RIP, RBG – Politico
Good Monday morning!
The implications of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death are so huge that they completely overshadowed the mourning of an icon and important jurist.
Republicans aren’t likely to hold off on confirming a justice to replace her. Of course it’s totally inconsistent with what they said during the Merrick Garland nomination. But they hold the levers of power and have the opportunity to shape the court even more in their favor for decades. They will do it, hypocrisy be damned.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell was quick to advocate for Democrats to pack the court.
“If Senate Republicans jam through a replacement for Justice Ginsburg before Jan 20, 2021, we must commit to expand the Supreme Court at first opportunity to finally balance a court that has been in Republican hands for now over 50 years,” he tweeted.
It seems pretty straightforward but nobody’s done it in 140 years. It can’t be easy.
I won’t venture a guess on the political implications of Ginsburg’s death for the presidential race. But at least in New Jersey, I think Democratic congressional candidates will be comfortable with the elevation of issues like Obamacare and Roe v. Wade.
WHERE’S MURPHY? — In Trenton for a 1 p.m. coronavirus press conference
CORONAVIRUS TRACKER — 457 newly-diagnosed cases for a total of 199,762. Three more deaths for a total of 14,276 (not counting 1,791 probable deaths)
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “My dad would roll over in his grave if I changed parties. Win or lose, that’s not going to happen.” — State Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Passaic Freeholder Bruce James, Horizon’s John Fuller, reporter John Celock
CATHERINE MCCABE USED COCONUTS TO MAKE CLIPPITY CLOP SOUNDS BEHIND HIM — Murphy signs ‘holy grail’ environmental justice bill into law, by POLITICO’s Samantha Maldonado: Murphy on Friday signed into law the nation’s strongest environmental justice legislation, an attempt to protect communities overburdened with pollution … The bill, NJ S232 (20R), sponsored by Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Assembly member John McKeon (D-Essex), is the first of its kind. It requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to deny permits for power plants, incinerators, landfills, large recycling facilities and sewage treatment plants in certain minority and impoverished neighborhoods if the projects pose health and environmental risks in conjunction with the threats those communities already face. The DEP would be required to make a determination that compares the stressors of that community to those other communities face. Environmental justice advocates nationwide have called the legislation the “holy grail” of the movement
SHORT ATTENTION SPAN — Pro-legalization groups worried voter drop-off could harm cannabis ballot question, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: New Jersey voters are widely expected to approve a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot to legalize the sale of cannabis for recreational use. But even with public support holding steady at around 60 percent, leaders of the pro-legalization movement view voter drop-off in the state’s first ever exclusively vote-by-mail general election as a potential spoiler. “We’re expecting around 30 to 40 percent of voters to not get to our question,” said Axel Owen, who is leading the NJ CAN 2020 campaign. “If 100,000 people don’t vote, we would lose 66,000 of those compared to our opposition, who would only lose 33,000.” The outer bound of Owen’s estimate is roughly double the ballot question drop-off recorded in 2016, when 3.8 million New Jerseyans cast a vote for president, but just 3.1 million checked a box on a failed ballot question to build casinos in North Jersey.
102.1 MASTROS — “Soaring unemployment could trigger a nearly $1B tax hike for N.J. businesses,” by NJ Advance Media’s Samantha Marcus: “New Jersey businesses face a looming $919 million increase in unemployment payroll taxes come July, according to a memorandum from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services … The calculation of the fund’s well-being, called the reserve ratio, puts employers’ current contributions at the second-lowest fee structure, column B. But that won’t last. ‘I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but I think if there’s no federal relief, that anybody who’s looking at the numbers would know that we’re going to be in the far opposite column of where we are right now…’ Asaro-Angelo said. That column — called E+10% — is the highest-cost rate column. And the slide from B to E+10% will increase employers’ unemployment insurance taxes by $919 million, the OLS estimated. The tax will increase, on average, from 0.7% of payroll to 1.1%, OLS said.”
MASK ERA — “Plan advances for $500 fines for not wearing masks in NJ stores,” by NJ 101.5’s Michael Symons: “People who don’t properly wear a mask over their nose and mouth in stores in New Jersey could be fined as much as $500 for violating Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive orders declaring a coronavirus public health emergency, under a bill endorsed Thursday by an Assembly committee … The bill, A4453, wasn’t listed on the original Assembly Appropriations Committee agenda but was ‘waived on’ at the start of the meeting … nobody from the public was able to testify on the bill. But that didn’t prevent lawmakers from having a lively 14-minute debate in which Republicans teed off on the idea.”
