>>> NEW JERSEY'S U.S. SENATE
RACE JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE
INTERESTING.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE" WITH MICHAEL ARON IS
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>>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE."
I'M MICHAEL ARON.
FOR WEEKS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING
THAT BOB HUGAN WOULD ENTER THE
REPUBLICAN SENATE RACE.
ON TUESDAY HE MADE IT OFFICIAL.
>> WE NEED CHANGE.
AND THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M
ANNOUNCING MY CANDIDACY FOR THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
>> HUGAN IS GOING UP AGAINST
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ,
AN INSTITUTION IN THE STATE, BUT
AN INSTITUTION MARRED BY HIS
CORRUPTION CASE.
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NEW
JERSEY DESERVES BETTER FROM OUR
NEXT SENATOR.
NEW JERSEY DESERVES A SENATOR AS
GOOD AS ITS PEOPLE, NOT ONE
WORKING TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD
OF THE LAW.
>> HUGAN IS REPAIRED TO SPEND
$20 MILLION OF HIS OWN ON THE
CAMPAIGN, BUT HE WILL LIKELY
FACE A BARRAGE OF CRITICISM FROM
THE DEMOCRATS.
HIS CELL GENE BUSINESS -- HE'S
BEEN EQUALLY AS GENEROUS TO
DONALD TRUMP.
THIS PHOTO SEEMS READY-MADE FOR
A MENENDEZ AD.
AND WITH US NOW TO SIZE UP THE
RACE, TOM MORAN, EDITORIAL OF
THE STAR LEDGER, AND THE
STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE
BERGEN RECORD, MICHAEL FROM THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND MICHAEL
HILL CORRESPONDENT FOR NJ TV
NEWS.
TOM, HANDICAP THE SENATE RACE.
>> IT'S UPHILL FOR BOB HUGAN, I
THINK, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE
MENENDEZ TRIAL.
HE WAS CLEARED OF THE CRIMINAL
CHARGES BUT WILL PROBABLY FACE A
CENSURE DURING THE CAMPAIGN.
SO IT WILL HURT, BUT I DON'T
THINK IT HURTS AS MUCH AS
TRUMP'S ASSOCIATION WITH HUGAN.
AND HUGAN HAS TO FEND OFF THE
CHARGES ABOUT CELL GENE, NOT
JUST THE PRICE HIKES, BUT SIX
MONTHS AGO THEY SETTLED A
WHISTLEBLOWER FRAUD FOR $200
MILLION.
AND THAT SUIT ALLEGES SOME
PRETTY HORRIBLE BEHAVIOR BY CELL
GENE, EVEN HIDING POSSIBLE
HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS FROM
DOCTORS OF THE DRUG.
SO THEY WERE NOT FOUND TO BE
GUILTY OF THOSE CHARGES, BUT
THEY DID PAY $280 MILLION TO
SETTLE THEM.
THAT'S QUITE A WHOPPER.
>> THE WHISTLEBLOWER GETS $81
MILLION.
DUSTIN?
>> I AGREE WITH TOM.
AND IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR
BOB HUGAN TO START LOBBYING
AGAINST SENATOR MENENDEZ WITH
THIS SORT OF THING HANGING OVER
YOUR HEAD.
CELL GENE HAS TONS OF MONEY
PARKED OFFSHORE, THAT'S NOT THE
MOST ETHICALLY -- THAT'S NOT
HOLDING A VERY HIGH ETHICAL
STANDARD.
>> REPORT OF THE CASH OFFSHORE.
GO AHEAD.
>> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
SO MENENDEZ CAN COME RIGHT BACK
AT HIM WITH THE SAME SORT OF
CHARGES.
AND DON'T FORGET BOB MENENDEZ
ALSO HAS A LONG RECORD OF
HELPING NEW JERSEY AND
REPUBLICANS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT
AS WELL.
SO IT'S A BLUE STATE.
IT'S A REALLY UPHILL BATTLE FOR
A REPUBLICAN.
>> HE ALSO HAS A LONG RECORD OF
BEING WILLING TO LOB HAND
GRENADES IN TOUGH CAMPAIGNS.
MIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT TOM AND
DUSTIN SAID, IT LOOKS LIKE AN UP
HILL FLOG FOR HUGAN.
YOU HAVE TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS
IN THE SECOND DISTRICT WITH TWO
RETIRING.
YOU'VE GOT PRETY STRONG
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THERE.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE
ENVIRONMENT WHERE VOTERS ARE
GOING TO THE POLLS.
AND THOSE DISTRICTS, ARE THEY
GOING TO BE SPLITTING THEIR
TICKET?
ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR AND A STATE
WHERE DONALD TRUMP IS VERY
UNPOPULAR IN A YEAR WHEN DONALD
TRUMP IS UNPOPULAR?
I THINK THAT SORT OF HELPS PAINT
THE PICTURE IT COULD BE
DIFFICULT FOR HUGAN.
>> MICHAEL, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
>> MENENDEZ SURVIVED THE
CRIMINAL INDICTMENT, THE FEDERAL
TRIAL.
AND DEMOCRATS WAY OUTNUMBER THE
REPUBLICANS HERE.
SO I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE
RE-ELECTED.
>> I JUST SAID IN THAT PIECE
THAT HUGAN IS PREPARED TO SPEND
$20 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY.
A TOP REPUBLICAN TOLD ME THIS IS
GOING TO BE A $30 MILLION RACE.
MENENDEZ HAS $4.1 MILLION IN THE
BANK, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT AND
SUBSTANTIAL, BUT IT'S HALF OF
WHAT HE HAD IN THE BANK AT THIS
POINT IN TIME SIX YEARS AGO WHEN
HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST JOE
CARILLOS.
HOW IMPORTANT IS MONEY IN A U.S.
SENATE RACE IN NEW JERSEY, IN
THIS CLIMATE?
>> I THINK IT IS ALWAYS
IMPORTANT.
BUT MENENDEZ HAS BEEN VETTED.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY?
YOU CAN SAY HE'S CORRUPT.
A JURY OF HIS PEERS DETERMINED,
COULDN'T MAKE A DECISION ON
THAT.
AND HE MAY BE CENSURED IN THE
SENATE AND SO FORTH.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRAT
MAJORITY, I DON'T THINK MONEY IS
GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH --
>> I KEEP READING IN TOM'S
COLUMN THAT HE LOOKS SLEAZY.
THAT'S THE WORD YOU'VE HUNG
AROUND HIS NECK LATELY.
>> YEAH.
WELL, THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT HE
TOOK ALL THESE LAVISH GIFTS.
THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT HE DID
THESE FAVORS.
AND THERE'S ALSO NO DISPUTE THAT
HE DIDN'T REPORT THEM PROPERLY.
NOW, TO MAKE A CRIME, YOU HAVE
TO CONNECT THE FAVORS WITH THE
BENEFITS.
THE PROSECUTORS WEREN'T ABLE
TOOED THAT MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE
FRIENDSHIP CLAN.
IT STILL WOULD MAKE GREAT
30-SECOND ADS.
MENENDEZ FLYING OUT TO LUXURY
HOTELS AND LATER CONVICTED OF A
FELONY --
>> AND HE HAS THE MONEY TO MAKE
THE ADS, TOO.
>> MONEY IS IMPORTANT THERE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THIS IS GOING
TO BE AN UGLY CAMPAIGN WITH
MENENDEZ BE -- ALL THE BAD
BEHAVIOR IN THE TRIAL, THEN BOB
HUGAN TORTURING CANCER PATIENTS
WITH HIS FRAUD SUIT.
HE'S PORTRAYING THAT HE'S
LEAVING PATIENTS VULNERABLE TO
BEING FURTHER HARMED.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY, THIS
CAMPAIGN.
I THINK IT WILL MOSTLY BE A TV
BARRAGE OF WHY THE OTHER GUY IS
SO BAD.
IT WILL NOT ONLY BE THE FRAUD
STUFF WITH HUGAN BUT MORE THE
TRUMP STUFF.
>> I ANTICIPATE THE SAME.
DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE SAME?
