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>> Major funding for "Reporters

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Roundtable" with David Cruz is

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provided by RWJBarnabas Health,

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let's be healthy together.

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Rowan University, educating New

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Jersey leaders, partnering with

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New Jersey businesses,

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transforming New jersey's

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future.

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♪

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David: Budget season is here.

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Time temperature money where

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your mouth is.

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Hey, everybody.

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It is "Reporters Roundtable,"

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I'm de la Cruz.

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-- I'm David Cruz.

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Our actual panel today includes

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veterans of the budget process,

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including John, budgeting

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finance writer, Dustin, editor

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at Politico NJ, and Charles,

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political columnist for The

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Record.

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We will get their insights

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interfaith, but let's begin with

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a preview of the budgetary

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address.

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Senator, always a pleasure.

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Welcome.

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Senator: Thank you for having

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me.

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David: Are you a budget

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contrarian?

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Senator: No, I may budget truth

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teller, if you're going to tell

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the truth, you are a contrarian

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to this governor.

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The budget is a mess, they be

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the worst shape it has ever been

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in, which is hard to fathom.

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We have what amounts to close to

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$4.5 billion structural deficit

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that will be dug into the lap of

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the next governor, whoever he or

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she may be.

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I'm hoping it is a he, a

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Republican, Jack.

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I don't want to put any plugs in

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here.

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Whoever it is, it is going to be

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a brutal job, brutal on the

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taxpayers of New Jersey, and it

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did not have to be this way.

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Had we been more responsible the

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last seven years, we could be in

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much better shape.

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David: All right, let me pump

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the brakes before you take all

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the air out of the thing and

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that I have to go to the panel.

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Senator O'Scanlon: OK.

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David: You have quite the

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evocative description of the

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budget, saying that it contains

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a steaming pile of deficit.

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Is it starting to snow yet?

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-- is it starting to smell yet?

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Senator O'Scanlon: Those are my

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words.

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It has been stinking for years,

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it's impossible to walk by the

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statehouse are not smell the

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deficit.

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David: Where is the deficit now,

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4 billion?

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Senator O'Scanlon: Over 4

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billion, and in 20 seconds I can

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explain.

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We sent down $2 billion of our

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surplus.

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And he is now tearing down at an

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alarming rate, 2 billion is 25%

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of it.

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Additionally, he sold the

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corporate transit, and one year,

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he took credit, collected almost

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$1 billion and dumped it not to

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transit but right into the

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general fund.

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That is 3 billion right there

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but the 2 billion and deficit

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and surplus, and another 600

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million, indent avoidance and

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defeasance money, 3.6.

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It is easy to get you another $2

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billion in shots that amount to

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$4.5 billion of structural

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deficit.

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It is a disaster, it is a house

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of cards builds on a fault line.

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There is some reporting that

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says the structural deficit is

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only 2 billion.

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Suggesting that the surplus's

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structural deficit, no, it is

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not, as I just outlined.

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David: A few of the popular

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programs and ideas from the

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governor could be in danger.

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You had a question in that

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regard.

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Charles: Putting a lot of idea

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on this tax cut for senior

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homeowners, this money had been

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socked away in previous budgets,

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do you think that should be on

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the chopping block?

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Senator O'Scanlon: No, my first

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priority would be to keep

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something like state in J but

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the problem is it will not be on

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Democrats.

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This will have worked for

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several cycles to get Democrats

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elected in the assembly, and as

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soon as the next election is

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over and the next budget

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happens, things melt down, and

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that will be one of the first

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items on the chopping block.

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And it leaves implementing Stay

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N.J.

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I did not include that in the

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structural deficit.

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You have to add another one to

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$2 billion if they're going to

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believe surplus.

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So it is 5.5 billion if you

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include Stay N.J.

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David: It is like you have your

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cake and eat it, too, Senator

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because the program stinks, it

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is going to add to the deficit,

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but I like it.

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Senator O'Scanlon: I've said

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they are being disingenuous and

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they have no way to pay for it,

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and implementing a policy that

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you would show no way to pay for

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it is irresponsible, but it is a

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high-priority for me.

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If I were in charge, I have

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something like it, and I have a

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way to pay for it.

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So it's not like having my cake

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and eating it, too, it is

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providing relief, but calling

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out the Democrats on their

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absolute abdication of coming up

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with a way to pay for it.

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David: Let me get you on the

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record about this corporate

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business tax surcharge that is

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supposed to fund NJ transit.

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It is going to die this year, or

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not going to die, but that money

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is going somewhere else.

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Senator O'Scanlon: I spoke to

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transit officials.