JAMEL HOLLEY IS GONNA LOVE THIS — Gov. Murphy is hosting a Playbook Live discussion with Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday at 11: 15 a.m. Topics include “school reopenings, the vaccine timeline and how it would be distributed.” Dr. Fauci is the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in case you just knew him as a famous person who actually knows about science and constantly contradicts Trump.
NEW PROPOSAL WOULD BAN LINES FROM WINDING BUT NOT ADDRESS LENGTH — “A week after Murphy’s new MVC laws, drivers still waiting in long, winding lines,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “Of 16 agencies that handle vehicle transactions, 8 had reached their daily customer capacity by noon. The Jersey City agency was one of the remaining agencies still processing customers by noon, according to the MVC website. What would make the process better? ‘Online reservations would make more sense or maybe an app, so you can fill (in) all of this information,’ Slomowitz said, holding a handful of forms. MVC added 20 forms to its website that drivers could fill in, print out and bring to the agency. Slomowitz suggested the MVC set up a system so drivers could electronically send completed forms to the agency.”
—“$2.3M going to N.J. tenants facing eviction, but advocates fear it won’t stop housing crisis”
—“NJ jury trials resume next week, starting in Bergen County”
—“GOP still attacking Draeger for being a real farmer”
—“Battleship New Jersey Museum, fighting for funding in new state budget, remains closed”
—Moran: “Squandering the millionaires’ tax”
—Golden: “Murphy used health crisis to get the tax hike he wanted”
—Mulshine: “Phil Murphy’s millionaires-tax hike hurts economic competitiveness and won’t help the middle class”
CARTOON BREAK — Sheneman: “Murphy gets his millionaire’s tax”
CHECK THE NEAREST ELEVATOR — “Tom Kean Jr. is lying. And hiding,” by The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran: “Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the Republican leader in the state Senate, is running for Congress from a sealed bunker, refusing to answer even cream-puff questions like this one: ‘What are your three biggest accomplishments?’ Instead, Kean is relying on his family name alone, which is beloved by those who knew his father, the two-term governor known for his integrity and bipartisanship. Sadly, Kean Jr. is busy soiling that name today with a vile and factually incorrect attack that accuses his opponent, Rep. Tom Malinowski, of protecting sexual predators of children. It’s the kind of grotesquely unfair charge that degrades our politics. And it’s particularly offensive in light of Kean’s jaw-dropping lack of substance on the issues. This smear, apparently, is all he has.”
DARK MONEY GROUP ‘CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT’ HOSTS IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPER — “Donald Trump Jr. to appear at Smithville fundraiser Tuesday, protest planned,” by The Press of Atlantic City’s Vincent Jackson: “The protest, titled ‘Donald Trump Jr — Hate Has No Place in South Jersey!’ — is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the same site, according to the website for the Atlantic County Democratic Committee…’Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle have the nerve to come to South Jersey,’ according to the statement posted on the site. ‘They’re headlining a $300 a head fundraiser for a shady Super PAC controlled by disgraced former Galloway Township Mayor and political boss Don Purdy.’ The event will be hosted by former Galloway Mayor Don Purdy and former New Jersey Assemblyman Vince Polistina. Radio talk show host Harry Hurley will serve as master of ceremonies.”
