“This past weekend, I had the unique opportunity to go one-on-one with NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney in an in-depth half-hour special on State of Affairs with Steve Adubato, taped at the NJTV studios in Newark.  We explored New Jersey’s very challenging fiscal problems and Senate President Sweeney’s opposition to the millionaires tax proposed by NJ Governor Phil Murphy.  Conversely, Senate President Sweeney has proposed a “corporate tax”, which he believes will bring in much-needed revenue to our state.

Senate President Sweeney and I also talked about the issue of legalizing marijuana, as well as the economic impact and the social and medical concerns some have with legalization.  Finally, we addressed our state’s nagging public employee pension crisis and Senate President Sweeney’s 2011 effort with then Governor Chris Christie to tackle the pension issue which, while laudable, has fallen short on its execution. Simply put, there is a massive pension problem for public employees whose retirement security may now be in question. But this is an issue for ALL New Jersey taxpayers who may, in one way or another, end up footing the bill to close this embarrassing and unacceptable pension gap.

Oh yeah…and I talked candidly with Senate President Sweeney about what appears to be a sometimes strained relationship with his follow Democrat, Governor Phil Murphy.  Anyone who thought that it would all be smooth sailing because the Democrats control both houses of the legislative and executive branches in this post-Chris Christie era need to watch this special on State of Affairs.

This half-hour conversation is revealing, insightful and, in all modesty, “must-see TV,” especially if you care about New Jersey’s future.  Watch it here.”

Steve Adubato, Emmy Award-winning Anchor and Host of State of Affairs