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♪♪♪
>>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE."
I'M MICHAEL ARON.
WHY IS SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE
SWEENEY HOLDING UP THE
CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR TWO OF
GOVERNOR MURPHY'S CABINET
OFFICERS?
THAT WAS THE BIG QUESTION AT THE
STATE HOUSE LATE THIS WEEK.
THEY'RE BOTH DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?
FORMER SUPERINTENDENT IS
MURPHY'S CHOICE FOR EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER.
FORMER OBAMA EDUCATION POLICY
ADVISOR ELLIS IS HIS CHOICE FOR
SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
MOST NOMINEES WERE APPROVED
EASILY IN COMMITTEE.
SWEENEY SAID HE WASN'T SATISFIED
WITH SOME OF THEIR STATEMENTS
AND POSITIONS.
WE ASKED HIM ABOUT THE SITUATION
ON THURSDAY?
>> THESE ARE TWO EXTRAORDINARY
INDIVIDUALS.
I DIDN'T SAY IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T
HEAR ABOUT IT BEFORE DAN'S
COLLEAGUE HAD HEARD ABOUT IT AND
HE PUT SOMETHING OUT TO THAT
EFFECT.
THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO CONFIRM
THESE FOLKS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHDs ON OUR
NOMINATED CABINET.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THE MOST DIVERSE CABINET --
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IT IS THE MOST DIVERSE
CABINET EVER NOMINATED IN OUR
STATE.
IT'S THE MOST DIVERSE CABINET IN
THE COUNTRY.
I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF
EVERYBODY BEGINNING WITH MY
PARTNER TO THE LEFT.
I'M CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE TWO
OF THEM.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE WORKING
DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND CONTINUE
TO DO SO TODAY.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> I THINK IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT
THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT THESE TWO
FOLKS NEED TO BE CONFIRMED.
I'M CONFIDENT THEY WILL BE
BECAUSE THEY SERVE IT.
>> SWEENEY TOLD NJ ADVANCED
MEDIA, I CAN'T BELIEVE HE SAID
THAT, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
RACE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH SCHOOL
FUNDING.
JOINING US TOM MORAN EDITORIAL
PAGE EDITOR OF THE STAR LEDGER.
MICHAEL HILL, CORRESPONDENT FOR
NJ TV NEWS.
KATIE JENNINGS HEALTH CARE
REPORTER FOR POLITICO NJ.
AND BRETT JOHNSON STATE HOUSE
RECORDER FOR NJ ADVANCED MEET
YA.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
>> THE REAL SUBSTANTIAL FIGHT IS
ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING.
THE SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN THAT
MURPHY PUT OUT THAT HAD AN
INCREASE BUT DIDN'T FIX WHAT
SWEENEY SEES AS WRONG WITH THE
STUNNING FORMULA.
IT HASN'T ADJUSTED WITH
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY HAVE MORE OTHER DISTRICTS
GROWING FAST AND ADDING
STUDENTS.
THEY GET NO MORE STATE AID.
THAT'S SEVERELY OUT OF WHACK.
IT'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
THAT IS WHY SWEENEY IS BLOCKING
THESE NOMINATIONS.
IT'S REALLY A SYMBOLIC ACT.
CHRIS SURF WAS ACTING
COMMISSIONER FOR A LONG PERIOD.
IT'S AN OPENING SALVO IN THIS
FIGHT.
THE COMMISSIONER NOMINEE SAID,
WE'LL GET TO SWEENEY'S CONCERNS
ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDING IN SIX
MONTHS.
THAT'S AFTER THE BUDGET'S
PASSED.
HE WAS SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO
DO WHAT SWEENEY WANT THIS IS
YEAR.
>> MURPHY APPEARED TO CATCH
SWEENEY OFF GUARD WHEN HE TURNED
THIS INTO SOMETHING ABOUT TWO
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH PHDs.
DID HE TRY TO MAKE IT ABOUT
RACE?
>> THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THAT.
THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
MURPHY SAYING THIS FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAWMAKERS AND
OTHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO
APPLY PRESSURE TO SWEENEY TO GET
THIS DONE.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT TO IN
A SUBTLE WAY RAISE THE RACE
ISSUE?
>> I WONDER IF SWEENEY EVEN HAD
THAT THOUGHT GOING INTO THIS,
GEE, I'M TAKING ON TWO
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CABINET
OFFICERS.
I, WHO FOUGHT FOR JOHN WALLACE,
THE LONE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ON THE
STATE SUPREME COURT FOR YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS.
IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THAT DIDN'T
OCCUR TO HIM WHEN HE TOOK THIS
POSITION.
>> I SPOKE TO HIM ALMOST TWO
WEEKS AGO.
THERE WAS A BUDGET HEARING IN
SOUTH JERSEY.
IN THE INTERVIEW WE HAD WITH
HIM, HE WAS ADAMANT ABOUT SCHOOL
FUNDING.
HE WAS NOT HAPPY THAT THIS
ACTING EDUCATION COMMISSIONER
WAS TALKING ABOUT DELAYING SOME
SOLUTION ON THE SCHOOL FORMULA.
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT WAS
AN ISSUE WITH RACE THAT HE WAS
HOLDING UP THESE CONFIRMATIONS.
>> I DON'T THINK HE INTENDED IT
TO BE AN ISSUE ABOUT RACE.
BUT THE GOVERNOR TURNED IT IN A
WAY THAT PUT THAT ELEMENT INTO
PLAY.
KATIE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU
RIGHT HERE.
OH YES, IS THIS SWEENEY PLAYING
GAMES?
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM ARE
FROSTY.
OR IS THIS REALLY ABOUT THE
SUBSTANCE?
OR BOTH?
>> I THINK IT'S BOTH.
I THINK THIS IS POLITICAL
POSTURING.
SO THIS IS ABOUT SCHOOL AID BUT
IN THE BIGGER PICTURE ABOUT THE
BUDGET.
THEY BASICALLY HAVE A LITTLE
OVER TWO MONTHS TO HAMMER OUT
WHAT'S GOING TO GET THROUGH BY
JUNE 30th.
SWEENEY HAS TO STAKE HIS GROUND.
HE WANTS TO GET HIS PRIORITIES
IN AS WELL.
LOOK, SWEENEY IS THE POLITICAL
OPERATOR WHO'S BEEN THERE THE
LONGER.
IF MURPHY WANTS TO GET THIS
BUDGET PASSED THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE, HE'S GOING TO HAVE
TO NEGOTIATE WITH SWEENEY.
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE
IN SWEENEY'S DIRECTION.
THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO FIX
SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS SWEENEY
WANTS FIXED.
THEN THEY'LL SEND THE BUDGET TO
MURPHY.
IF THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T
PROVIDE THE EXTRA MONEY FOR
THESE DISTRICTS THAT ARE
OVERFUNDED, MURPHY CAN ONLY TAKE
MONEY OUT.
HE CAN'T PUT MONEY BACK IN.
I THINK SWEENEY HAS THE TACTICAL
SWEENEY ADDRESSED THIS, AS WAS
I.
YOU AND I HAD THE CONCLUSION
THAT IF THAT HAD BEEN CHRIS
CHRISTIE UP THERE, HE WOULD HAVE
UTTERED FIGHTING WORDS AND THAT
MURPHY IS MUCH MORE A DIPLOMAT.
>> THAT WAS THE LEAD TO MY
STORY.
IT'S JUST THAT CHRISTIE WOULD
HAVE BEEN -- YES, SWEENEY, I'LL
GO RIGHT AT YOU.
MURPHY DOES THINGS A LOT MORE
SUBTLY.
IT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT
ATMOSPHERE.
THE BIG TALK IS THAT MURPHY AND
SWEENEY JUST DON'T GET ALONG.
IT HAS TO DO WITH A LOT OF
THINGS.
THEY DON'T TALK THAT OFTEN AND
THERE'S A LOT OF FROSTINESS
THERE.
IT PERMEATES EVERYTHING.
>> THEY BOTH BELIEVE THAT THE
PRESS IS OVERPLAYING THEIR
PERSONAL ANIMOSITY.
SWEENEY SAYS WE HAVE A REAL
DIFFERENCE ON SCHOOL FUNDING.
IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
I DON'T THINK THEY LIKE EACH
OTHER.
THAT'S CLEAR.
BUT I DON'T THINK SWEENEY WANTS
TO SPEND HIS LIFE FINDING WAYS
TO ONE UP MURPHY.
I THINK HE ACTUALLY WANTS TO
CHANGE THE SCHOOL FUNDING
FORMULA -- NOT THE FORMULA, THE
WAY MONEY IS A LOTTED.