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They are expecting the close to

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$1 billion to be given to them.

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If that does not happen in this

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budget, transit is already a

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disaster, and a program that the

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governor came in saying over his

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dead body he would not fix.

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Last I looked, he was alive and

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kicking, and transit is our life

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support.

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It is a disaster for commuters

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in my district.

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If you have scones with any of

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that money, -- AP up scones with

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any of that money, -- if he of

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scones with any of that money,

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he's not keeping his promise.

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David: Ebony and wit these

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following -- brevity and which

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these following questions.

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Trump has a budget battle

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coming, tax cuts to the

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wealthier, and Medicaid, etc.,

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15 seconds to assess the federal

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budget.

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Senator O'Scanlon: The federal

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budget is almost in bad shape as

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the state budget.

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And a pox on all their houses,

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they spent like drunken sailors

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and they get away with it.

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They can do things the state

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cannot do.

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They can run a deficit.

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We can't.

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Eventually, that will come home

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to roost.

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I'm all for responsible cuts of

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the federal level, but you are

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right, they have to be

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responsible.

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If they are going to take a

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cleaver to Medicaid, that's a

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serious problem that will impact

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the health of people and impacts

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the budget dramatically.

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I will be fair at the federal

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level and criticize the Trump

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administration and if they

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deserve it.

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I have no problem doing that.

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I praised him when he was there,

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as well, just as I had in my

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Governor Murphy served -- just

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as I had done when Governor

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Murphy served.

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David: You did.

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This governor he has not been

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engaging them in debates, etc.

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Senator O'Scanlon: I think he

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has shown up to debates and

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conventions, as well.

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I love everybody in the race on

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the Republican side, and I'm

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friendly with almost all people

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on the Democrats I, too.

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But Jack will be a fantastic

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governor.

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Several most of the other

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Republican candidates to get the

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nomination, I think he has a

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good shot, and I'm fairly with

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all these guys.

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And Jack is the right guy right

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now for the job, and I think the

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people of New Jersey will be

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able to vote for him.

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David: Last question, who was

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the Democrat you fear the most

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as a gubernatorial candidate?

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Senator O'Scanlon: I don't fear

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any of them.

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I think we are going to wrap

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around -- whoever is the money,

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-- whoever is the nominee, we

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will wrap the support of this

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administration around the next.

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None of them have called out the

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administration and they have all

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been in position of

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responsibility to do that.

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They have not spoken up, so we

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will have a really good time and

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defeat whichever one of them,

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and they are all friends of mine

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, but we will defeat whoever it

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is.

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David: Artfully dodged.

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We will hear from the governor

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on Tuesday, Republican deck limo

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Scanlon will be there Declan

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O'Scanlon will be there, too.

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Good to see all of you.

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Let's start with the Senators'

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steaming pile, isn't it that

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bad?

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-- is it that bad?

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John: I think it depends on a

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few things clglass half empty

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or full.

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This fiscal year is set to close

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with a more than $6 billion

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surplus, which is almost 10% of

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planned spending, which is a

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pretty high rate for New Jersey

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00:10:35,833 --> 00:10:36,166
historically.

287
00:10:36,166 --> 00:10:41,133
And the structural deficits on

288
00:10:41,133 --> 00:10:43,866
paper, it is the gap between

289
00:10:43,866 --> 00:10:44,466
projected annual expenditures

290
00:10:44,466 --> 00:10:46,200
projected annual revenues that

291
00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,533
the senator referred to is a

292
00:10:48,533 --> 00:10:50,066
little bit over 2 billion right

293
00:10:50,066 --> 00:10:51,500
now, but that is going to

294
00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:52,266
change, as well, when we get

295
00:10:52,266 --> 00:10:54,133
updated projections early next

296
00:10:54,133 --> 00:10:54,333
week.

297
00:10:54,333 --> 00:10:57,600
So a lot of what we are talking

298
00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:58,400
about today is going to change.

299
00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:02,333
Furthermore, it is going to

300
00:11:02,333 --> 00:11:02,966
change again by the time we get

301
00:11:02,966 --> 00:11:07,633
to may and we have counted up

302
00:11:07,633 --> 00:11:13,566
the April income.Tax

303
00:11:13,566 --> 00:11:14,100
payments income taxes the

304
00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:14,700
biggest source of revenue for

305
00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:15,266
the state budget, so it is a

306
00:11:15,266 --> 00:11:15,800
little early to be making

307
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:16,433
declarations about whether this

308
00:11:16,433 --> 00:11:17,266
budget or the next one is sort

309
00:11:17,266 --> 00:11:18,066
of going to make it to the

310
00:11:18,066 --> 00:11:20,766
finish line and we achieve it or

311
00:11:20,766 --> 00:11:20,933
not.

