Murphy challenges Sweeney on gun control – Politico

Good Friday morning!

Gov. Phil Murphy is pushing yet another gun control package — his third, even if several of the bills are left over from previous gun legislation pushes.

Those bills — stricter ammunition tracking and photo ID requirements for purchases, four-year renewal of gun purchase IDs and lock box home storage rules — have something in common besides firearms: They passed the Assembly in 2019 but not the Senate.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but Murphy and Senate President Steve Sweeney aren’t each others’ biggest fans. Sweeney has moved gun control bills before, while others, like those above, have hit a wall with him. Gun laws are a no-brainer issue for a Democrat running statewide, but the Senate president represents a district with a lot of rural areas. And it’s not necessarily an easy issue for Democrats in those areas or in exurban districts they want to hold or flip.

This has become a pattern on some issues championed by the party’s liberal wing. Note that Sweeney has also been uneager to move the Reproductive Freedom Act, even though it — like gun control — is a pet cause of retiring state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who has long enjoyed a close alliance with Sweeney.

Read more about it here.

WHERE’S MURPHY — In Red Bank for a 3:45 p.m. vaccination site visit

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Essex County Commissioner Patricia Sebold, former Hoboken mayor/diary keeper Dawn Zimmer, Edgewater Park Committeemember Michael Trainor… Saturday: Education consultant David Verducci… Sunday: Cherry Hill Councilmember Michele Golkow, Vision Media’s Phil Swibinski.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I hope everyone will wake up to how scary this is for our future and I hope this legislation fails miserably as it would end the Republic as we know it.” — Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who supported overturning the 2020 election results even after a violent mob of Trump supporters rioted in the Capitol to interrupt the transfer of power, on the proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices.

CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 3,411 newly-reported positive PCR tests for a total of 848,566. 47 more deaths for a total of 25,052 confirmed or probable deaths. 2,261 hospitalized, 460 in intensive care. 2,334,968 fully vaccinated, about 26.3 percent of the population.

MONETIZE THOSE ASSETS — Pension systems could take on assets like toll lanes under Sweeney bill, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan: Senate President Steve Sweeney on Thursday announced new legislation that would allow the state’s pension systems to take on assets like water utilities and toll lanes to diversify their portfolios. Sweeney’s bill, NJS3637, would create an infrastructure trust fund to manage assets that would be used to benefit New Jersey’s public employee pension funds. The value of the assets would be determined by third-party evaluators. The idea is similar to a prior decision to dedicate New Jersey lottery revenues to the pension system back in 2017. It’s a maneuver that’s also been used in Maryland and Virginia, among other states. By giving a valuable asset to a pension fund the state would be providing a guarantee of future revenue, giving more stability to the system. New Jersey’s pension system is woefully underfunded, and Gov. Phil Murphy this year has proposed making the state’s full pension payment for the first time since 1996.

LATE GUNS — Murphy off to a late start with ‘smart gun’ law, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday he was preparing to unveil his appointments to a commission that would get the ball rolling on requiring gun retailers to sell “smart guns” — a process already months behind schedule. “I will soon be announcing my selections to the Personalized Handgun Authorization Commission, the so-called Smart Gun Commission,” Murphy said at a Newark event where he unveiled his latest gun control push. “With industry experts and advocates moving side-by-side, we can move New Jersey’s discussion about gun violence away from the heat of politics and to the side where common sense can prevail and common ground can be found.” The governor has already made the appointments but not publicly announced them, his spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna said in a phone interview. But those picks were made in October and March — two and five months, respectively, after a statutory deadline in a law he signed in July 2019. And the commission has not yet organized, delaying the requirement that retailers carry the guns.

THE LONGER YOUR CUSTOMERS LIVE, THE MORE MONEY YOU CAN EXTRACT FROM THEM — “Smoking Foes: Make COVID Casino Smoking Ban Permanent in NJ,” by The AP’s Wayne Parry: “Health advocates say New Jersey’s temporary coronavirus-related ban on smoking in the Atlantic City casinos should be made permanent, and some state legislators said Thursday they will push to make that happen. But the casinos say permanently banning smoking once the pandemic has ended will drive away customers, leading to job losses and lower tax revenue for the state. They say the gambling halls have invested heavily in air filtration equipment that renders the workspaces safe. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, casinos in 20 states are smoke-free, and three additional states — New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan — have enacted temporary virus-related smoking bans.”