>> MACK FRIEDMAN JOKINGLY WROTE,
I'M GETTING MY COT READY FOR THE
FOURTH OF JULY TO HAVE NEAR THE
STATE HOUSE WHERE I'M CANCELLING
MY VACATION OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
ARE WE HEADED TOWARD SOME KIND
OF SHOWDOWN IN THIS BUDGET
SEASON?
>> I TALKED TO SOMEBODY FROM THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST WEEK.
HE SAID YES, PREPARE FOR IT.
HE SAID WE ARE PREPARING FOR A
VERY LONG JULY 4th WEEKEND.
HE SAID, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE
THESE PARTIES COMING TOGETHER TO
RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.
>> LET'S LOOK AT HISTORY.
WHEN KORSIGN CAME IN AS
GOVERNOR, YOU HAD DEMOCRATS AND
YOU HAD A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL
PRESENT A BUDGET TO MURPHY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WHAT MURPHY
PRESENTED TO THEM.
THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF, IT'S IN
THEIR BOX NOW.
THEY SEEM PRETTY FUNCTIONAL
THESE DAYS.
>> THE TOP TWO DEMOCRATS OF THE
SENATE BOTH SAY THEY DON'T SEE A
SHUTDOWN COMING.
MAYBE TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD
FOR NOW UNTIL WE GET TO LIKE
JUNE 20th.
>> LET'S MOVE ON.
BUDGET HEARINGS BEGAN AT THE
STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK.
SHE SAID WITHOUT NEW TAXES AND
JUST HOLDING EVERYTHING ELSE
STEADY, THIS STATE WOULD BE $161
MILLION SHORT.
>> THIS IS NOT ONLY
UNSUSTAINABLE.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE
GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A SERIES
OF NEW REVENUE AND BUDGET
INITIATIVES TO GET OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER.
>> MICHAEL HILL, LET'S TALK
ABOUT THE THRASH POINTS IN THIS
BUDGET.
WHAT ARE THEY?
>> I THINK THE RAISING TAXES IS
THE BIG ONE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
OPPOSITION TO.
A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ARE VOICING
OPPOSITION.
THEY DON'T LIKE THIS.
YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER
WAY TO DO THIS.
IT MAY BE TOO EARLY, THEY THINK,
TO TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES.
>> THEY SAY WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN
THE APRIL 15th TAX COLLECTIONS
YET.
THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
>> THEY HAVEN'T SAID WHAT THEY
WOULD CUT INSTEAD.
DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW ARE PLAYING
THE WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES
GAME.
BUT YOU'RE NOT HEARING ON THE
OTHER END, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO INSTEAD?
BECAUSE THERE IS A FISCAL
PROBLEM IN THE STATE.
THE QUESTION IS, WELL, WHAT
HAPPENS NOW?
WE HAVEN'T HEARD DEMOCRATS'
PLAN.
>> THE BULK OF THAT NEW SPENDING
IS SCHOOL FUNDING AND PENSIONS
AND NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.
ARE THEY GOING TO CUT INTO
THOSE?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK THEY WILL RAISE TAXES.
>> YOU THINK THEY'LL RAISE THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX?
>> YES.
I HEAR THE WHINING BUT I DON'T
SEE AN ALTERNATIVE.
>> YOU THINK THEY'LL PUT THE
SALES TAX BACK TO 7%?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHICH EXACTLY
BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET
TO MURPHY'S NUMBER OR CLOSE TO
IT, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET TO
THAT NUMBER TOO.
THEY HAVE TO PRESENT A BUDGET TO
MURPHY.
IF THEY DON'T GO WITH THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX THEY HAVE TO
CUT THESE THREE BIG INCREASES,
PENSIONS, SCHOOL FUNDING AND NEW
JERSEY TRANSIT.
THOSE ARE THINGS I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY IS EAGER TO CUT RIGHT
NOW.
>> SPENDING IS ANOTHER SLASH
POINT.
EVERYBODY IS STILL TALKING ABOUT
MURPHY'S DOWN PAYMENT TOWARD
UNIVERSAL PRE-K AND DOWN PAYMENT
TOWARDS FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
ARE THOSE THINGS GOING TO
SURVIVE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I THOUGHT THE REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLYWOMAN QUESTIONED LIKE
WHY ARE WE STARTING THESE NEW
PROGRAMS WHEN WE AREN'T
ADEQUATELY FUNDING PUBLIC
EDUCATION AND TRANSIT?
I THINK MURPHY WANTS TO PUT A
MARKER DOWN AND FILL THESE
BUCKETS.
