unions said they “expect to have important decisions and plans to make together” Sunday night as they prepare for the possibility of a strike that could interrupt classes for a university that serves 67,000 students. The unions and administration faculty expected to continue bargaining through the weekend, leaders of three unions told their members in a notice on Thursday. ‘The coming days will be decisive for us,’ they wrote. “There has been some progress in bargaining in the last few days — a direct result of our members putting greater pressure on the administration — but we are still far apart on core demands, especially for grad workers, post-docs, and adjunct faculty … At the heart of the unions’ demands are increased pay and better job security for their most vulnerable members, including graduate workers who earn $30,000 per academic year, and part-time lecturers who must reapply for their jobs every semester, regardless of how long they’ve taught on campus.”

NOTHING IS ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK — “Wind Resistance: Dead whales are latest flashpoint in the 20-year battle over offshore wind farms in N.J.,” by NJ Advance Media’s Steven Rodas and Ted Sherman: “So what are the chances the recent whale strandings are due to offshore wind survey work? ‘From what we know, it seems very unlikely — and actually close to impossible — that these survey sounds would have lethal effects on whales,’ said Magnus Wahlberg, a professor from the University of Southern Denmark, who has studied bioacoustics for more than 20 years with a focus on aquatic animals including whales and seals. Although toothed whales use echolocation to navigate, the majority of whales to recently wash up dead on the New Jersey-New York coast are Baleen whales — known only to use sound for “vocalizations” that help them communicate or attract mates, Wahlberg and other scientists noted. In Denmark, home to more than 100 offshore wind farms, there has not been an increased reporting of whale strandings during construction and operation, Wahlberg said.”

BEER BEFORE LIQUOR — “Liquor license bill to get revamp after chilly reception from legislators,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “Murphy has sought to rewrite New Jersey’s Prohibition-era liquor laws to increase the number of liquor licenses used by bars and restaurants. Currently, those licenses are limited to one for every 3,000 residents in a municipality. A measure Johnson introduced in February would have phased those limits out over six years while also lifting brewery restrictions, among some other changes, but the legislation got a frosty reception from legislators and existing license holders who say they fear it would shave hundreds of thousands of dollars off the value of their licenses. Johnson’s pledge to split up his bill into smaller pieces came after Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) … said Tuesday that the initial proposal has little support in the Legislature … Johnson said he hopes to pass a bill before the end of June that would lift restrictions limiting the number of events breweries can hold each year and barring them from serving food.”

HOGAN IS SAWYER’S HERO — “Insurgent slate gets top position on Gloucester GOP primary ballot,” by New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox: “An off-the-line Republican slate received the top ballot position in Gloucester County’s ballot drawing today, a potentially important setback for the Gloucester GOP organization as it tries to tamp down an insurgency within its own ranks. Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer (R-Woolwich) and former Washington Township Councilman Christopher Del Borrello, running off-the-line for the State Senate in the 3rd and 4th legislative districts, will appear in Column A along with their affiliated Assembly and county-level candidates. Their party-backed opponents, led by State Sen. Ed Durr (R-Logan) and Gloucester County Commissioner Nick DeSilvio (R-Franklin), will be in Column B. The likely effect of the ballot drawing, which was performed by Democratic County Clerk James Hogan, is the nullification of the Gloucester GOP line’s power.”

DRPA — “Bridge agency faces damages for over-budget I-295 deal with Philly union contractor, court rules,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Joseph N. DiStefano: “The bridge is built, carrying over 50,000 vehicles a day over the Delaware River near Trenton. The cost was tens of millions more than initially planned. But the damages are still to be counted, a three-judge appeals panel of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled Thursday. The two-state agency that controls most road crossings of the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey had ‘no authority’ when it set conditions favoring contractors using Philadelphia and Trenton labor unions as it sought bids for the bridge that carries I-295 over the Delaware River at Scudder Falls, the New Jersey appeals court ruled Thursday. The court sent the case to a lower court to determine how much the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge commission must pay George Harms Co., a Monmouth County, N.J.-based construction company, and members of a United Steel Workers construction local, who judges found were wrongly shut out of the job by illegal conditions the commissioner set for the job.”

