2019 begins with broken promise to disclose who’s financing pro-Murphy ad campaign Presented by Pre-K Our Way

Good Wednesday morning and happy 2019!

The “social welfare organization” that’s promoting Gov. Phil Murphy’s agenda will not publicly disclose its donors , going back on former Murphy campaign manager Brendan Gill’s statement that it would do so by the end of 2018.


In a written statement explaining the decision, New Direction New Jersey spokesman Phil Swibinski attributed the broken promise to the fact that the group and its supporters (whoever they are) have “come under increased attacks from powerful special interests seeking to preserve the status quo in recent months.”

That’s a new one. How do you fight the status quo? By joining it, of course. Because hiding donations to an organization promoting a politician’s agenda is definitely the status quo right now. “Issue advocacy” organizations like this are essentially political arms of politicians, run by their closest advisers, that have found a way around disclosing who funds them. The group in its statement noted that it’s fulfilling its legal requirements. Duh! The fact that it’s legal to hide your donors is precisely the problem.

Of course, the excuse is and will continue to be that Murphy does not run New Direction New Jersey and has no control over it. But you have individuals, companies and special interests — who knows, really? — spending lots of money to help promote the governor. And a a chunk of Murphy’s former campaign team advisers are running that organization: Gill, ad men Brad Lawrence and Steve DeMicco and pollster Danny Franklin.

Anyone who tells you it’s impossible to influence a political figure by donating huge sums to a group that promotes him — one that’s run by his allies — is either kidding you or kidding themselves.

WHERE’S MURPHY? Back in the U.S. and headed to swearing-in ceremonies: Evensham at 5:00 p.m., Palisades Park at 7:00 p.m. and Tenafly at 7:45 p.m.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY-ALIGNED GROUP INTENTIONALLY BLEW THROUGH SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE TO DISCLOSE ITS DONORS: 2

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I always wanted to renew the program as is, but I also recognize that you can make it better.” — Senate President Stephen Sweeney on New Jersey’s corporate tax incentive program

WHAT TRENTON MADE

NO PARCCING — “Appellate court strikes down PARCC graduation requirements,” by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: “A state appeals court on Monday struck down New Jersey regulations that designate the controversial PARCC tests as a high school graduation requirement. The three-judge panel’s unanimous ruling is a victory for opponents of the PARCC exam, and could force changes to New Jersey’s testing requirements for graduation. The Department of Education will need to decide in the next month whether to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court. ‘Throughout this process, the guiding factor of utmost importance will continue to be what is best for the students of New Jersey,’ Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet said in a statement.” Read more here

JOB FOR SALMAN? SMELLS FISHY — “Murphy staffer discussed job with Democratic State Committee member after governor courted his support,” by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: “Gov. Phil Murphy texted a member of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee asking him to support Chairman John Currie for reelection just before a top Murphy administration staffer discussed a potential job at New Jersey Transit with the committee member, according to an email obtained by POLITICO. One of the jobs discussed was the newly created position of chief ethics officer, according to the email … ‘I just heard from Mike Delasandro who told me that he had spoken to [Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti] and that she definitely wanted to bring me on board at NJT,’ the job seeker, Robert Salman, wrote in the ... email. ‘Apparently, the possibilities are a meaningful consultancy possibly in the auditing area or the newly created position of Chief Ethics Officer at NJT.’ … The Salman email continued: ‘FYI, I also got a text from Governor Murphy asking me to support Chairman Currie. In light of the developments at NJT and my own personal high regard for Chairman Currie I responded to the Governor by pledging to support Chairman Currie.’” Read more here

HOW ELSE WILL THEY KEEP UP NJ’S DECADE OF LACKLUSTER JOB GROWTH? — “Clock running out on New Jersey’s corporate tax credits,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Kate King: “New Jersey elected officials have six months to decide whether to renew the state’s generous tax-incentive program, which has approved $8 billion in tax credits since 2010 but failed to lure Amazon to Newark. Two of the state’s biggest tax-credit programs, including one that provides tax breaks to companies that promise to create jobs, are set to expire in June. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has criticized big-ticket incentive packages and proposed restructuring and capping tax-credit awards. Revamping the state’s incentive program hasn’t generated much discussion in Trenton, however, even though state Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio told lawmakers in budget testimony last spring that tax credits were hindering revenue growth. ‘Frankly, it deserves more attention than it’s getting,’ said state Sen. Joseph Cryan” Read more here

FRANK HAGUE NO LONGER THE LAW — “New NJ laws for 2019: Jersey Shore beach smoking ban, health insurance mandate,” by The AP’s Mike Catalini: “A ban on smoking at public beaches, a state mandate for health insurance and the ability for courts to take away guns from people who pose a danger are among the laws going into effect in the new year in New Jersey. There are about two dozen new laws taking effect in 2019, according to a tally kept by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services. A handful of them grabbed headlines when they passed. One law that drew attention makes it easier for transgender residents to get amended birth certificates.” Read more here