HE'S PUTTING A LITTLE DROP IN
EACH ONE NOW.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER END
AND THE THINGS WE'RE NOT FUNDING
PROPERLY, THAT'S GOING TO CREATE
SOME SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR HIM.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THOSE
MURPHY INITIATIVES, THOSE
STRONGER, FAIRER INITIATIVES?
>> THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT THE
GOVERNOR PRESENTED, IT'S JUST
THE STARTING POINT FOR THE
NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALL OF
THESE TINY LITTLE PET PROJECTS
THAT THEY NEED TO GET IN THERE.
I THINK ULTIMATELY THE BUDGET IS
CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MURPHY
PRESENTED.
>> ONLY AT THE MARGINS, 99 OR
98% OF IT WILL BE WHAT HE
PRESENTED.
MAYBE NOT.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T THINK THE SCHOOL FUNDING
THING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
>> YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
PUT MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOL
FUNDING?
>> NO.
THEY'RE GOING TO FIX IT THE WAY
SWEENEY WANTS TO FIX IT, WHICH
IS GETTING BACK TO THE FORMULA.
>> AND THE TREASURER SAID, WE
AGREE THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE THE
FORMULA.
YOU ALL CHANGED IT LAST YEAR,
BUT YOU DID IT THROUGH BUDGET
LANGUAGE.
YOU DIDN'T PASS THE STATUTE.
WE WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND
COME UP WITH A STATUTORY CHANGE,
BECAUSE WE'RE BOUND BY STATUTE
TO USE THE FORMULA FROM 2008 AND
NOT GO ALONG WITH HOW YOU
TINKERED WITH IT IN THE BUDGET
LANGUAGE LAST JUNE.
A SUBTLE DISTINCTION, BUT ONE
THAT MAY COME INTO PLAY IN THIS
CONVERSATION IN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS
THAT ARE FLASH POINTS, I WOULD
SAY.
ONE IS PROPERTY TAX REBATES, THE
OLD HOMESTEAD REBATE PROGRAM.
THE LEGISLATURE CUT IT IN HALF
AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR
LAST JUNE.
MURPHY AT SOME POINT IN THE
CAMPAIGN TALKED ABOUT RESTORING
ROBUST REBATES, BUT HE'S GOING
ALONG WITH THE 50% CUT THAT THE
LEGISLATURE DID LAST YEAR AND
GETTING SOME CRITICISM FOR IT.
ANYBODY HEAR ANYTHING ON THAT?
ANYBODY KNOW ANYTHING ON THAT?
>> IT WAS MENTIONED AT THE
BUDGET HEARING THE OTHER DAY
BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY.
MURPHY'S TEAM PRETTY MUCH HELD
STEADY AND SAID WE'RE KEEPING IT
AT THE 50% CUT THAT WAS LAST
YEAR.
THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I
THOUGHT OF.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON MARIJUANA?
MURPHY PUT IN $80 MILLION IN HIS
BUDGET -- 60 MILLION COMING FROM
TAXES ON LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL
MARIJUANA.
THE SENATE HASN'T EVEN HELD A
HEARING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
MURPHY PUT OUT THIS REPORT VYING
TO EXPAND THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
PROGRAM.
THE ASSEMBLY HAS ADVANCED SOME
BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE.
IF ANYTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON
THAT, IT HAS TO START HAPPENING
SOON.
>> WELL, MURPHY'S BUDGET ASSUMES
THAT MARIJUANA WILL BE LEGALIZED
BY JANUARY 1st OF NEXT YEAR,
2019, AND THAT THEY'LL SOMEHOW
GET $60 MILLION IN REVENUE FROM
THE SECOND SIX MONTHS OF THE
FISCAL YEAR.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE
CASE.
>> THEY'RE FAR AWAY OFF RIGHT
NOW.
A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE EITHER NO
OR UNDECIDED.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IF
THEY'RE GOING TO PASS IT BY
JANUARY 1.
>> THINK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES
TO GET REGULATIONS PROMULGATED.
THERE HAS TO BE THE PUBLIC
COMMENTARY AND THEN IT HAS TO BE
ON THE BOOKS.
TO GET STUFF UP AND RUNNING,
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING IN SIX
MONTHS.
>> NO STATE HAS BEEN ANYWHERE
NEAR THAT FAST.
MASSACHUSETTS IS JUST ABOUT TO
START IN JULY, BUT THEY PASSED
THE BILL OVER A YEAR AGO.