312
00:11:20,933 --> 00:11:22,400
We usually have to weed until we

313
00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,000
count the April tax payments.

314
00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,466
As we saw the end of the year,

315
00:11:25,466 --> 00:11:27,400
Wall Street was coming along

316
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,833
pretty well as the new year

317
00:11:31,833 --> 00:11:34,466
started, so, typically when that

318
00:11:34,466 --> 00:11:37,800
scenario plays out, we get a bit

319
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:38,833
of a bump come April, but we

320
00:11:38,833 --> 00:11:39,400
will have to wait and see.

321
00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:44,000
David: I see what you did there

322
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:44,933
with the declarations.

323
00:11:44,933 --> 00:11:46,366
Charles, it's not going to be

324
00:11:46,366 --> 00:11:46,900
one of those we got it all

325
00:11:46,900 --> 00:11:47,266
covered budget.

326
00:11:47,266 --> 00:11:53,366
Almost of the federal money --

327
00:11:53,366 --> 00:11:54,733
almost all of the federal money

328
00:11:54,733 --> 00:11:55,233
from COVID days is gone.

329
00:11:55,233 --> 00:11:59,133
Charles: I think he alluded to

330
00:11:59,133 --> 00:11:59,766
the possibility that even more

331
00:11:59,766 --> 00:12:02,300
is going to be vanishing,

332
00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:02,966
especially the Medicaid money.

333
00:12:02,966 --> 00:12:08,100
The state has to put up 50%, a

334
00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:11,466
brand matching program, so to

335
00:12:11,466 --> 00:12:15,700
keep those programs for our most

336
00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:17,800
indigent residents, people in

337
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,633
hospitals, as well, the state

338
00:12:20,633 --> 00:12:22,700
will be under a lot of pressure

339
00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,266
to fill that gap or feel that

340
00:12:25,266 --> 00:12:28,333
loss of money that they are

341
00:12:28,333 --> 00:12:29,566
going to see taken from the

342
00:12:29,566 --> 00:12:30,000
federal government.

343
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,100
Which will be, by the way, used

344
00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:40,300
to subsidize in his something

345
00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:40,900
the senator did not mention,

346
00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:45,000
that money of the Trump tax cut,

347
00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,200
so they will take money away

348
00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:46,800
from the poor to subsidize the

349
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,566
tax cut that goes to the rich,

350
00:12:48,566 --> 00:12:52,266
and the state residents here in

351
00:12:52,266 --> 00:12:54,133
New Jersey, we are going to have

352
00:12:54,133 --> 00:12:54,700
to find a way to cover that

353
00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:55,333
whole.

354
00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:58,633
David: Progressives are a little

355
00:12:58,633 --> 00:12:58,833
antsy.

356
00:12:58,833 --> 00:13:01,400
The ones I've talked to her

357
00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,033
worrying about set aside money

358
00:13:04,033 --> 00:13:07,366
like that transit tax that is

359
00:13:07,366 --> 00:13:08,000
getting sucked into the general

360
00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:08,200
funds.

361
00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,000
Are they right to be a little

362
00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:11,200
antsy?

363
00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:17,200
Dustin: I think anything that is

364
00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:18,000
not constitutionally protected

365
00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,266
is at risk to New Jersey, and we

366
00:13:19,266 --> 00:13:19,966
see that historically.

367
00:13:19,966 --> 00:13:22,566
Of course, they have cause for

368
00:13:22,566 --> 00:13:23,233
concern.

369
00:13:23,233 --> 00:13:33,500
They find themselves in these

370
00:13:33,500 --> 00:13:34,433
situations all too frequently,

371
00:13:34,433 --> 00:13:40,500
where they are met and that

372
00:13:40,500 --> 00:13:44,133
Trump tax cuts go through, and

373
00:13:44,133 --> 00:13:46,666
DOGE does its work.

374
00:13:46,666 --> 00:13:49,533
We already got notices about

375
00:13:49,533 --> 00:13:51,366
untold amounts of money for

376
00:13:51,366 --> 00:13:52,000
grants and other programs that

377
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:52,466
will be lost.

378
00:13:52,466 --> 00:13:56,100
We very easily could be in that

379
00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:56,633
same situation, scrounging

380
00:13:56,633 --> 00:13:59,466
around for money, despite a $6

381
00:13:59,466 --> 00:13:59,833
billion surplus.

382
00:13:59,833 --> 00:14:04,533
David: We hear all the time

383
00:14:04,533 --> 00:14:05,366
about the budget process.