>> TRUMP TRUMPS EVERYTHING IN
LIFE, BUT IT WILL BE SO IN THIS
CASE THAT PICTURE THAT YOU
SHOWED OF BOB HUGAN SHAKING HIS
HAND, WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THAT.
AND MONEY ASIDE, IT'S AGAINST
TRUMP AND WE'LL SEE MENENDEZ
WIN.
>> THAT PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT A
MEETING THAT TRUMP HAD WITH THE
PHARMACEUTICAL EXECUTIVES, THE
TOP ONES IN THE COUNTRY, THE
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND
MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA.
AND HUGAN IS QUOTED AS SAYING
VERY NICE THINGS ABOUT TRUMP TO
MARIA BARTIROMO RIGHT AROUND THE
SAME TIME.
MIKE?
>> HE CALLED TRUMP'S AGENDA AN
AGENDA AND SPOKE FAVORABLY OF
TRUMP.
THAT I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE THAT
IN THE CAMPAIGN AD IN NEW JERSEY
FOR BOB MENENDEZ OR THE SUPER
PAC SUPPORTING BOB MENENDEZ.
I THINK THAT COULD CARRY THE DAY
IN NEW JERSEY, THAT COULD BE THE
MESSAGE.
>> LET'S MOVE ON.
GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD ANOTHER BUSY
WEEK.
ON MONDAY HE DID EVENTS ON THE
MINIMUM WAGE AND PUERTO RICO
RELIEF.
ON TUESDAY HE DID A GUN CONTROL
EVENT AND APPEARED ON HIS FIRST
AD THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY
BROADCAST.
ON THURSDAY HE OUTLINED NEW
ACTION FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.
SOMEBODY SAID TO ME AT ONE OF
THESE EVENTS THAT MURPHY IS
SETTING A NEW TONE IN THE STATE.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, DUSTIN?
>> HE IS SETTING A NEW TONE.
I MEAN, THAT WAS OBVIOUS FROM
DAY ONE.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, I GUESS,
A MONTH IN NOW, IS THAT HE'S
REALLY -- HE'S MR. INCLUSIVE
WITH HIS ARMS WIDE OPEN.
EVERYBODY COME HUDDLE WITH ME,
I'M GOING TO PROTECT YOU AND
HELP YOU AND SPEND ALL THIS
MONEY ON YOU.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW,
WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ACTUALLY
ARE.
WE WON'T FIND THAT OUT UNTIL
NEXT MONTH WHEN HE DELIVERS A
BUDGET.
A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT HE DID
IN THE PAST WEEK, I THINK, WAS
MOSTLY SYMBOLIC, BUT IT WAS
SIGNIFICANT ON THURSDAY, I THINK
IT WAS, THAT HE MADE THAT
TRANSIT ANNOUNCEMENT.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY ACTION THAT HE
TOOK TO TRY TO HELP NEW JERSEY
TRANSIT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEED UP
REPAIRS AND YEAH, THEY'RE TRYING
TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON WHAT HE
CALLED A DISASTER IN NEW JERSEY
TRANSIT, AND THAT MEANS MORE
THAN ANYTHING.
>> WHAT TONE IS MURPHY SETTING,
MICHAEL?
>> I THINK A VERY PROGRESSIVE
TONE.
AND A VERY MUCH OF A
DO-SOMETHING GOVERNOR WHO IS OUT
THERE, MAYBE IT'S FOR MEDIA
ATTENTION, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE
NOT MUCH IS BEING DONE OTHER
THAN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OR
SOMETHING SYMBOLIC, BUT HE'S
SETTING A TONE THAT I'M A
PROGRESSIVE AND GOING TO
DEMONSTRATE, I'M A PROGRESSIVE
IN NEW JERSEY.
>> MIKE, WHAT TONE?
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE
SAID HERE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT'S MISSING
IS THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEMS THAT
HE'S PROMISED, THE FULLY-FUNDING
PENSIONS, FULLY FUNDING THE
SFRA, THE SCHOOL FUNDING, AND
HIS BUDGET, HE HASN'T GONE INTO
DETAILS ON THAT.