— “Murphy nominates Sen. Menendez’s son to high-profile Port Authority post”

— “N.J. sees dip in new unemployment claims as state added thousands of jobs in March”

— Unions urge relief efforts for undocumented immigrants

— Stile: “NJ Republicans want to play hardball — over All-Star Game move”

— “State senator’s DWI court hearing scheduled for Bergen County in June”

COLD AS ICE — “Indonesian asylum seekers survived Trump’s attempt to deport them, but now they’re facing off against Biden,” by WNYC’s Matt Katz: “The Biden Administration is in court fighting for the power to deport about two dozen Christian Indonesians in Central Jersey who were protected by the Obama Administration and then targeted for removal under President Trump. The Indonesians, who have lived in the United States for decades and fear religious-based persecution in their home country, could be arrested, detained, and removed from the country if a federal judge rules in the coming days in favor of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s efforts to lift a hold on the deportations. Attorneys representing ICE are arguing that U.S. District Judge Esther Salas doesn’t have the jurisdiction to continue the temporary stop to the deportations that she imposed in 2018. But the Indonesians and their attorneys are perplexed as to why Biden’s Justice Department is continuing a Trump Administration fight, especially since the acting director of ICE has said it is not seeking to deport undocumented immigrants who don’t have criminal records.”

THIS SEQUEL TO THE CAT STEVENS SONG SUCKS — “South Jersey father and son charged by feds in Capitol insurrection,” by NJ 101.5’s Dan Alexander: “The son of a man who claimed to have urinated in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Capitol riot has also been charged with participating in the insurrection. The father — James Rahm Jr., who has addresses in Atlantic City and Philadelphia — was charged on Feb. 5 after an acquaintance took screenshots of pictures and video on his Facebook account showing him at the Capitol, according to a criminal complaint. The pictures and media were taken by his son, James Rahm III, of Northfield, who also posted pictures and video on his own Snapchat account, federal prosecutors said. He is the 16th person from New Jersey charged in the insurrection.”

GOTTAPROBLEMHEIMER — AOC: ‘Extreme’ to demand SALT cap repeal as part of infrastructure package, by POLITICO’s Bernie Becker: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Thursday that she wouldn’t back a full repeal of the current limits on state and local tax deductions, but suggested that she was interested in finding ways to offer relief from the cap for the middle-class. “I do not believe in holding the entire infrastructure package hostage for a full repeal,” the New York congresswoman said at the Capitol, calling that a “bit of an extreme position.” Meanwhile, most of her colleagues from New York, along with lawmakers from New Jersey and California, announced the formation of a coalition to advocate for relief from the tax.

— Mike Kelly: “Donald Trump is facing yet another new lawsuit — this one from a NJ parolee”

MONEYMOUTH — “Monmouth County secret raises: Democratic challenger demands NJ investigation,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Susane Cervenka: “The Democratic commissioner candidate wants the state to investigate raises the all-GOP Monmouth County commissioners secretly gave themselves and other top officials. Mike Beson, of Ocean Township, wrote acting New Jersey Comptroller Kevin Walsh formally requesting his office review the raises that were first publicly revealed by an Asbury Park Press investigation. The Press found 10 officials received almost $148,000 in raises that were not publicly approved. Beson is running against incumbent Commissioner Sue Kiley, who serves as the board’s deputy director. ‘Instead of trying to cut excess costs and decrease our property tax burden during an economic public and health crisis, the county commissioners — hoping no one was paying attention — increased their own salaries,’Beson said in a press release announcing his request for the investigation.”

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. THESE TWO THINGS ARE NOT RELATED — “Palisades Park mayor lands job at Bergen agency weeks after quitting NJ Assembly race,” by The Record’s Terrence T. McDonald: “Palisades Park Mayor Christopher Chung landed a job at a Bergen County agency less than three weeks after he abandoned his bid for the state Assembly. Chung, 53, will make $75,000 annually as coordinator of contractual operations for the Bergen County Utilities Authority, said Robert Laux, the agency’s director. Chung was hired effective March 29, Laux said. Chung, a Democrat who has a real estate license and previously worked in property management, said that aside from potential private real estate work, he will not have full-time jobs outside of his duties as mayor and with the BCUA. He said the job is not linked to his decision to drop out of the Assembly race, a move that relieved Bergen County Democrats after a critical report by the state’s comptroller claiming Palisades Park officials wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars”

ENGELWOOD CLIFFS STAFFERS TAKING ADVICE OF CITY COUNSEL EDDIE T. HEAD — “Englewood Cliffs staff ‘running for the hills’: CFO resigns week after councilwoman,” by The Record’s Katie Sobko: “Personnel changes dominated the council meeting held virtually Wednesday night. During the meeting, the council approved retirement payouts for a member of the finance office and a public works employee. It also took measures to ensure payroll would continue in light of the abrupt resignation of the part-time CFO earlier in the day. Councilman David DeGregorio said staff appeared to be ‘running for the hills, people retiring, people leaving.’ Mayor Mario Kranjac disputed that assessment. According to Kranjac, CFO Chris Battaglia notified borough officials on Tuesday that he intended to leave in two weeks, which Kranjac called “unprofessional” since it is the middle of budget season.”

