Insider NJ Key Must-Read Pieces: Deep Freeze Week – Booker’s Prez Flameout, Murphy’s SOS/Budget Unfreeze, NJEDA Report, Keady Withdrawal
From the Statehouse to Monmouth County, from Teaneck to Jersey City, from CD2 to CD4, here are the Insider NJ key must-read pieces from the past week:
Move Over Larry Casha? Becchi’s CD-11 Gamble
Rosemary Becchi is moving – not her home, her congressional district.
Raia’s Prosecutors Got No Satisfaction
Hoboken’s Frank Raia is well known for his stepping up to the microphone to sing The Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ on his birthday every year.
Sweeney to Murphy on Frozen Funds: ‘It’s About Time!’
Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) issued the following statement today in response to the release of funds “frozen” by the Murphy Administration for six months: “It’s about time!’
Booker Suspends his 2020 Presidential Campaign
“I will carry this fight forward — I just won’t be doing it as a candidate for president this year”.
The Cory Booker President to Senate Pivot
Cory Booker certainly knows how to pivot.
Currie Keeping His Powder Dry on Prez Politics (for Now)
“We will have a better idea where we’re going after March,” Currie said.
Hudson Dems will Wait and See about Presidential Candidates
“Whoever is the Democratic candidate, we’re going to have to come together behind that person,” Tom DeGise said. “Nearly all of the Democratic candidate are better than the person who is in the White House now.”
Juliano Working for ‘Consensus’ in Booker Prez Aftermath
New Jersey establishment Democrats – Juliano among them – were lined up behind Booker. Now what?
Muller Installed as Bloomberg’s NJ State Campaign Director
Veteran Democratic Party operative Michael Muller will serve as state director in New Jersey for the presidential campaign of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Governor Phil Murphy’s Tax Incentive Task Force submits this second report pursuant to its mandate issued in Executive Order No. 52. The report is the result of dozens of interviews and the review of thousands of documents related to the state’s tax incentive programs, which expired in July.
Breaking Down the Task Force’s Latest EDA Report
Is there anything better than “fake” money? Probably not. And it’s that concept that seems to be front and center in a report released this week by the task force examining the state’s tax incentive program.
Insider NJ’s Who’s Up and Who’s Down: Week of Murphy’s State of the State
See where the players stand over the past week in Jersey politics.
Jersey City as a Star Wars Movie
The confrontation over whether or not the city council should put a referendum on the ballot for an appointed school board seems almost like a scene from a Star Wars movie, where instead of having an evil emperor seeking to take control of the universe, critics depict Mayor Steven Fulop as doing so.
Being Levine: Somerset GOP Freeholder Hopes to Withstand the Wave
Seeking total dominion of the freeholder board and of county government, Democrats have not planned a lone Viking funeral for incumbent Brian Levine but rather a side-by-side political dumptrucking of him with his running mate, fellow Republican Freeholder Brian Gallagher, to achieve a 5-0 D to R washout.
Murphy: ‘I Don’t Wake Up Every Morning Reflexively Trying To Figure Out Ways To Tax People’
On the heels of his 2020 State of the State address, Governor Murphy struck back at criticism that looks for ways to tax the residents of New Jersey, during a Q and A with reporters following the launch of his Jobs NJ initiative.
Murphy: ‘I’m Not Giving Up the Fight for a Millionaire’s Tax’
Governor Murphy Delivers State of the State Address : “Building a New Jersey that Works for Every Family”
Murphy’s Millionaire’s Tax Comment Brings Down the House
When Governor Phil Murphy made a reference to his not giving up on his pursuit of a millionaire’s tax, the same chamber that twice denied him went practically bonkers with applause.
Legislature Gives Sustained Standing Ovation to the Widow of Det. Seals
Laura Seals, widow of slain Jersey City Police Detective Joseph Seals, this afternoon received a standing ovation from a joint congregation of the New Jersey Legislature at the urging of Governor Phil Murphy as he prepared to deliver his State of the State.
Lagana Loses Judiciary after Caucus Scrap
Mild pushing and shoving in the senate caucus resulted in state Senator Joe Lagana (D-38) getting tossed off the Senate Judiciary Committee and the loss of leadership money.
The Land’s Highest Court Wades into Bridgegate
Bridget Kelly stood in the rain and said she was honored that her case – a case about a traffic jam in New Jersey – had made it all the way to the majestic setting of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Christie in Attendance at Supreme Court Bridgegate Hearing
In a “you can’t believe it moment,” the former governor was sitting in the courtroom today as the Supreme Court heard an appeal of Bridget Kelly’s conviction in the Bridgegate scandal.
Supreme Court will Overturn – but not Vindicate
I know, it’s hazardous to predict how the U.S. Supreme Court is going to rule after hearing the arguments, but when it comes to Bridgegate, I’m going to make an exception.