THAT MAY COME IN THE BUDGET
ADDRESS, BUT I THINK FOR
LEGISLATORS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO
COVER IT EVERY DAY, IT'S
INTERESTING TO SEE THAT HE HAS
NOT FLUSHED THAT OUT YET.
>> TOM, WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> HE HASN'T YELLED AT ANYBODY
YET, HAS HE?
IT'S A DIFFERENT TONE.
RIGHT NOW HE'S TAKING ALL THE
THINGS CHRISTIE DID THAT WERE
UNPOPULAR AND PLEASING PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE PLACE, MINIMUM
WAGE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, STUFF
ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THESE ARE
THINGS, HE'S BUILDING UP GOOD
WILL LEADING INTO THE BUDGET
FIGHT, WHICH WILL BE YOU
CANNILY.
HE AS IN NO GOOD OPTIONS THERE
SO HE HAS TO INFLICT PAIN TO GET
A SHARED SACRIFICE.
THIS PART IS GOING REALLY WELL,
I THINK.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT HIS ASK
GOVERNOR MURPHY PROGRAM.
DUSTIN, YOU WROTE AN ACCOUNT
THAT WAS VERY WRY AND FUNNY.
AND YOU POINTED OUT A PARTICULAR
MOMENT THAT KIND OF JUMPED OUT
AT ME AS I HEARD IT.
WE CALL IT THE CORNY DAD SIDE OF
MURPHY.
THERE'S A WOMAN WHO CALLS IN,
SHE HAS A 21-YEAR-OLD AUTISTIC
SON, SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT HIM
AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
LET'S HEAR IT.
>> I HAPPEN TO HAVE A SON.
AND I'M IN THE PROCESS OF
LOOKING FOR A DAY PROGRAM.
>> WHAT IS HIS NAME IF I MAY
ASK?
>> FRANK.
>> FRANK, I LOVE THAT GUY.
>> I LOVE THAT GUY.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT CHARACTER
THAN THE ONE WE'VE HAD FOR THE
LAST EIGHT YEARS.
>> 180 DEGREES DIFFERENT.
MURPHY, HIS PERSONALITY, HE'S
NOT -- HE'S SO DIFFERENT FROM
CHRISTIE IN EVERY WAY.
AND IT MAY BE ENDEARING TO
PEOPLE THAT HE'S SO LOVING AND
WELCOMING OF PEOPLE.
BUT I'M SORRY, I'M SKEPTICAL AS
A REPORTER, THAT COMES OFF TO ME
AS SO INSINCERE.
BUT THAT IS JUST PART OF WHO
MURPHY IS FOR --
>> WITH SOUTHERN CUTS LIKE THAT,
HE WAS VERY VAGUE AND JUST
REPEATING ASSERTIONS FROM HIS
CAMPAIGN.
>> WELL, YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY
IT.
HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
>> BASICALLY HE DIDN'T SAY
ANYTHING.
>> HIS ASK THE GOVERNOR, THEY
HAD A LOT OF HARD QUESTIONS FOR
HIM, BUT HE KICKED OFF THE
HIGHLIGHT REEL OF HIS CAMPAIGN
PROMISES.
HE DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER ANY
SPECIFICS.
AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE
REAL FLAW IS IN THAT FIRST
APPEARANCE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT
SOUND LIKE, OH, IT'S TERRIBLE
THAT MURPHY IS THIS CASUAL AND
LOVING GUY.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE GREAT
QUALITIES TO HAVE, BUT HE DIDN'T
OFFER REALLY MUCH SUBSTANCE
THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DAY
AFTER THIS HORRIBLE SCHOOL
SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN
FLORIDA THIS WEEK, HE DID HAVE
SOMETHING TO SAY.
AND HE SAID IT WITH CONVICTION.
LET'S HEAR THAT.
>> THE WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH.
THE EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY ARE
NOT ENOUGH.
WE MUST ASK.
AND I'M JUST FEARFUL THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A REDO OF NEW TAB,
CONNECTICUT.
SEVERAL PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES,
MANY OF THEM KIDS.
IT RIPPED ALL OUR HEARTS OUT, UP
INCREDIBLE SORROW AND INACTION
IN CONGRESS, LITERALLY INACTION.
