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Presented by AARP New Jersey

Gov. Phil Murphy is getting less popular with New Jersey residents, at least in terms of “favorability.” But he hasn’t hit the depths that Chris Christie did in his second term. And Murphy knows it.

I’ll let the stories below about the meat of the budget speak for themselves and focus on the petty up here. During Murphy’s budget address, he made several negative references to Christie without naming him. I’ve pointed it out before, but it continues. Examples:

“We have had nothing but a string of downgrades, 11 of which were received under just the previous administration. Last week, we received direct proof that the financial course we are following is the right one, with the news that Moody’s upgraded our credit rating.”

“Across this administration’s first four years, we invested $3 billion more in K-12 education for our public schools than the prior administration did across its last four. This continues our progress.”

“In the nine years before we took office, New Jersey’s economic growth ranked 47th among all American states. Yet, by working together, in the third quarter of 2021, it rose all the way up to fourth.” ( fact check).

You may recall Christie often did the same thing with the Corzine administration. But perhaps the second term is the time to stand on your own record, just as I stopped blaming my parents for my many neuroses once I hit 35.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 23

WHERE’S MURPHY? No public schedule

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Ian Smith is a self-promoting carnival barker who is trying to hijack the Republican Party and drag us down, rather than drive us forward … This guy pretends to be some kind of alpha dog, but truth is he’s really just a drama queen. Bottom line, I like winning, and this guy is a stone cold loser in November.” — Former GOP Assemblymember Ryan Peters on NJ-3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Assemblymember Joe Danielsen

TIPS? FEEDBACK? HATE MAIL? Email me at [email protected]

A message from AARP New Jersey:

Americans are struggling to afford rising prices on everything from groceries to gas. On top of this, we’re paying the highest drug prices in the world. Your elected lawmakers have the power to reduce this burden by enacting S329/A1747 and establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board is responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. It’s time for real action. Tell Governor Murphy: Stand up to Pharma!

5433.3 MASTROS — Murphy's $48.9B budget includes property tax rebates, more education aid, full pension payment, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan and Carly Sitrin: Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday presented a $48.9 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023 that includes no new taxes, expands a key property tax relief program and makes a full payment to the state's pension system for the second year in a row. Murphy delivered his budget address in the Assembly chamber to a joint session of the Legislature, the first time in two years he has done so after the pandemic took hold in New Jersey, claiming more than 30,000 lives. But Murphy has indicated the state has begun "transitioning from pandemic to endemic" and has lifted in-school mask mandates and the public health emergency. “Today we are back in this chamber. But more importantly, New Jersey is getting back to normal,” said Murphy, who began his second term in January.

—In Murphy’s budget, some big-ticket unknowns, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Gov. Phil Murphy’s $48.9 billion budget proposal comes with a few unknowns, including where billions of dollars in one-time federal money will go. New Jersey has about $3 billion left over from last year’s federal pandemic relief package. Plus, there’s billions more coming from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Murphy’s $48.9 billion budget proposal released Tuesday details how state money would be spent, but doesn't fully detail how those huge influxes from Washington will be used. The spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 isn’t completely silent on the federal windfall, however, and contains some opening salvos to shape where lots of that money may eventually go. About half the $6.2 billion the state received from the pandemic relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, is still unspent. Murphy has some big ideas for the rest of that money, which he says should go to “short-term recovery and long-term restart efforts.” The governor will need a group of lawmakers from the Joint Budget Oversight Committee to approve those ideas.

—“Murphy proposes $53M fund to aid undocumented immigrants,” by New Jerey Monitor’s Sophie Nieto-Munoz: “Another relief fund could be coming for undocumented immigrants under a plan Gov. Phil Murphy proposed Tuesday in his budget speech. The governor is seeking $53 million to provide one-time direct payments to residents who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and did not receive pandemic stimulus aid. If approved by lawmakers, the program would provide a $500 benefit to roughly 80,000 households, state officials said. This comes just weeks after the Excluded New Jerseyans Fund — intended to provide cash relief to undocumented immigrants and others ineligible for federal pandemic aid — received nearly double the number of applications the fund was initially intended to handle.”

—Highlights of Murphy's proposed $48.9B budget

—“​​Drivers to get a break on license fees and see other MVC benefits in Murphy’s budget”

—Murphy budget to include $650M in new education spending

—Budget proposal sets aside millions for health care

—“State could strip N.J. professional licenses for bias or harassment under proposed new rules” 

—“Stakeholders advocate solutions for how to manage NJ’s warehouse surge” 

—“Stockton poll finds New Jerseyans split on state’s economic fortunes”

—New Jersey bill intended to punish Russia heads to Murphy's desk

THE DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF HUDSON COUNTY IS ANOTHER MATTER  — “Menendez blasts Biden administration meetings with Venezuela officials,” by NJ Advance Media’s Jonathan D. Salant: “The New Jersey Democrat blasted President Joe Biden’s administration for meeting with officials of the Venezuelan regime led by Nicolás Maduro, who Menendez described as ‘a cancer to our hemisphere.’ ‘The Biden administration’s efforts to unify the entire world against a murderous tyrant in Moscow should not be undercut by propping up a dictator under investigation for crimes against humanity in Caracas,’ Menendez said. ‘The democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, much like the resolve and courage of the people of Ukraine, are worth much more than a few thousand barrels of oil.’"