— “When it comes to marijuana sales, Passaic is looking out for its image. Here’s why”

— “[Millville] City planners dive into marijuana law details, deadline coming closer”

— “Long Branch police chief retiring, and the city is abolishing the position”

— “Court rejects appeal for Bergen County pair convicted of firebombing NJ synagogues”

— “Jersey City Ward E Councilman Solomon raises $86k from over 1,000 different donors”

— “A judge says Lakewood schools fail kids. Here’s why officials say she’s wrong”

— “Fire chief appointed to lead Hackensack after city manager’s sudden death”

THAT’S SOME GOOD HUMOR — “Trenton engineer exposes himself, eats ice cream during council meeting,” by The Trentonian’s Isaac Avilucea: “City principal engineer Hoggarth Stephen — joining politicians and prominent authors in the virtual hall of shame — was caught on camera lounging in bed scratching himself with his belly out during Thursday’s council meeting … Stephen’s exposure became such a distraction that council president Kathy McBride advised the administration to reach out to him by phone to let him know that he was being recorded. He’s ‘lying in the bed, scratching his tummy. I don’t think that’s a good look,’ McBride said. Looking comfy, Stephen was captured kicking up his feet on the bed and adjusting his pillow. He lifted his shirt and placed a cell phone on his chest, then pulled his shirt back down and began eating a bowl of ice cream.”

HITCOIN — “Haddonfield man indicted for allegedly seeking child’s murder,” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “A Haddonfield man has been indicted for allegedly paying $20,000 to have a 14-year-old boy murdered, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey. John Michael Musbach, 31, wanted to kill the victim of an earlier child-pornography crime for which he’d been convicted, the federal prosecutor’s office alleged Wednesday. It claimed Musbach paid for the hit in bitcoin, but the ‘killer’ was actually someone operating a scam. Musbach intends to fight the charges against him, his attorney, Rocco Cipparone said Thursday … The scheme allegedly had its origins in a crime committed in the summer of 2015, when Musbach exchanged sexually explicit photographs during online exchanges with a 13-year-old, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.”

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BENNIES — “Jersey Shore summer rentals are hot. Here’s how the pandemic changes prices,”by The Asbury Park Press’ Michael L. Diamond and Jean Mikle: “The Jersey Shore’s summer rental season is shaping up as a blockbuster. Visitors already have booked homes during the peak of summer and now are filling up weekends and weekdays alike for the shoulder months as well. The demand is so high, homeowners and real estate agents said, that owners have been able to increase prices, secretly wishing that they could spread out their good fortune over years to come. For now, though, they will need to settle for a summer rental market in which the stars are aligning. Consumers isolated in their homes are desperate to get away, but they still might hesitate to get on an airplane. ‘Think about a week at Disney World versus a week at the Shore,’ said Joel Naroff, an economist based in Holland, Pennsylvania. ‘Between the airplane and amusement park tickets, you’ve paid for your week at the Shore.’”

IT’S AN INSTITUTE YOU CAN DISPARAGE — “Married N.J. State Police detectives charged with filing false reports over bar brawl,” by The Vineland Daily Journla’s Deborah M. Marko: “Married New Jersey State Troopers were charged with falsifying reports after their account of a North Wildwood bar fight didn’t match video of the incident. The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability charged Detective Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Ogden and Detective Sgt. Dorothy Ogden with fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records. The charge, announced Thursday, stems from the Hammonton couple’s reporting of their conduct during a Feb. 22 fight with other patrons at the Exit 6 Bar. After the altercation, the troopers didn’t immediately notify their supervisors as required. They waited two days and then submitted New Jersey State Police Special Reports, according to a release from Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.”

A PROBLEM WE ALL FACE FROM TIME TO TIME — “We found our family’s Nazi flag. Now what?” by The Record’s Jim Beckerman: “Not long ago, we found our family’s Nazi flag. We had lost track of it over time, my brothers and I. ‘Whatever happened to that Nazi flag?’ we would say every now and then … There, unfolded in front of us, was the well-remembered banner: faded red cloth, white circle, black swastika at the center. We shuddered with the familiar fascination. ‘Make sure I’m not in the picture,’ said my other brother, Peter, who held up one end as I snapped photos. So how did my family come to have a Nazi flag? That, actually, is a matter of some debate. One thing we didn’t have in our family — to be clear — is Nazis. Quite the opposite: We had family members who were victims of the Nazis. We also had an uncle, Bernard Beckerman, who fought them. In April 1945, he helped liberate Dachau.”

— “NJPAC will reopen this summer, 1st N.J. venue to require COVID test or vaccine”

— “Fairleigh Dickinson University will require fall students to be fully vaccinated”

— “He calls himself ‘Painless Pete’ and tells dad jokes. This retired nurse has vaccinated thousands”

— “’Get over it’: Blair Academy wrestler says coaches turned a blind eye to years of hazing, abuse”

— “How a pooch was rescued from PATH station escalator”