384
00:14:05,366 --> 00:14:08,266
We never see the final document

385
00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:10,366
ever really before eight vote.

386
00:14:10,366 --> 00:14:14,500
No chance that that is going to

387
00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:15,066
be any different this year?

388
00:14:15,066 --> 00:14:19,500
John: nobody has made it a

389
00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,733
priority headed into the budget

390
00:14:21,733 --> 00:14:25,000
season, but the type of energy

391
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:25,566
we have in the run-up to the

392
00:14:25,566 --> 00:14:28,266
budget is what we need when we

393
00:14:28,266 --> 00:14:28,800
get to the final weeks.

394
00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:32,766
So the attention the budget

395
00:14:32,766 --> 00:14:37,233
speech gets tends to trail off,

396
00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:38,700
by the time the final spending

397
00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:39,800
bill gets voted out of

398
00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:40,400
committee, it is late at night

399
00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:41,866
with a few reporters and policy

400
00:14:41,866 --> 00:14:46,766
advocates, and it is signed into

401
00:14:46,766 --> 00:14:49,133
law pretty quickly after it goes

402
00:14:49,133 --> 00:14:51,500
through both houses, and there

403
00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:52,100
are a lot of changes that get

404
00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:54,866
made to important programs.

405
00:14:54,866 --> 00:14:55,333
A lot stays the same.

406
00:14:55,333 --> 00:14:58,566
We will see this year.

407
00:14:58,566 --> 00:15:01,000
Really, I think the process

408
00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,533
sometimes is a little backwards,

409
00:15:02,533 --> 00:15:05,400
including the way recovery it,

410
00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:06,533
there should be more attention

411
00:15:06,533 --> 00:15:08,566
given in those final weeks

412
00:15:08,566 --> 00:15:09,300
because that is when the big

413
00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:12,033
decisions get made, typically by

414
00:15:12,033 --> 00:15:13,933
the governor and the legislative

415
00:15:13,933 --> 00:15:16,866
leaders in the majority in both

416
00:15:16,866 --> 00:15:17,733
houses, that is really when the

417
00:15:17,733 --> 00:15:20,533
attention, a light should be

418
00:15:20,533 --> 00:15:23,266
shining brightest.

419
00:15:23,266 --> 00:15:24,900
They add typically a lot of

420
00:15:24,900 --> 00:15:27,800
last-minute spending and we

421
00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,033
don't learn the sponsors of that

422
00:15:29,033 --> 00:15:30,233
spending until after the budget

423
00:15:30,233 --> 00:15:33,566
is signed into law, so there is

424
00:15:33,566 --> 00:15:34,233
a lot of work that could be done

425
00:15:34,233 --> 00:15:35,200
on the process, you just don't

426
00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,133
hear any of the leaders talking

427
00:15:37,133 --> 00:15:37,766
about doing any of that kind of

428
00:15:37,766 --> 00:15:39,766
work because they sort of

429
00:15:39,766 --> 00:15:41,733
benefit from doing everything

430
00:15:41,733 --> 00:15:42,333
under the cloak of darkness.

431
00:15:42,333 --> 00:15:48,600
Transparency is not a priority

432
00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:49,133
with this legislature and

433
00:15:49,133 --> 00:15:49,400
governor.

434
00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,633
At times you could argue they

435
00:15:52,633 --> 00:15:53,200
have open hostility towards

436
00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:53,533
transparency.

437
00:15:53,533 --> 00:15:56,466
Charles: Don't expect a change

438
00:15:56,466 --> 00:15:57,066
in the budget process anytime

439
00:15:57,066 --> 00:15:57,266
soon.

440
00:15:57,266 --> 00:16:01,166
David: Dustin, John Mexico point

441
00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:06,800
about the rubber -- John makes a

442
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:07,900
good point about the rubber

443
00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:08,633
meeting the road towards the end

444
00:16:08,633 --> 00:16:10,400
of the process, but by that

445
00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:11,433
time, we are all beaten down by

446
00:16:11,433 --> 00:16:15,366
sitting through endless assembly

447
00:16:15,366 --> 00:16:16,866
and incentive budget committee

448
00:16:16,866 --> 00:16:17,466
hearings, and that is how you

449
00:16:17,466 --> 00:16:21,100
end up, mistake Lolos to sleep

450
00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:25,900
-- lull us to sleep, is that how

451
00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:26,733
we end up with Christmas tree

452
00:16:26,733 --> 00:16:26,933
items?