—“Suspend federal, state gas taxes to ease burden on motorists, N.J. congressman [Norcross] says” 

—“Peterson on Kean and Isemann: ‘I’m so good, I converted two moderates’” 

—“After fiasco, Anderson wants a new Morris GOP convention” 

A message from AARP New Jersey:

THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC — “It’s slow at the polls in Montclair’s first-ever, historic school board election,” by Montclair Local: “Turnout at Montclair polling places seemed slow Tuesday, according to several of the people taking part in the township’s first ever school board election. As of Tuesday, the Essex County Board of Elections reported it had received 958 mail-in votes. Those don’t include any that may arrive in the mail Tuesday or later. Voters could return mail-in ballots through the mail as late as Tuesday, or drop them off at a ballot box at the Montclair Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Ave., until 8 p.m. By contrast, more than 3,400 people voted with mail-in ballots in November, in the referendum to decide whether Montclair, going forward, would have an elected school board … Wrong polling locations had been listed on sample ballots for voters in 11 of Montclair’s 35 voting districts. Linda von Nessi, clerk of the Essex County Board of Elections, told Montclair Local Tuesday it appears information was pulled from the wrong module in a statewide voter registration system, listing old polling locations for addresses. ‘As soon as we became aware of this error, postcards were sent by first-class mail advising the voters of the [correct] location to cast their ballot,’ she said by email.” (See the results here.)

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO ‘HMMM…’ — “Paterson mechanic in fire chief controversy got $52K raise in 2020,” by The Paterson Press’ Joe Malinconico: “The city mechanic who officials say repaired a pickup truck owned by the fire chief’s father at a municipal garage received a promotion that doubled his salary two years ago. Antonio Diaz went from making $51,900 as a senior mechanic in the Fire Department in 2019 to being paid $104,000 in 2020 as chief of fire apparatus, a newly created position, according to municipal payroll records. City officials said Diaz’s promotion was part of a 'civilianization' of fire and police jobs implemented by Mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration. Previously, a ranking firefighter with a salary of about $163,000 had been overseeing the repairs on Fire Department vehicles, said Sayegh’s business administrator, Kathleen Long … Diaz got the new job through a competitive hiring process, Long said. But Councilman Michael Jackson said the $52,000 promotion was a 'hookup' for Diaz 'because he’s the chief’s guy.' Jackson, who is running for mayor, has accused the Sayegh administration of engaging in a cover-up involving the pickup truck repairs. Multiple City Council members confirmed that Diaz is the mechanic involved in the ongoing controversy over the repairs done on the vehicle belonging to Fire Chief Brian McDermott’s father last summer at the Paterson Fire Department garage on Madison Avenue.”

CLEARLY THEY DON’T HAVE A ANDL ON THE SITUATION — “Burlington Democrats miss deadline to fill vacant county commissioner seat,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Burlington County Democrats blew past the deadline to fill a vacancy on the Board of Commissioners, a mistake that could leave the seat empty until next year unless a judge finds the statute to be fungible. The Democratic county committee had 35 days to replace County Commissioner Linda Hynes, who resigned her seat in January to become a Superior Court Judge, but Burlington County Democratic Chairman Joe Andl never scheduled a special election convention to fill the vacancy … Hynes seat is up in November and Burlington County Democrats appear to have settled on Allison Eckel, a member of the Lenape Regional High School Board of Education and a 2021 Assembly candidate, as their candidate … Now Eckel, who was expected to fill Hynes’ unexpired term, will have to beat Republican Jeff Fortune, a former Moorestown school board member, to become a county commissioner.”

PUTIN: ‘IF I’VE LOST NEWARK’S LUKOIL GAS STATION, I’VE LOST UKRAINE’— “Setting the record straight about Lukoil gas stations in NJ,” by Sal Risalvato for TAPIntoNewark: “I want to be absolutely clear that I strongly support dramatic sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its unjust war of aggression against Ukraine, and I am glad to see that the Governor and Legislature are working to make sure New Jersey is the leading state in US to cut off any possible financial support for the Russian government. I need to make clear though that most if not all the Lukoil stations found in this state are not being managed or operated by the Russian Lukoil corporation, but by individual franchisees, who have signed multi-year contracts to operate these locations … Many of these franchisees never even chose to be associated with Lukoil, they were Getty or Mobil locations purchased in bulk by Lukoil years ago. Even the actual gas that they buy wholesale comes from US suppliers, Lukoil just slaps their brand name on it.”