NJ ACHIEVES STEAK SAUCE STATUS — “Moody's upgrades New Jersey to A1,” by The Bond Buyer’s Rich Saskal: “Moody's Investors Service upgraded New Jersey's issuer rating and general obligation bonds to A1 from A2 Thursday. The upgrade ‘incorporates a solid economic recovery, with job gains leading the region and driving employment above the state's pre-pandemic peak,’ Moody's said.”

WHEN DID WE BECOME SUCH AN UNFORGIVING PEOPLE? — Cruz-Perez: Barclay deserves a second chance, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman and Daniel Han: The top Democrat on the ticket said she supports her former running mate Arthur Barclay for Camden city council, despite his 2018 arrest on domestic violence charges. “People deserve a second chance in life. We cannot hold people accountable for the past mistake. Under no circumstances I justify these kind of actions or these kinds of activities, but people in life, in general — anybody — they make a mistake, they fall down, it's time for them to get up and move forward,” Sen. Nilsa Cruz Perez, who represents the city of Camden, told POLITICO. Barclay remained in the good graces of local Democratic leaders following his arrest. The charges were dropped when the victim did not show up to court. Last week, local Democrats backed him to run for council in Ward 1, virtually ensuring the resuscitation of his political career in the Democrat-dominated city.

—Snowflack: “The Bergen battlefield – in Morris”

—“Progressive slates will appear first on Camden, Hudson ballots”

—“N.J. spike in gun carry permit requests ‘significant,’ but full scope unclear, A.G. says”

—“New school data shows declines in test-taking, attendance, and behavior”

—“NJ finances looking better, latest reports suggest”

—“New law offers temporary reprieve for some customers with overdue water, sewer bills”

—“Is it bullying? Frustrated NJ parents often enter murky waters when school says it's not”

—“Port of NY and NJ is now busiest nationwide”

—“Are N.J. school administrators legally at fault for bullying tragedies? 2 lawyers say, ‘yes.’ | Opinion”

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

GOTTHEIMER —“GOP billionaire who funded Clarence Thomas's vacations has also given thousands of dollars to Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin,” by Insider’s Bryan Metzger: “A Republican megadonor has been secretly funding lavish vacations for Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, according to a new ProPublica report. But Texas billionaire Harlan Crow's largesse goes far beyond yacht trips and resort stays with the top conservative jurist. It also includes thousands of dollars in contributions to congressional Democrats known for bucking their party … According to federal campaign finance data, the Texas billionaire has given $16,800 to Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey since 2018, contributing thousands as recently as October 2022. Gottheimer, a member of the so-called ‘Unbreakable Nine’ of moderate Democrats who insisted on de-linking Build Back Better from the infrastructure bill, has at times been a thorn in the side of his party as well.”

—“Malinowski joins McCain Institute”

A message from Alibaba:

LOCAL

HACKS SACKED — “Recall elections once spiced up NJ politics. Why are they so rare now?” by The Record’s David M. Zimmer: “A report detailing New Jersey's history of recall elections shows no city has had more instances of voter regret than Hackensack. Over the state's more than 110-year history of recalls, 30 Hackensack officials have been targeted for removal after taking office, according to a new report from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Called ‘Recall Elections in New Jersey - Citizen Safety Valve or Empty Threat?’ the report is the 30th white paper released by the commission since 1988 … Since recall elections were established in 1911, only 80 have been held, according to the report …Though the residents of Hackensack have targeted more officials than any other for removal, they have only voted in seven recall elections. Records show 23 of the 30 targeted officials were able to withstand a recall movement, most recently a trio of school board candidates in 2012. Five were recalled.”

COMPUTERS ARE THE FUTURE — “Readington Township causes a stir by launching Facebook page,” by The Courier-Post’s Mike Deak: “Near the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, the township has launched a Facebook page. It's a small step for any person, business or group, but it is a giant step for Readington … The Township Committee's decision to hire a private firm to create and manage the Facebook page and end its contract with The Readington News, a monthly newspaper mailed for free to the township's 6,000 homes, caused a stir in the township with criticism of the cost and concerns that residents who do not have computers or smartphones will be missing vital information … The township paid the newspaper $10,450 a year for a full-page ad of township-provided information … The township has contracted with Point Consulting to create and maintain the Facebook page at an initial annual cost of $16,800.”