453
00:16:26,933 --> 00:16:29,400
Dustin: That is a part of it,

454
00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:30,933
and I agree with John 100% about

455
00:16:30,933 --> 00:16:35,000
this being backwards, and all

456
00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:35,633
the budget committee hearings, I

457
00:16:35,633 --> 00:16:40,300
mean -- they are a little bit of

458
00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:40,533
a show.

459
00:16:40,533 --> 00:16:42,633
Lawmakers are going to do what

460
00:16:42,633 --> 00:16:43,233
the going to do.

461
00:16:43,233 --> 00:16:45,700
And Phil Murphy in the governor

462
00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:46,300
is going to do what they would

463
00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:47,466
like to do.

464
00:16:47,466 --> 00:16:52,300
Governor, I think this is a good

465
00:16:52,300 --> 00:16:52,700
process.

466
00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:56,433
Every year, it is the same that

467
00:16:56,433 --> 00:16:58,500
you hear about, how about the

468
00:16:58,500 --> 00:16:59,066
processes, but nothing ever

469
00:16:59,066 --> 00:17:00,833
changes.

470
00:17:00,833 --> 00:17:01,766
It benefits the people who are

471
00:17:01,766 --> 00:17:04,633
in that room, and they get to

472
00:17:04,633 --> 00:17:06,866
build a new dog park in their

473
00:17:06,866 --> 00:17:09,633
district or make upgrades to

474
00:17:09,633 --> 00:17:10,800
local road or whatever.

475
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:11,366
Nothing is going to change.

476
00:17:11,366 --> 00:17:13,866
David: Let's move on.

477
00:17:13,866 --> 00:17:16,433
Charles, you have an interesting

478
00:17:16,433 --> 00:17:18,400
piece on Matt Plotkin, future

479
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,166
political candidate.

480
00:17:20,166 --> 00:17:21,566
He waved it off when we asked

481
00:17:21,566 --> 00:17:22,700
him about it a few weeks ago,

482
00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:24,266
but he left the door slightly

483
00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:26,733
ajar in your column, tell us

484
00:17:26,733 --> 00:17:27,033
about that.

485
00:17:27,033 --> 00:17:31,200
Charles: I potentially put a

486
00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,433
doorjamb in that question, and

487
00:17:33,433 --> 00:17:35,266
frankly I was not surprised.

488
00:17:35,266 --> 00:17:36,266
If you look at the totality of

489
00:17:36,266 --> 00:17:41,500
everything he's doing, it would

490
00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:42,466
not be a shock if you stop

491
00:17:42,466 --> 00:17:44,666
planning some future or laying

492
00:17:44,666 --> 00:17:47,266
the groundwork for some

493
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:47,666
political future.

494
00:17:47,666 --> 00:17:49,500
I mean, it's not unheard of.

495
00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:51,733
He had a U.S. attorney from New

496
00:17:51,733 --> 00:17:56,933
Jersey run twice for president.

497
00:17:56,933 --> 00:17:59,833
It is high visibility job, and

498
00:17:59,833 --> 00:18:01,966
he is also seizing the moment.

499
00:18:01,966 --> 00:18:05,700
He understands, he seems to

500
00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:07,933
understand there is a lot of

501
00:18:07,933 --> 00:18:10,866
clamor for change, for

502
00:18:10,866 --> 00:18:12,600
transparency, for accountability

503
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,300
maybe, so he is grabbing onto

504
00:18:16,300 --> 00:18:16,633
those themes.

505
00:18:16,633 --> 00:18:19,066
I cannot think of another

506
00:18:19,066 --> 00:18:21,333
Attorney General that has set up

507
00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:24,866
a commission to improve those

508
00:18:24,866 --> 00:18:26,200
issues, accountability and

509
00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:27,033
government.

510
00:18:27,033 --> 00:18:28,600
He said that a commission.

511
00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,033
He is going after publicly

512
00:18:33,033 --> 00:18:33,566
criticizing the presidents

513
00:18:33,566 --> 00:18:37,633
pardons, even Joe's pardon of

514
00:18:37,633 --> 00:18:39,733
his son Hunter, who does that?

515
00:18:39,733 --> 00:18:42,633
I cannot remember an Attorney

516
00:18:42,633 --> 00:18:44,066
General poking his nose into the

517
00:18:44,066 --> 00:18:46,033
public spotlight as much as him.

518
00:18:46,033 --> 00:18:49,666
David: He certainly has come a

519
00:18:49,666 --> 00:18:51,733
long way from the earliest days

520
00:18:51,733 --> 00:18:54,333
of the Murphy administration

521
00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:55,000
when he was in the inner circle

522
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:55,533
of that inner circle.

