| | | | |  | | By Matt Friedman | | Presented by |  | | | It’s been just one week since lawmakers proposed a bill to allow the shifting of funds between public worker health plan accounts to stave off yet another premium increase. Already, that bill is about to be law. It passed both houses of the Legislature Monday and now sits on Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk. That passage came with some dire warnings. “Republicans have been warning of the looming death spiral facing our public benefits system,” state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon said on the Senate floor. “It’s no longer looming. It’s hitting us here and now and should horrify and scare every public worker and every taxpayer in the state of New Jersey.” Republicans call it a Band-Aid. But Democrats were no less serious about it, saying they need a long-term solution. “The system is certainly broken,” said state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz. “There’s no doubt about it. We all need to get in a room in a bipartisan manner and take a look at our state health benefit plans,” said Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo. This bill can stave off increases for now, but it’s not going to fix the structural problem in the plans: that rising costs, including from the new weight loss drugs, are creating a “death spiral” in which towns that can leave for cheaper plans do, and those that can’t don’t, then further drive up the costs. After the voting session, Senate President Nick Scutari acknowledged the need for a long-term fix. What will it look like? “I don’t know,” he said. TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Michele Matsikoudis, Bob Singer, Abdel Aziz, Tony Sayegh QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Let me tell you, after this weekend, and the rhetoric, fascist remarks that were recently made … no one should walk into a doctor’s office with this third party, engaging in a conversation that that woman should have specifically and solely with their doctor.” — Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz WHERE’S MURPHY? In Atlantic City at 9 a.m. to speak at an offshore wind conference, then in Galloway at 10 a.m. to speak at New Jersey Courts Judiciary Opportunities for Building Success (JOBS) Partnership Conference | | | | A message from Amazon: Health care benefits started on day one for Caleb and his family when he joined Amazon’s Newark fulfillment center. “Amazon’s health care benefits give me peace of mind,” he said. As the largest job creator in the U.S. Amazon is committed to helping their employees and the communities where they operate thrive with benefits starting on day one and free skills training. See the impact of day one benefits. | | | |  | WHAT TRENTON MADE | |
GARG-ANTUAN NEWS — Chief counsel Garg to leave Murphy administration next month, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Gov. Phil Murphy’s top lawyer and longtime aide is leaving the administration next month, shortly before Murphy’s final year in office begins. Parimal Garg, who according to the administration is the longest-serving gubernatorial chief counsel in New Jersey history, will depart for the law firm Lowenstein Sandler in mid-November, the governor’s office announced. “I am forever grateful to Governor Murphy for the opportunity to help lead his team, and for his trust and confidence during my four years as Chief Counsel,” Garg said in a statement. “I know that the Governor, the First Lady, and the entire Murphy administration will spend the next year cementing a record of achievement that is unparalleled in our state's history." Murphy in a brief phone interview noted that Garg was only his second chief counsel in seven years, having followed now-Attorney General Matt Platkin in late 2020 … The governor’s office did not announce who would succeed Garg, but POLITICO reported earlier this month that Katie McDonnell, a deputy commissioner at the Department of Community Affairs and former deputy chief counsel, was poised to take the job.
BECAUSE MURPHY WANTS TO STAY ALIVE — “ Why does NJ Transit keep canceling trains?” by Nolan Hicks for New York Magazine: “Two crises are unfolding simultaneously at NJ Transit. The first is well documented and mostly outside NJT’s control: Despite years of promises and assurances, Amtrak has failed to maintain or modernize the power grid along the Northeast Corridor, which also serves as the trunk route for many NJT railroad services. The second is that NJ Transit, starved by both Republican and Democratic administrations in Trenton, can no longer meet one of its most basic responsibilities: Keep people moving. The agency canceled nearly 3,400 trains between January and August, or about a hundred a week. That’s seven times as many cancellations as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North … Phil Murphy won office in 2017 by promising to turn the page on the governorship of Chris Christie …In his 2019 budget speech, he declared that ‘if it kills me, we’ll rebuild NJ Transit.’ … Murphy’s single big idea was freezing fares, good for public relations but no more effective a repair strategy than his predecessor’s financial strangulation of the system ... In 2024, Murphy and lawmakers allocated just $760 million for the fifth year in a row — a shortchange that adds up to $2.4 billion per decade. That doesn’t sound like rebuilding 'if it kills me.'” NOR-CROSS EXAMINATION — “Platkin brings in veteran federal prosecutor to supervise Norcross case,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “In what might be the most politically consequential public corruption case in state history, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office is bringing in a seasoned former federal corruption prosecutor to supervise the state’s prosecution of Democratic powerbroker George E. Norcross and others. Eric L. Gibson, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is the new co-director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability with the rank of Assistant Attorney General. He will supervise another Assistant Attorney General, Andrew Wellbrock, the lead prosecutor in the Norcross case. The move comes at a time when the embattled OPIA faces scrutiny for grievous mistakes, allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, and questions about their ability to bring a major case to trial and win a conviction.” BRENDAN BYRNE ROSE FROM HIS GRAVE TO VOTE EARLY IN HUDSON COUNTY — “N.J. is already setting records for early voting, with long lines reported ,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman: “Election Day is still a week away. But more than a quarter of a million New Jersey voters have already cast their ballots — waiting sometimes in long lines to make their choices for what might be to be one of the closest Presidential elections in history between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Over the weekend, 247,003 voted — including Gov. Phil Murphy. That represented about 4% of the more than 6 million registered voters in the state, according to the latest numbers released Monday. That broke records, according to Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who also serves as the Garden State’s secretary of state. She said more people showed up to vote early on Saturday and Sunday than the total early votes cast in all of 2021, 2022, or 2023.” 1-877-VOTEZ-4-KIDS —Senate President Nick Scutari is expressing hesitancy toward a key legislative priority of Gov. Phil Murphy’s: allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in school board elections. “I’m not sure that I support that,” Scutari told reporters on Monday. He did not elaborate. Scutari also opposes same-day voter registration, another voting rights goal that Murphy has pushed for in his second term in addition to lowering the age for school board elections. Newark has lowered the voting age to 16 for school board elections. — Daniel Han — Coughlin tells his members he plans to seek another term as speaker — Scutari pushes back on steep cannabis tax increase as social justice groups push for it — Stay NJ task force bill on Murphy’s desk — “ N.J. just acted to thwart book bans, protect librarians” — “ Bill will make insurance in NJ cover early detection of cancer, Alzheimer's, other diseases” — “Siekerka reflects on her decade leading the NJBIA” — “Juliano will retire from Sports Authority post” — “ Murphy rules out run for local office, criticizes anti-Puerto Rico joke at Trump rally” | | | | A message from Amazon:   | | | | | BIDEN TIME | |
BACK IN THE '90s, ‘EXTREME’ WAS A GOOD THING — “ Who's more 'extreme'? Tom Kean Jr. and Sue Altman continue to hurl barbs,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “In one of the final frames of Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s attack ad, Democrat Sue Altman's face — with a look of anger — pivots over her shoulder as she’s surrounded by two New Jersey State Troopers. That photo is clipped from a defining moment in the 42-year-old Altman’s burgeoning career in public life. In November 2019, Altman, then the statewide director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, was wrenched by troopers from a Statehouse hearing after protesting generous tax breaks doled out to allies and entities connected to Democratic kingmaker George Norcross III, one of the most powerful figures in her own party. On the stump, Altman cites that dramatic moment in town halls as a badge of honor, a moment where she stood up against the machine and the corrupt decay of New Jersey politics, even when it was moldering in her own party. Yet, one of the ironies in this race between Altman and Kean for the 7th Congressional District — a closely watched swing district battle that could help determine which party will control the House next term — is that a carefully cropped photo from the Statehouse episode is now being used to paint a completely different portrait of ‘radical Sue Altman,’ a left-wing firebrand who champions reckless policies that are out of step with the largely affluent, suburban district.”
TRUMP CAMPAIGN APOLOGIZES, VOWS TO LIMIT BIGOTRY TO GROUPS NOT IMPORTANT TO HIS ELECTORAL STRATEGY — “N.J. lawmakers condemn pro-Trump comedian’s ‘repugnant’ Puerto Rico insult,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “ New Jersey’s 13-member Latino Legislative Caucus also condemned the Puerto Rico insult, noting that as American citizens, Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. military, paid their taxes, exercised their right to vote, and strived toward the American dream. ‘Any attempt to have these contributions tarnished by the repugnant remarks made by a comedian in an attempt to win votes is beyond abhorrent; it goes against everything America stands for,’ they said in a joint, bipartisan statement. More than 3 million Americans call Puerto Rico home. Latinos make up about 20% of New Jersey’s population, and about 500,000 are Puerto Ricans.” — “Military veteran and hunter [Joe Danielsen] celebrates ‘brilliant and dignified’” | | LOCAL | |
MONICA MOSLEY — “4 charged in murder of Cumberland County detective who was killed inside NJ home ,” by NBC 10’s David Chang and Leah Uko: “Four people were arrested and charged in connection to the death of a Cumberland County detective who was killed inside her home in Bridgeton, New Jersey, earlier this month. Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland, Jarred Brown, 31, of Bridgeton, and Richard Willis, 32, of Gloucester City, were all charged with the murder of 51-year-old Monica Mosley. Cyndia Pimentel, 38, is also charged with hindering the investigation of Mosley's death … ‘This is a significant step toward justice for Detective Sergeant Monica Mosley and her family,’ Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said.”