THE SALEM COUNTY WITCHER TRIALS — “Judge who accused N.J municipal court of bias against Latinos will return to the bench,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jackie Roman: “A New Jersey municipal court judge who raised concerns about discrimination against Latino defendants will return to the courtroom one month after he was removed from the bench pending a fitness evaluation. Municipal Court Judge Jason Witcher will be returning to active duty in South Jersey shortly, a state judiciary spokesman said Wednesday. … Witcher — a presiding municipal court judge for Millville, the Bridgeton/ Fairfield joint court, and the combined Penns Grove/ Carneys Point court — has been out of the courtroom since early March. He said at the time he was notified he would be barred from presiding over court proceedings until he received a fitness-for-duty clearance from a medical provider proving his ability to perform his job. State officials denied Witcher was suspended or removed from the bench at the time and did not provide any additional information.”

—“Where does the NJ AG’s Office stand on Passaic Prosecutor Camelia Valdes?”

—“PSE&G enters court fight to stop Burlington City seizing facilities”

—“Right to political expression at center of legal dispute in Passaic County school district”

—“Christ Hospital receives recommendation for nonprofit status after debate over details of new lease”

GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat.

EVERYTHING ELSE

PROBABLY ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA — “15-year-old girl will carry the cross as Jesus in Denville's Good Friday tradition,” by The Daily Record’s Jim Beckerman: “Everyone has their cross to bear. But Maddie Harmon of Parsippany will be bearing more than most. On Friday, a heavy wooden cross, 12 feet in length, will be dragged through Denville for a distance of more than 2 miles — an agonizing task for anyone, as it was for Jesus. But Maddie happens to be a 15-year-old girl. That's a departure for the Christian Drama School of New Jersey — which normally casts a boy in the Jesus role for its annual ‘Cross Carry,’ a Good Friday tradition for 23 years … Not that any one at the school was out to make a ‘statement.’ They simply had no boys, in this year's class, who were old and strong enough to shoulder the massive thing.”

WRITING ‘#SHHH’ ON TWITTER ESTABLISHES POSTER/READER CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTION — “Judge has to consider social media posts in re-sentencing of driver who killed woman,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jeff Goldman: “A man who last week finished a prison sentence for a causing a fatal crash in Hillsborough will be re-sentenced a second time following a ruling by an appeals court that said social media posts in which he bragged about driving more than 110 mph should have been considered. The social media posts were all made within three months before Sahil Kulgod was driving his Ford Focus 85 mph in a 35 mph zone before a crash that killed a 50-year-old married mother of three in January 2015 … A Twitter post a week before the crash said, ‘The number of times I’ve seen triple digit speeds is probably wayyy more than what my engineers had in mind . . . #shhh.’”

TALCUM POWDER CONSISTS OF FORMER HOBOKEN MAYOR PETER CAMMARANO’S GROUND-UP ENEMIES — “N.J. pharma giant proposes $9B talcum powder settlement. Critics call it a ‘sham deal,’” by The AP: “Johnson & Johnson is earmarking nearly $9 billion to cover allegations that its baby power containing talc caused cancer, more than quadrupling the amount that the company had previously set aside to pay for its potential liability. Under a proposal announced Tuesday, a J&J subsidiary will re-file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and seek court approval for a plan that would result in one of the largest product-liability settlements in U.S. history.

—“Thermo Fisher Scientific pulls plug on New Jersey biologics site, lays off 113”

A message from Alibaba:

Alibaba helps American businesses succeed globally. In 2022, $66 billion worth of U.S. products were sold on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, a nearly 10% increase over 2021. From household names to emerging small businesses, thousands of American companies sell products to over one billion consumers in China on Alibaba.

Read how American businesses are succeeding with Alibaba.