523
00:18:55,533 --> 00:18:59,066
He is the only Attorney General

524
00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:01,533
who on occasion will send out an

525
00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:03,400
emailed last that says I'm

526
00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,533
fighting for you, which he did a

527
00:19:07,533 --> 00:19:08,333
couple of weeks ago.

528
00:19:08,333 --> 00:19:15,533
Charles: I attended a

529
00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:16,166
postelection form in Princeton,

530
00:19:16,166 --> 00:19:19,066
where he was against, and there

531
00:19:19,066 --> 00:19:19,866
were a couple of other

532
00:19:19,866 --> 00:19:22,866
officials, and they were

533
00:19:22,866 --> 00:19:23,366
murmuring in the crowd.

534
00:19:23,366 --> 00:19:29,166
I mean, maybe I was starting to

535
00:19:29,166 --> 00:19:31,433
murmur, but clearly, it was hard

536
00:19:31,433 --> 00:19:31,733
not to see.

537
00:19:31,733 --> 00:19:36,600
David: Most of the gubernatorial

538
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,433
candidates, that is, are bailing

539
00:19:38,433 --> 00:19:40,966
on these county conventions.

540
00:19:40,966 --> 00:19:42,200
That is except those who expect

541
00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:42,500
to win them.

542
00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:46,033
Dustin, is this another sign of

543
00:19:46,033 --> 00:19:47,700
how the end of the line is

544
00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:49,833
impacting politics and Jersey?

545
00:19:49,833 --> 00:19:53,666
Dustin: I think it is pretty

546
00:19:53,666 --> 00:19:55,900
clear, and it is amazing how

547
00:19:55,900 --> 00:20:00,766
last year at this time anybody

548
00:20:00,766 --> 00:20:01,400
who cares about politics in New

549
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,666
Jersey, all their attention is

550
00:20:04,666 --> 00:20:10,133
drawn to the conventions between

551
00:20:10,133 --> 00:20:10,766
the First Lady for the senate

552
00:20:10,766 --> 00:20:12,300
seat and now it is like nobody

553
00:20:12,300 --> 00:20:12,500
cares.

554
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:15,233
So it just goes to show you how

555
00:20:15,233 --> 00:20:20,100
quickly things can change after

556
00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:24,233
being such an institution for a

557
00:20:24,233 --> 00:20:26,533
century or more, that it is

558
00:20:26,533 --> 00:20:26,933
over, it is that.

559
00:20:26,933 --> 00:20:30,500
-- it is over, it is dead.

560
00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:33,833
To be fair, these county

561
00:20:33,833 --> 00:20:34,433
organizations still have a lot

562
00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:37,600
of influence and resources, so

563
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:38,733
the people will get that

564
00:20:38,733 --> 00:20:38,966
support.

565
00:20:38,966 --> 00:20:42,833
David: That is money, boots on

566
00:20:42,833 --> 00:20:43,233
the ground, etc.

567
00:20:43,233 --> 00:20:45,566
Let me stick with you, the

568
00:20:45,566 --> 00:20:47,833
Catholic Church is going to hire

569
00:20:47,833 --> 00:20:51,166
a law firm to conduct the

570
00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,566
comprehensive third-party review

571
00:20:52,566 --> 00:20:56,000
of this 2019 investigation into

572
00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:01,400
sex abuse charges at the

573
00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:02,000
University that implicate the

574
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:03,366
new president.

575
00:21:03,366 --> 00:21:04,133
You have been on that story.

576
00:21:04,133 --> 00:21:06,300
Do you have an update?

577
00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:08,966
Dustin: I wish I knew what was

578
00:21:08,966 --> 00:21:09,400
going on with that.

579
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,000
They did a comprehensive review

580
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:13,766
in 2019 and we still don't have

581
00:21:13,766 --> 00:21:14,633
the answers to that.

582
00:21:14,633 --> 00:21:15,333
We only got a summary from the

583
00:21:15,333 --> 00:21:15,566
school.

584
00:21:15,566 --> 00:21:21,333
What the archdiocese of Newark

585
00:21:21,333 --> 00:21:22,700
says about this is that the

586
00:21:22,700 --> 00:21:23,966
review is going to be looking

587
00:21:23,966 --> 00:21:24,466
into how that review is

588
00:21:24,466 --> 00:21:24,733
conducted.

589
00:21:24,733 --> 00:21:28,900
So it is an investigation of an

590
00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:29,500
investigation for all intents

591
00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:29,933
and purposes.