IT TAKES TIME TO RAMP THESE
THINGS UP.
>> IF THEY DON'T GET THAT $60
MILLION, THEY'LL HAVE TO FIND
$60 MILLION IN CUTS OR MAYBE
THEY'LL PASS THE BUDGET WITH
THAT ASSUMPTION BUILT INTO IT
AND DEAL WITH IT LATER.
>> I THINK MURPHY'S TACTIC HERE
IS THEY'RE HAVE TO AGREE TO
LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
OR THEY HAVE TO COME WITH THEIR
OWN 60 MILLION.
>> THE GROSS RECEIPTS ENERGY
TAX, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ANY OF YOU
DO EITHER.
BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
THAT THIS BUDGET -- THE STATE
COLLECTS $800 MILLION FROM
UTILITIES THAT IT TURNS OVER TO
MUNICIPALITIES.
AND THIS BUDGET FOR THE FIRST
TIME PUTS THAT MONEY INTO THE
GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF HAVING
IT AS AN OFF-BUDGET ITEM.
MAYORS APPARENTLY ARE VERY UPSET
ABOUT THIS.
THE FACT THAT IT'S COMING OUT OF
THE GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF A
SEPARATE OFF-BUDGET COLLECTION
BY THE STATE, WHICH ITSELF IS A
FAIRLY NEW GIMMICK, SEEMS TO
HAVE SOME LAWMAKERS CONCERNED.
ANYBODY HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT
THAT?
>> I THOUGHT THE STATE WAS
PILFERING THAT STREAM OF REVENUE
FOR YEARS.
SO THIS IS NEWS TO ME THEY'VE
BEEN ACTUALLY TURNING IT OVER.
THE CITIES HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING
ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT I WOULD BE
SCARED FOR ANY DEDICATED REVENUE
STREAM TO BE PUT IN THE GENERAL
FUND.
BECAUSE WHEN THINGS GO IN THE
GENERAL FUND, THEY CAN BE USED
FOR ANYTHING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE ON.
A LOT OF BILLS WERE VOTED ON AT
THE STATE HOUSE THURSDAY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT A FEW.
LET'S START WITH THE OUT OF
NETWORK BILL, TEN YEARS IN THE
MAKING, SIX YEARS IN THE
MAKING -- I READ DIFFERENT
NUMBERS THIS MORNING.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT?
>> THIS WAS A HUGE LEGISLATIVE
VICTORY FOR ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
CRAIG COUGHLIN.
FOR HIM IT'S BEEN A MAJOR POLICY
PRIORITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS AND IT HAS ALWAYS STALLED
OUT.
IT HAS NOT GOTTEN TO A FLOOR
VOTE.
THIS BILL HELPS PROTECT
CONSUMERS FROM THE SURPRISE
BALANCE BILLS THAT YOU WOULD GET
WHEN YOU GO INTO THE HOSPITAL IN
AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR SAY
YOU GET AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST THAT
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WAS GOING TO BE
PART OF YOUR OPERATION -- IF
THEY DISAGREE, THEY HAVE TO GO
INTO THIS ARBITRATION SYSTEM AND
THEY NEED TO WORK IT OUT.
THE STICKING POINT HAS ALWAYS
BEEN WHAT THE ARBITRATION
PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS SAY THIS
IS GOING TO LOWER OUR ABILITY TO
NEGOTIATE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH
LEVERAGE WHEN WE WANT TO DO
THOSE IN NETWORK RATES.
THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN SO
SURPRISING, BECAUSE THE POLL OF
HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS HAS BEEN
SUCH THAT THIS HASN'T EVEN
GOTTEN TO THE FLOOR.
THE NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION CAME ON BOARD.
THIS IS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY.
SO NOW IT'S PASSED BOTH THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE.
WHAT'S PHIL MURPHY GOING TO DO?
THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN HE
TALKED A BIG GAME.
I REPEATEDLY ASKED HIM FOR
SPECIFICS.
HE'S NEVER SAID.
THERE'S SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS AS
TO WHAT THIS LEGISLATION CAN
ACTUALLY APPLY TO.
THE STATE ONLY REGULATES AROUND
30% OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE
MARKET, AND THE OVER 70% ARE
FEDERALLY REGULATED.
SO THERE'S THIS BIG OUTSTANDING
LEGAL QUESTION, CAN YOU APPLY
THIS LEGISLATION TO THIS FEDERAL
HEALTH PLAN.
>> IT'S VERY COMPLEX.