PARENT-TEACHER ADVISORY: EXPLICIT CONTENT— “'(Bleep) you!' When a school board meeting needs a parental warning,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Joe Strupp: “It’s not often that the recording of a school board meeting needs a disclaimer warning of graphic sexual language and profanity. But that’s what viewers who watch the video of the Wall Board of Education's March 1 meeting will see … The advisory was added to the video following a decision by the board, after the March 1 meeting, to no longer livestream meetings and instead post them online later, potentially with profanity and offensive language edited out … During that meeting’s public comment portion former school board candidate Betsy Cross described a scenario involving several board members being sexually abused, while another unidentified attendee yelled 'F--- you' to Board Attorney Athina Cornell.”

‘YOU’RE STILL A TOWN FULL OF LOSERS THOUGH’ — “'I always come back': Bruce Springsteen celebrated in Freehold hometown with new center,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Chris Jordan: “Greetings from My Hometown: The Bruce Springsteen Story Center in Freehold. Springsteen himself made it official at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 8. The firehouse on Main Street in Freehold, which is no longer 'adequate for the borough’s fire safety needs,' will be renovated to present the Springsteen story and serve as a community hub. The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University and Freehold are collaborating on the effort. 'Everything I've learned of deep importance, I Iearned in this town,' said Springsteen, wearing a green jacket on a small stage in the firehouse. ‘You learn most of what makes you who you are, gosh, I don't know, by the time you're 12. Maybe your teen years. I had all the usual joy and heartbreak of growing up in a small town like this, and of course the minute the opportunity arose, I got the hell out.’”

IF I COULD TURNBACH TIME — “Turnbach will challenge Earp for Ocean Democratic chair,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach will challenge incumbent Wyatt Earp for Ocean County Democratic chairman in June. ‘We should not have to hide our identities as Ocean County Democrats in elections with the hopes of getting elected, but we must build a brand of public service and strong work ethic that drives our neighbors and fellow residents to vote for us,’ said Turnbach, who lost re-election to his council seat last November. ‘Our party was built upon a strong work ethic and a dedication to public service. It’s time to get back to the basics.’ Ocean County is the top Republican county in the state.”

THEY’LL CALL IT ‘THE METRO’ — “The time is now for a communal aerial gondola between Bayonne and Staten Island,” by Jersey City Business Administrator John J. Metro for Hudson County View: “It has been nearly five years since the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation and the City of Bayonne studied the feasibility of installing a communal aerial gondola. Other than understanding the costs and land acquisition, the aerial gondola that will run parallel to the Bayonne Bridge to transport commuters over the Kill Van Kull has just been words on paper. With the increasing development on both sides of the bridge and the new federal infrastructure initiatives, it is time to make this concept of transportation a reality to create a new connection between adjoining neighborhoods and harvest future economic development and opportunity. Once viewed simply as a tool for ski resorts, gondolas are now an alternative mode of urban transportation that have been implemented in cities across the world.”

—“Absecon, NAACP call for further probe into racist slur used at February council meeting” 

—“Teen allegedly saw track coach grope girl at Toms River meet, affidavit says” 

—“Councilman told cops Trenton clerk Conlon was going to sucker ‘punch him’” 

—“[Trenton] leaders tussle over allegations that city clerk sexually harassed 3 employees” 

—“Mahwah must redo its affordable housing ordinance. Here's what that means” 

AN ALL-YOU-CAN-FEEL BUFFET — “Emotions buffet NJ coastal wind project in peek at US future,” by The AP: “Some warned that God will be angry if windmills mar the pristine horizon, and some claimed climate change either isn't real or isn't caused by human activity. Others said climate change is real, warning that humankind has to stop burning fossil fuels for energy, and some apologized for the 'conspiratorial' comments of those opposed to offshore wind. All this concerned the prospect of a single electrical cable from half of just one offshore wind project approved off the coast of New Jersey, where thousands of wind turbines are likely to be built in the coming years. More than 200 people attended a virtual public hearing Monday night on two companies' joint plan to bring a power line ashore in Ocean City. Danish wind developer Orsted and PSEG plan to connect their offshore wind farm project to the power grid in two spots: the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey Township, and the former B.L. England coal-fired power plant in Upper Township. The hearing concerned a plan to bring the line bound for Upper Township ashore in Ocean City. If the level of emotion was any indication, America's offshore wind energy industry will face strong headwinds onshore, particularly in New Jersey, where one of the most intense gold rushes anywhere in the nation for the right to lease stretches of ocean floor for wind projects is underway.”

—“Woodland facility's funding will not be terminated for now, but compliance hasn't been met” 

—“Did face masks hurt children’s speech development? | Opinion” 

A message from AARP New Jersey:

New Jerseyans are struggling to afford rising prices on everything from groceries to gas. On top of this, Americans are paying the highest drug prices in the world. It’s time to enact S329/A1747, which establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. This board is responsible for investigating high drug prices and recommending action to lower costs for consumers. Governor Murphy has introduced legislation that addresses prescription drug costs, but it simply does not go far enough. It fails to address the root cause of the problem – the high prices set by drug manufacturers. Tell Governor Murphy: Stand up to Big Pharma!