592
00:21:29,933 --> 00:21:33,233
I suppose it is going to focus

593
00:21:33,233 --> 00:21:35,633
on its relation to the new

594
00:21:35,633 --> 00:21:38,566
president, Joseph Riley, and how

595
00:21:38,566 --> 00:21:40,233
the process went in terms of who

596
00:21:40,233 --> 00:21:43,333
was notified and when, and if it

597
00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:44,833
was appropriate.

598
00:21:44,833 --> 00:21:48,333
As we speak today, it has been

599
00:21:48,333 --> 00:21:50,300
two months since we reported all

600
00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:53,333
of this, and it is hard to

601
00:21:53,333 --> 00:21:58,333
understand why we are going to

602
00:21:58,333 --> 00:21:58,933
the notions of hiring another

603
00:21:58,933 --> 00:22:03,166
law firm for an investigation

604
00:22:03,166 --> 00:22:03,966
instead of bringing more

605
00:22:03,966 --> 00:22:04,600
transparency and telling people

606
00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,266
what is going on.

607
00:22:07,266 --> 00:22:10,033
David: The news of this was that

608
00:22:10,033 --> 00:22:12,066
the president knew of the

609
00:22:12,066 --> 00:22:12,666
allegations but did not bring

610
00:22:12,666 --> 00:22:13,000
them forward.

611
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,300
Dustin: Correct, he's not

612
00:22:16,300 --> 00:22:17,266
accused of misconduct himself,

613
00:22:17,266 --> 00:22:19,566
but he was aware of the

614
00:22:19,566 --> 00:22:20,233
allegations and did not properly

615
00:22:20,233 --> 00:22:21,466
report them which is

616
00:22:21,466 --> 00:22:21,766
problematic.

617
00:22:21,766 --> 00:22:25,866
David: The other story this

618
00:22:25,866 --> 00:22:26,500
week, congestion pricing put on

619
00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:26,700
pause.

620
00:22:26,700 --> 00:22:29,100
It looks like it is over.

621
00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:29,400
Is it over?

622
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,766
John: I don't think with this on

623
00:22:32,766 --> 00:22:35,233
it is ever over.

624
00:22:35,233 --> 00:22:37,800
It will be something that is

625
00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:38,400
probably contested for quite a

626
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:38,866
while.

627
00:22:38,866 --> 00:22:43,233
I think the claims that were

628
00:22:43,233 --> 00:22:46,866
made by New York about sort of

629
00:22:46,866 --> 00:22:47,433
interference at the federal

630
00:22:47,433 --> 00:22:52,133
level, I mean, you know, federal

631
00:22:52,133 --> 00:22:52,800
administrations change, and they

632
00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:53,200
can change again.

633
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,966
It really is a test of what one

634
00:22:57,966 --> 00:23:00,466
state can do versus how much

635
00:23:00,466 --> 00:23:01,100
influence the federal government

636
00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:01,266
has.

637
00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:04,266
And, of course, in New Jersey,

638
00:23:04,266 --> 00:23:06,600
we are stuck in a situation

639
00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,333
where transit funding remains a

640
00:23:08,333 --> 00:23:08,733
long-term issue.

641
00:23:08,733 --> 00:23:10,466
You talked about with the

642
00:23:10,466 --> 00:23:10,700
senator.

643
00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:11,900
We have talked about it.

644
00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:15,966
You don't have the type of

645
00:23:15,966 --> 00:23:16,566
infrastructure buildup in New

646
00:23:16,566 --> 00:23:17,200
Jersey that allows us to easily

647
00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,300
absorb whatever happens in New

648
00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:21,300
York because a lot of people to

649
00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:23,266
have to drive in because they

650
00:23:23,266 --> 00:23:23,900
don't have mass transit access

651
00:23:23,900 --> 00:23:24,300
to New York City.

652
00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:27,200
David: You also had an

653
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,066
interesting piece on the details

654
00:23:29,066 --> 00:23:30,233
in some of these terms of

655
00:23:30,233 --> 00:23:30,800
service agreements that you

656
00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,766
click on so easily.

657
00:23:32,766 --> 00:23:37,233
John: there is a bill moving

658
00:23:37,233 --> 00:23:38,633
through the legislature with

659
00:23:38,633 --> 00:23:39,233
bipartisan support that would

660
00:23:39,233 --> 00:23:42,700
try to tighten up a state law.

661
00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:43,300
A lot of us use our phone for

662
00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:46,900
services, we order a pizza, we

663
00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:48,666
Hayleigh ride, and sometimes

664
00:23:48,666 --> 00:23:49,333
little box comes up and you

665
00:23:49,333 --> 00:23:51,700
don't look at it too closely

666
00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:52,366
because you're anxious to get

667
00:23:52,366 --> 00:23:54,933
the pizza, but take a look at it

668
00:23:54,933 --> 00:23:55,766
and see exactly what you are

669
00:23:55,766 --> 00:23:56,533
signing off on, whether it is

670
00:23:56,533 --> 00:23:58,900
datasharing or maybe even

671
00:23:58,900 --> 00:23:59,500
getting up your right to sue.