Keady Tries to Defend Himself at Wall Candidates’ Forum
Wall Twp. Democrats hosted a forum tonight for the candidates in CD-4 and it fast turned into a challenging scene for Jim Keady, a progressive male running as a Bernie Sanders-style option for primary voters.
CD4 Flashpoint: Democratic Primary Candidate Jim Keady Drops Out
CD4 Democratic primary candidate Jim Keady has dropped out of race.
Republican Richter Fights Amid the Shifting Sands of CD-2
The Republican candidate said he intended to soldier on with his candidacy.
Testa Formally Endorses Van Drew for Re-Election
“President Trump has called upon all New Jersey Republicans to join him in supporting Congressman Jeff Van Drew for re-election and I’m proud to answer his call,” said Senator Michael Testa Jr.
Holman Endorses Van Drew for Re-Election
“I wholeheartedly believe that Congressman Van Drew is the best candidate to keep the Second Congressional District in Republican control.
Cornavaca Responds to Sunday Star-Ledger Editorial
Denying a woman her voice happens all too often in New Jersey politics. Shame on the editorial board for further denying us our voices while feigning to defend us.
Mimms Withdraws Freeholder Intent, Backs Incumbents
Paterson At-Large Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms will not run for Passaic County freeholder this year.
Mayor Hameeduddin Will Not Run for Re-Election in Teaneck
Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin announced today that he would not be a candidate for re-election after serving Teaneck for more than a decade.
Quinn Departing Assembly Majority Office
Veteran Statehouse hand Mickey Quinn, deputy executive director at the New Jersey General Assembly, is leaving his job in Trenton.
Senator Vin Gopal (D-11) today announced that he will be joining a bipartisan team of state legislators, to introduce first in the nation legislation creating unprecedented and long-needed oversight over harassment and discrimination in New Jersey campaigns and political parties.
Malinowski to Supporters: ‘Fasten Your Seatbelts’
“They are gunning for me,” he said at a campaign kickoff Sunday night.
Running for reelection this year in a battleground district, U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-7) today issued his endorsement for Joe Biden for President.
Codey Announces Support for Joe Biden for President
Former Governor and current State Senator Richard J. Codey today announced his support of Vice President Joe Biden for President.
Carveouts, Loopholes, Half Measures, a Trenton Specialty
It was Lame Duck 2005- 2006 and the lefty blog-site BlueJersey was in full flight. I was their newly installed state house correspondent with ambition and naivety to burn.
The Week in NJ Politics, a Friday Potpourri
Before we jump into Friday’s two-part politics potpourri, a hat-tip to the new crop of lawmakers sworn into office this week in Trenton.
Doubling Back on Bridgegate and the Dazzle of Arrogance
Now that the U. S., Supreme Court will decide whether to overturn the convictions of two officials in Gov. Christie’s administration for their roles in Bridgegate, the basic, simple question that has floated around since the 2013 scandal has yet to be answered: Why?
The (Full!) List of Bills Introduced in the 219th Legislative Session
See the full list of newly introduced or reintroduced bills.
Senate Committee Appointments For The 2020-2021 Legislative Session
Here are the Senate committee appointments for new session.
Here’s What Happened Under The Gold Dome On Monday (Last Day of the Legislative Session)
Here’s what happened on the last day of the 218th legislative session.
NJ Elected Official Short Circuits Room with Literary Reference
He somewhat softened the impact by quoting a politician quoting an ancient playwright, but Governor Phil Murphy risked losing his audience on Tuesday as he gingerly went out on a limb with a literary allusion.
Sweeney Decries Veto of School ‘Cap Relief’ Bill
“It is the height of hypocrisy for the Governor to play politics with the lives of schoolchildren by calling for passage of the millionaire’s tax when he knows — or should know — that not one penny from the millionaire’s tax could legally go to any of the Adjustment Aid districts that would have been helped by this legislation.”
Trouble in Paradise: Super Bowl Party Compromised by Joe D Moves
The results of this year’s state chair’s contest made for an apparent awkward game of musical chairs at the Democrats’ annual Super Bowl soiree in Puerto Rico.
Source: Sweeney Ally Reeling after Joe D. Endorsement
A South Jersey source, irritated by Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo’s endorsement of Governor Phil Murphy, couldn’t help but see it as a nail in the statewide Democratic Primary coffin of state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3).
Mehta Jeers at Booker as Senator Returns to NJ
“Cory Booker has been completely tone-deaf in terms of what issues are important to the nation,” said Mehta. “If he runs back to New Jersey after being absent for so many months, I’m sure he will find that the New Jersey electorate has moved on from him and his failed policies.
Last Monday afternoon, January 13, I interviewed New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in his office in Trenton. Prior to my departure from my home in Highland Park, I received a phone call from a friend and confidant, asking me the following question:
Will 1964 King “American Dream” Speech Echo in 2020 Democratic Debate on Capitalism?
On Feb. 5, 1964 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Drew University in Madison, N.J. to give an address entitled “The American Dream”.
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