— “Cumberland Detective Mosley shot one of her 3 attackers before she was murdered, court docs show” AT ISSUE IS WHICH PRONOUN TO USE FOR THE MARLBORO CARCINOGENIC COWPERSON — “ Marlboro school board bickering at issue as two slates battle over who should have control,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Olivia Liu: “School boards are entities that vote on matters as important as hiring a new superintendent, voting on anti-bullying policy and guiding initiatives to improve student’s academic performance. But the Marlboro Board of Education, which meets once or twice a month and oversees kindergarten through 8th grade, has often dissolved into back-and-forth bickering. This election, two slates of candidates are running for three seats on the school board. Two incumbents, Aldo Patruno and Danielle Bellomo, are running with Gill Iny under the banner of Marlboro Values Protected. Nirav Kadakia, Brian Cohen and Jenna Corraro are running as a team called Partners Improving Education … Patruno, Bellomo and Iny did not respond to emailed questions. They did not participate in a debate moderated by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, writing on Facebook that they believe the organization leans liberal. In a team response, Kadakia, Cohen and Corraro wrote, ‘We realize that what’s happening on the current Marlboro Township Board of Education reflects the sometimes toxic and unproductive political environment hampering our federal government. Instead of working together to build consensus and problem solve, the philosophy of some members seems to be to shut others out.’” — “In contentious Marlboro, board member in altercation with super” YOU’VE GOTTA PROTECT THE SACK — “ Meet Mike Antista, Hackensack's new police chief,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Mike Antista, who was sworn in as the city’s new police chief last week, has deep ties to the city. He grew up in neighboring Rochelle Park, where he still lives with his wife and two young children. He graduated from Hackensack High School, and his younger brother Matthew is also a Hackensack police officer. 'I feel that in this position I can make even more of a difference for a place that I consider a hometown of mine,' Antista said. 'My commitment is for the city and to support the men and women of the Police Department.' Antista, 44, first entered public service as a volunteer firefighter in Rochelle Park, where he still volunteers.” DON’T GIMME SHELTER — “Why these Westampton Township residents are fuming at Burlington County commissioners,” by The Courier-Post’s Joseph P. Smith: “Less than two weeks out from the election, Burlington County commissioners are dealing with a grassroots uprising from Westampton Township residents over a $21-million emergency shelter. The 60-bed emergency shelter is a project closely associated with Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson, who is seeking reelection in November. The two-story structure would be built on the county Human Services Campus at 795 Woodlane Road, near a county library. Twenty-one people lined up to speak about the project at the commissioners meeting Wednesday, Oct. 23. The majority were adamantly opposed, angry that details about the project only recently reached them.” I AM THE WAHLERUS — “Meet the candidates for Piscataway mayor and where they stand on the issues,” by MyCentralJersey’s Suzanne Russell: “Longtime Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler defeated one challenger in the Democratic primary and will have to defeat another in the Nov. 5 general election as he strives to serve another four-year term in office. Wahler, who was first elected mayor in 2000, is being challenged by Republican Debra Hopkins, a county committeewoman for about 30 years who has been active in the community and currently works as a home care provider.” — “ Two Republicans looking to break Democratic lock on Neptune Township Committee” — “Perhaps third party should review projected Pompidou finances | Opinion ” — “There’s a huge mess in Watchung, and a judge isn’t sure what to do” — “Republican Lacca challenges newly appointed Democratic Atlantic City Councilman Huq in special election” — “ School Ethics Commission rejects complaint against Jersey City BOE President Morris” R.I.P. — “NJ teacher dies after car crash at high school in Newark ” | | | | A message from Amazon: Since starting at Amazon’s Newark fulfillment center Caleb has grown his family without worrying about health care. “With Amazon’s health care benefits I know my entire family can be taken care of without questioning how we’re going to afford anything,” he said.
Find out more. | | | | | EVERYTHING ELSE | |
THE FALL OF THE SHAH — CarePoint Health announces abrupt resignation of CEO, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: CarePoint Health's recently minted President and CEO, Dr. Jawad Shah, has abruptly resigned from the Hudson County health system, it announced Monday. As part of the sudden shakeup, former CarePoint President and CEO Dr. Achintya Moulick was reinstated by CarePoint's governing board to his old position. "Working alongside CarePoint’s leadership, physicians, employee unions, and community stakeholders, Dr. Moulick is focused on achieving a sustainable path that preserves healthcare access in Hudson County," the hospital said in a statement. … The announcement comes as Insight Health, a Michigan-based group that is led by Shah and planned to operate two hospitals run by CarePoint, is cutting ties with the Hudson County health care system, according to a letter.
— “First look: See ‘The Bear’ star Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen in upcoming biopic” — “Port operators, dockworkers union will return to bargaining table” — “ Meet the South Jersey teacher who turned his passion for barbecue into a teaching mission”
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