672
00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:02,166
That is something that gets

673
00:24:02,166 --> 00:24:05,900
overlooked often, especially as

674
00:24:05,900 --> 00:24:08,566
these big companies take on more

675
00:24:08,566 --> 00:24:09,933
and more services that are

676
00:24:09,933 --> 00:24:11,933
offered to us, everything from

677
00:24:11,933 --> 00:24:16,966
cloud services for showing up

678
00:24:16,966 --> 00:24:17,566
with your coffee for tomorrow

679
00:24:17,566 --> 00:24:17,800
morning.

680
00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,133
David: Months to go, but we have

681
00:24:21,133 --> 00:24:21,566
one minute to kill.

682
00:24:21,566 --> 00:24:28,066
Who was the front runner in each

683
00:24:28,066 --> 00:24:28,566
of the governors races?

684
00:24:28,566 --> 00:24:29,133
Pick one or no work on each

685
00:24:29,133 --> 00:24:29,333
side.

686
00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:33,400
-- or no one on each side.

687
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,133
Dustin: It looks like Mikey

688
00:24:36,133 --> 00:24:36,733
Cheryl paper on the Democratic

689
00:24:36,733 --> 00:24:37,966
side.

690
00:24:37,966 --> 00:24:42,200
I would say it is a tossup with

691
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,100
Spady, he has strong backing,

692
00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:47,633
Trump connected backing.

693
00:24:47,633 --> 00:24:48,900
David: Charles?

694
00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:51,433
Charles: I would say Mikey

695
00:24:51,433 --> 00:24:53,600
Cheryl is floating above the

696
00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,400
fray, and then on the Republican

697
00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,800
side, I agree with Dustin but I

698
00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:02,866
would tilt more towards Chief

699
00:25:02,866 --> 00:25:07,066
Covelli.

700
00:25:07,066 --> 00:25:09,133
John: it is wide open right now.

701
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:11,033
There have been things set on

702
00:25:11,033 --> 00:25:13,633
both sides, but at this stage

703
00:25:13,633 --> 00:25:15,366
and don't think people are

704
00:25:15,366 --> 00:25:15,900
really paying attention.

705
00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:17,600
At this point it is wide open.

706
00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:18,900
David: Too early.

707
00:25:18,900 --> 00:25:23,966
A notes, join us Tuesday at 3:00

708
00:25:23,966 --> 00:25:25,033
p.m. as we bring you live

709
00:25:25,033 --> 00:25:25,666
coverage of the Governor's

710
00:25:25,666 --> 00:25:26,033
budget address.

711
00:25:26,033 --> 00:25:30,000
We will be anchoring from inside

712
00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:32,933
the chambers, before, during and

713
00:25:32,933 --> 00:25:34,700
after the speech, John will be

714
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:35,500
there, and I will be stocking

715
00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:36,700
the hallways.

716
00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:40,000
Tuesday, live at 3:00 p.m. on

717
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,200
NJPBS and Oliver streaming

718
00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:42,466
platforms.

719
00:25:42,466 --> 00:25:45,433
-- and all of our streaming

720
00:25:45,433 --> 00:25:45,700
platforms.

721
00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:48,300
Good to see you altogether

722
00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:48,500
again.

723
00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:55,500
Thank you to Senator O'Scanlon.

724
00:25:55,500 --> 00:26:01,100
Follow this show on roundtable

725
00:26:01,100 --> 00:26:02,066
NJ on, and subscribe to the

726
00:26:02,066 --> 00:26:02,466
YouTube channel.

727
00:26:02,466 --> 00:26:04,333
I'm David Cruz.

728
00:26:04,333 --> 00:26:08,466
For all of us here at Gateway

729
00:26:08,466 --> 00:26:09,466
Center, thank you for watching.

730
00:26:09,466 --> 00:26:10,000
We will see you next week.

731
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,366
>> Major funding for "Reporters

732
00:26:13,366 --> 00:26:14,100
Roundtable" with David Cruz is

733
00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:16,333
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734
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let's be healthy together.

735
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736
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:20,166
Jersey leaders, partnering with

737
00:26:20,166 --> 00:26:20,933
New Jersey businesses,

738
00:26:20,933 --> 00:26:21,700
transforming New jersey's

739
00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:28,300
future.

740
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♪