>> IT REALLY SHOULD SHOCK PEOPLE
HOW SLEAZY THIS BEHAVIOR IS.
YOU BREAK YOUR WRIST AND THEY
BRING IN AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST OUT
OF NETWORK AND YOU GET CHARGED
$20,000.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE
NUCLEAR SUBSIDY BILL, WHICH
YOU'VE BEEN WRITING EDITORIALS
AGAINST.
IT PASSED BOTH HOUSES YESTERDAY?
>> THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO MY
ADVICE AGAIN.
IMAGINE.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED AT
THIS.
IT'S $300 MILLION.
IT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE
ELECTRICITY BILL.
EK TRIS -- ELECTRICITY BILL IS
THE MOST REGRESSIVE WAY.
IT'S $300 MILLION A YEAR.
THE BILL ITSELF IS SO FLAWED.
MOST OF OF THE LEGISLATORS DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE ENERGY MARKET.
THEY ADMIT THAT.
>> IS HE GOING TO SIGN BOTH OF
THESE MEASURES?
>> I THINK HE WILL.
THE MOST TELLING LITTLE DETAIL I
CAN GIVE YOU THAT'S NOT
COMPLICATING IS THEY'RE
EXCLUDING THE RATE PAYER
ADVOCATE.
>> THAT'S A STATE POSITION.
>> RIGHT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THIS NUCLEAR
SUBSIDY, SHE'S OUT.
UNPRECEDENTED, UNLESS THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE BPU SAY
SHE IS VITAL, WHICH IS A HUGE
LEGAL BARRIER.
THAT SAYS IT ALL.
THE RATE PAYERS ARE GETTING
SCREWED HER.
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT
BILL, OUT OF NETWORK OR ANY
OTHER BILL?
YOU COVERED A VOTER REGISTRATION
BILL.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE VERY UPSET
ABOUT IT.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT IT
OPENS THE DOOR TO MORE FRAUD.
THEY THINK THAT THESE 18 STATE
AGENCIES OR SO DON'T
COMMUNICATE.
THIS IS GOING TO CONFUSE PEOPLE.
>> THE BILL WOULD HAVE YOU BE
AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE
WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A DRIVER'S
LICENSE OR AT ANY OF THESE OTHER
18 AGENCIES THAT YOU HAVE SOME
KIND OF DEALING WITH.
>> RIGHT.
DEMOCRATS THINK THIS IS
WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT OPENS THE
DOOR TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SENATOR VITALE SAID GET OUT
THERE AND ROLL THE DICE AND SEE.
>> GOVERNOR GOING TO SIGN IT?
>> HE SAID THE GOVERNOR IS GOING
TO SIGN IT.
YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IT'S TIME FOR YOUR JOURNALISTIC
HIGH POINTS OF THE WEEK.
BRENT?
>> SWEENEY VERSUS MURPHY.
WATCHING THIS ALL UNFOLD AND
RUNNING AROUND AT 6:00 AT NIGHT
TO GET COMMENTS IS WHAT MAKE
THIS IS JOB FUN.
>> MOVING ON THE OUT OF NETWORK
BILL AFTER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME.
>> MICHAEL?
>> THIS IS AUTISM AWARENESS
MONTH.
LEARNING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
THE PHOENIX CENTER IN NUTLEY,
HOW TO EDUCATE KIDS THAT ARE
AUTISTIC.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE WHAT I FOUND.
>> THE SIGNS OF THE ANTI-TRUMP
WAVE IN NEW JERSEY BEING POTENT,
TO PUT IT MILDLY.
WE HAVE THE BOB MENENDEZ AFTER A
LONG CORRUPTION TRIAL WHICH HE
WAS ACQUITTED BUT HE CAME ACROSS
AS LOOKING FAIRLY SHADY IS UP 21
POINTS OVER THE REPUBLICAN, ALL
BECAUSE OF TRUMP.
>> 53% TO 32%.
>> THE POLITICAL REPORT CHANGED
THE STATUS OF THE MacARTHUR RACE
WHICH IS CONSIDERED A SAFE SEAT.
YOU NOW HAVE FIVE REPUBLICANS
SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE FAVORED
TO WIN TWO AND WOULD WIN UP TO
FOUR.
>> MY HIGH POINT WAS ATTENDING
BACK TO BACK BUDGET HEARINGS.
THEY ARE DRY AS CRAZY, BUT
SOMEHOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I
CAN COLLAPSE A FOUR-HOUR HEARING
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