PLEASE ASK DAFT PUNK TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL — “Is that tweet from a human? N.J. lawmaker wants bots to identify themselves, but experts have concerns,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Lai: “In New Jersey, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D., Middlesex) this fall introduced a bill to require upfront identification of online communication bots — a term derived from the word robots to describe automated accounts that generate messages, particularly on social media. The bill won approval from an Assembly committee this month, and Zwicker is hopeful it could get a full vote early next year. ‘I’m very strongly opposed to using technology to hide your true intentions, to use technology to deceive people in a way that is unfair to the person who doesn’t know what’s going on,‘ Zwicker said in an interview. ‘And I believe if that is your intent — to deceive people — you should disclose you are not a human being.’” Read more here

GET MENENDEZ ON THE CASE! JUST TELL HIM NJ IS SAL MELGEN — CMS projected to provide $40M less than expected for New Jersey’s reinsurance program, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: New Jersey is projected to receive $180 million from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to fund its new reinsurance program, almost $40 million less than what the state had originally estimated, according to a letter published by CMS . The amount CMS ultimately allocates to New Jersey’s reinsurance program, which is overseen by the state Department of Banking and Insurance, is subject to final approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, according to the letter. Read more here

OUTBREAK — “‘They don’t feel they owe us an explanation.’ 11 kids dead, three months later, parents still seek answers,” by NJ Advance Media’s Ted Sherman, Spencer Kent and Susan Livio: “They were among the most vulnerable and voiceless. There was 4-year-old Dorcase Dolcin, who had never spoken a word in her short life, but was always happy and smiling. Dondre Mills Jr. had cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He was just 2. Amaya Bryant had serious medical issues, but her mother hoped to take her home. And then they started dying. The devastating adenovirus outbreak that swept through the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell led to the deaths of 11 children and infected 25 other residents, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Some had parents and families in their lives. Others were all-but-alone, without mothers or fathers, marking birthdays with celebrations put together by caregivers who would try to make the day special with cake and balloons — stepping in to buy the kids gifts, or sometimes using their own money to make sure the children had the supplies like warm socks, recalled the aunt of one child. Most of their names and faces remain unknown, and so their stories may never be told. The state will not disclose who they are, citing privacy concerns. The owners of the nursing home won’t say very much at all, except to express their condolences and note their cooperation with state investigators.” Read more here

NOT COUNTING THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG ITS ROUTE AND THE TAXPAYERS WHO WOULDN’T LIVE IN NJ WITHOUT IT — “The PATH train loses $400 million a year. Why keep spending billions on it?” by The New York Times’ Patrick McGeehan: “Today, that rail network, known as the PATH, is as critical as ever to the region’s transportation network. It also loses more money than it ever did, piling up huge deficits that have made it one of the country’s most financially dependent public transit systems ... The agency has spent billions of dollars upgrading and expanding the PATH even as the system is due to lose more than $400 million next year. In fact, the PATH loses more than $230 million annually just on the operation of the trains, before the costs of any improvements. Virtually all public transit systems are subsidized because fares do not cover costs, and governments want to encourage commuters to avoid their cars and take a train or bus. But most systems are operated by state or local governments that can force taxpayers to cover some of the costs. The Port Authority does not have that power, so it makes up the difference by diverting money from its more lucrative operations — airports, bridges and tunnels.” Read more here

—Stile: “Legal weed, $15 minimum wage, Chris Christie's book: 10 NJ topics to watch in 2019” Read more here

—“12 reasons 2019 is going to be a crazy year in N.J. politics (and for Booker)” Read more here

—“The good, the bad and the still unfinished of 2018” Read more here

—“Automatic voter registration at DMV counts on honesty from non-citizens” Read more here

—“As N.J. and Pa. fall behind in voting access, governors call for reform” Read more here

— Sweeney announces new committee assignments Read more here

— Equinor submits bid to build offshore wind farm off Sandy Hook coast Read more here

—“Jackson moving To CQ/Roll Call” Read more here

—“NJ marijuana legalization: Will New York beat New Jersey to the legal weed finish line?” Read more here

—“Minimum wage workers got a raise today. It’s not enough, N.J. governor says” Read more here

TRUMP ERA

MAGA CROWD TO IGNORE THIS — “New Jersey AG has obtained evidence of possible crimes at Trump's golf club — and Mueller, FBI are involved in probe,” by The Daily News’ Chris Summerfeldt: “New Jersey prosecutors have collected evidence that supervisors at President Trump’s Garden State golf club may have committed federal immigration crimes — and the FBI as well as special counsel Robert Mueller have played part in the inquiry, the Daily News has learned. Anibal Romero, a Newark attorney who represents several undocumented immigrants who used to work at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, said Friday he recently met with investigators from the state attorney general’s office and handed over fraudulent green cards and Social Security numbers that management at the club allegedly procured and gave his clients, Victorina Morales and Sandra Diaz.” Read more here