—Ginsburg’s death leaves Obamacare in greater danger than ever
—“New Jersey lags behind other states on census as final push is underway”
—“Here’s how N.J. Senators voted on some of Trump’s Supreme Court short list”
—“Mehta wants Senate to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee”
—Oliver: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a beacon of justice — especially for women”
—Whitman: “Ginsburg assumed power with humility — and disagreed respectfully. We’ll miss her”
—Pascrell: “Trump attacks on our military go beyond ‘losers,’ ‘suckers’ smears”
—“Six Republicans want NRCC to pull sex offender ad”
—“Cory Booker to headline Tennessee Democrats’ annual fundraising celebration”
NJ LEGISLATURE IN 2011: ‘BAN FRACKING!’ NJ LEGISLATURE TODAY: ‘…’ — “Plan to send LNG trains through Philly to S. Jersey port sparks outrage from residents, environmentalists,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Andrew Maykuth: “Environmentalists have stepped up alarms about a major fuel export terminal in South Jersey that they say will accelerate Pennsylvania fracking, worsen climate change, and attract 100-car trains carrying dangerous liquefied natural gas across Philadelphia. A plan to build the Gibbstown Logistics Center in Gloucester County, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia International Airport, appears to be coming to a head by the end of the year. A hearing examiner and the staff of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) have recommended approving permits to dredge the river and to build a pier for the $450 million private port, which is being built on the site of DuPont’s former Repauno Works in Greenwich Township. The DRBC, an interstate agency that regulates river development, voted on Sept. 10 to delay a decision at least until its next business meeting in December. But the commission will be hard-pressed to reverse its unanimous approval last year of the project, which has also received permits from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”
ASSEMBLYMAN WITH NAME OF COUNTY HE DOESN’T REPRESENT ATTACKS MAYOR WITH NAME OF COUNTY HE DOES REPRESENT — “Assemblyman: Legion tax appeal was ‘egregious assault’ on Mine Hill veterans,” by The Daily Record’s William Westhoven: “Members of suspended Mine Hill American Legion Post 391 are breathing sighs of relief after gaining a temporary reprieve from a $16,000 tax appeal. But controversy lingers as Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who stepped in to support the financially-strapped post, is still pointing fingers at Mayor Sam Morris for ‘trying to leverage his position’ to strong-arm the post as the township’s mayor and administrator. The American Legion New Jersey Department Executive Committee suspended the post in October and assigned Bergen, an Army veteran and West Point graduate, as the agent for the Morris County Committee.”
IT’S GREAT THAT COMPANIES THAT DO NUCLEAR COMMISSIONING ARE ALL ABOVE BOARD — “Holtec files two lawsuits in dispute over Oyster Creek nuclear power plant,” by The Courier-Post’s Jim Walsh: “Holtec International has gone to court — make that two courts — in a fight over its proposal to decommission the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. The Camden firm wants a pair of judges to overturn a decision by Lacey Township’s planning board, which blocked a key component of Holtec’s $885-million project. Holtec wants to add 34 storage casks that would hold spent nuclear fuel at Oyster Creek, which stopped making electricity in 2018. But the planning board unanimously rejected Holtec’s application, expressing concern that the radioactive waste would never leave the Ocean County township. A Sept. 14 board resolution declared Holtec ‘mischaracterized’ its project as a temporary storage site, contending the firm offered ‘absolutely no representation as to how many decades or even centuries the ‘temporary’ storage will last.’”
I AM NOT INCLUDING THIS CLIP ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL’S NAME — “Middletown’s Nut Swamp Elementary School reports one case of COVID-19,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen: “One person has tested positive for COVID-19 at Nut Swamp Elementary School, Superintendent of Schools Mary Ellen Walker and Principal Neil Leone said in a letter to its stakeholders on Friday. The case prompted school administrators to “pivot to virtual instruction” for the day, Walker and Leone said in the letter.”
—Covid-19 cases spiking in Ocean, Monmouth counties, mainly among younger groups
—“Kids make up a growing share of New Jersey coronavirus cases as schools grapple over reopenings”
—“Camden gun attack targeted home of Camden County officers and their baby”
—“Taco giveaway in Passaic for those who complete census”
—“Trenton mayor fires council’s attorney over Wire Works debacle”
POLL: MOST NEW JERSEYANS PREFER AGGRESSIVE SWANS TO JET SKIS — “Aggressive mute swans wreak havoc on Greenwood Lake,” by The Asbury Park Press’ David M. Zimmer: “A woman and her 4-year-old grandson had to take shelter behind a pontoon boat to get away from the aggressive mute swans that attacked them while on a Jet Ski outing on Greenwood Lake this summer. It was not an isolated incident. Regular conflicts between Jet Ski riders and the invasive long-necked birds caused a stir this summer, leading lake stewards at the Greenwood Lake Commission to contact state and federal officials for assistance, said Paul Zarrillo, a New Jersey representative on the bi-state commission. The U.S. Department of Agriculture was called in to observe the swans, that are not really mute, but get their name because they hiss, snort and cry, rather than honk. After observing the waterfowl, USDA officials opted to spare the aggressive swans, a department spokesperson said Thursday.”
—I can’t let this opportunity pass without linking to one of my favorite Gilmore Girls scenes.
PENNEAST — “PennEast’s revised pipeline proposal draws heat from state and local officials,” by NJ Advance Media’s Caroline Fassett: “Officials from Hunterdon County and the state Department of Environmental Protection have voiced concerns regarding the environmental assessment of the amended PennEast Pipeline issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee earlier this month, which concluded that building the pipeline in two phases would not significantly affect the quality of the environment.”
—“These N.J. towns were hit hardest by the pandemic. See how yours fared”