—“On Israel boycott issue, Booker stands alone among Senate Democrats in 2020 presidential race” Read more here

–Snowflack: “Mikie Sherrill: Avoiding a colossal blunder” Read more here

—“FEMA changes course, resumes selling flood insurance during government shutdown” Read more here

LOCAL

IN AC, THE ONLY CRAPS GIVEN ARE AT THE TABLE — “Aggressive cops are ‘out of control’ in this N.J. city, insiders say, costing taxpayers millions,” by NJ Advance Media’s Joe Atmonavage: “Atlantic City police officers used painful holds, punches, kicks and other types of force to subdue suspects 2,854 times from 2012 through 2016, according to The Force Report, a 16-month investigation by NJ Advance Media for NJ.com … An NJ Advance Media review of lawsuits, court documents and depositions of police officials, as well as interviews with a half-dozen current and former officers, points to a department that often seemed indifferent to officers with violent tendencies, leaving them on the street without repercussions. Many were promoted or appointed to prestigious roles. ‘The message (police officers) weren’t getting is whether anyone cared,’ said Jennifer Bonjean, an attorney who has represented clients in four excessive force lawsuits against Atlantic City. ‘They certainly knew they were beating the f--- out of people.’” Read more here

PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR IDEALISM CRUSHED — “He just turned 22, and he's at the helm of an entire New Jersey town,” by The Record’s Philip DeVencentis: “Most people his age are just figuring out how to handle their personal finances. Intashan Chowdhury has to reconcile a $6.5 million municipal budget. Chowdhury, 22, the borough's new administrator, is believed to be one of the youngest town managers in New Jersey history, if not the youngest, and the first of Bengali descent. ‘I have a lot of room to prove myself,’ Chowdhury said at his office on Friday … Alan Zalkind, executive director of the New Jersey Municipal Managers Association, said he could not confirm Chowdhury's status as the youngest town manager in the state, but that he likely is among the youngest ever.” Read more here

BURLINGTON TURNCOAT FACTORY — “The GOP has controlled this N.J. county since Ford was president. That changes Tuesday,” by NJ Advance Media’s Bill DuHart: “The beginning of a new year Tuesday will also ring in a new day for Burlington County Democrats. For the first time in 44 years, the party is poised to take the helm of county government. Republicans have controlled the Board of Chosen Freeholders here since Gerald Ford was president.” Read more here

—L.A. Parker: “A revitalization of Trenton requires an end to segregation and separate agendas” Read more here

—“Lack of Hope: Trenton teens discuss life in the city, researchers share ideas to change the culture” Read more here

—“As federal shutdown continues, new wave of Democrats is sworn in across North Jersey” Read more here

—“Hoboken mayor vetoes bill that would have cut his office staff” Read more here

—“Jersey City, police union reach tentative deal on new contract” Read more here

—“Julia Fahl is Lambertville’s new mayor” Read more here

—“Atlantic picks first woman freeholder chair” Read more here

—“3 issues to watch in Toms River in 2019: taxes, open space, mayor's race” Read more here

—“New promise and old problems due in 2019 for Atlantic City” Read more here

EVERYTHING ELSE

BETTER KEEP FUNDING THAT FOOTBALL PROGRAM THOUGH — “NJ colleges fight growing hunger among students by opening campus food pantries,” by The Record’s Hannan Adely and Catherine Carrera: “The growth of campus food pantries reflects a harsh economic reality as students face rising tuition and housing costs, while wages and financial aid often fail to keep up. Hunger affects a wide range of students, including those in community colleges and four-year colleges, individuals just out of high school, older students and those with jobs, children or rent payments … At Rutgers University’s flagship campus in New Brunswick, a 2016 survey showed that 32 percent of 1,570 graduate students and 37 percent of 6,823 undergraduates experienced food insecurity.” Read more here

—“'I would like people not to experience what I experienced‘: Rowan president helps students dress for success” Read more here

TOTAL COINCIDENCE THAT NJ HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST GUN DEATH RATES — “New Jersey on pace to regain spot as state least interested in buying guns,” by The Record’s Dave Sheingold: “New Jersey is about to reclaim the mantle of the state least interested in buying guns. An analysis of federal data shows that, through November, New Jerseyans went through fewer firearms-permit background checks per capita this year than any state in the country. With some of the strictest gun possession laws in the nation, New Jersey is likely to return to the No. 1 spot for fewest background checks per 1,000 households. That's a distinction the Garden State held every year from 2000 through 2015.” Read more here

—“'F' for New Jersey: Report cites bad planning for storms, climate change” Read more here

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