>> I SAW THAT AND THOUGHT, HE
HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A
LEADER ON THIS ISSUE.
DO YOU AGREE?
>> WELL, NEW JERSEY'S GUN LAWS
ARE ALREADY PRETTY STRICT.
YOU CAN FIDDLE, I DON'T THINK
THERE'S HUGE CHANGES WE CAN MAKE
IN NEW JERSEY'S LAW.
HE COULD BE A SPOKESPERSON, BUT
I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF
THEM.
SO I GUESS I DON'T SEE GREAT
POTENTIAL FOR HIM.
>> AT HIS EVENT TWO DAYS
EARLIER, HE CALLED FOR SIX GUN
CONTROL TIGHTENING MEASURES THAT
CHRISTIE VETOED.
SO THERE'S ROOM FOR HIM TO MOVE,
BUT I THINK RHETORICALLY, THE
NATION NEEDS MORE SPOKESPEOPLE
FOR THIS PARTICULAR POINT OF
VIEW.
AND I THINK HE COULD BE ONE.
ANYBODY WANT TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> THIS LOOKS LIKE THE SAME KIND
OF REACTION OF MOST POLITICIANS,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE OF THE
AISLE THEY COME FROM.
THERE'S A MAJOR DISASTER, THEY
HEM AND HAW, WE NEED MORE LAWS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND FOR ME, THE QUESTION ALWAYS
COMES UP, DO YOU REALLY NEED
MORE LAWS?
OR DO YOU NEED BETTER
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS THAT YOU
ALREADY HAVE?
AND THE CASE OF THE FLORIDA
SHOOTER, FOR INSTANCE, OBVIOUSLY
SOMEONE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD
A GUN.
AND PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DEEMED, AT SOME POINT, TO USE
THE PRESIDENT'S WORDS, DISTURBED
IN SOME WAY, AND PROBABLY SHOULD
HAVE BEEN AJUD KATED THAT WAY.
AND IN DOING SO, MAYBE HE WOULD
HAVE BEEN ON A REGISTER WHERE HE
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AT
LEAST LEGALLY BUY A GUN.
SO IF WE TALK ABOUT THE
POLITICIANS, MORE LAW FOR THIS,
MORE LAW FOR THAT, ENFORCE WHAT
YOU ALREADY HAVE.
IMPROVE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET INTO A
DEBATE WITH CONGRESS OR STATE
LEGISLATORS ABOUT, WE NEED MORE
GUN LAWS, WHAT ABOUT
ENFORCEMENT?
WHAT ABOUT ENFORCING THE LAWS
YOU ALREADY HAVE?
>> ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THIS?
>> JUST THAT THE POLITICAL
REALITY IS THAT WE ARE IN THE
GRIP OF FANATICS AND CONGRESS
HAS BOUGHT ON THIS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPINION
POLLS, MOST PEOPLE WANT SENSIBLE
GUN REGULATION.
SO IT IS TRUE, WE NEED TO DO
BETTER ENFORCING THE EXISTING
LAWS AND NEED NEW LAWS, AND WE
ARE NOT ANYWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE WE ARE IN
THE GRIP OF THE FANATICS.
>> WE NEED TO KEEP GUNS AWAY
FROM THE DISTURBING AND ANGRY
PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE
MECHANISM FOR DOING THAT.
>> I THINK THAT THERE IS AN EASY
OPENING FOR MURPHY HERE IN
CONTRAST TO THE GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM.
I DID PICK UP ON REAL SINCERITY
THERE IN HIS REMARKS.
HE IS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WITH
A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR,
LEGISLATURE, THAT IS EAGER TO
PASS MORE GUN LAWS BASED ON
THEIR PAST ACTION.
AND HE COULD REALLY EMERGE AS
THE NEW FACE OF PROGRESSIVISM
AND PASSING REALLY STRICT
PROGRESSIVE GUN LAWS WHILE
PROTECTING THE SECOND AMENDMENT
AS HE HAS SAID.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY -- HE
FACES ALL THE OTHER TROUBLES
WITH THE LEGISLATURE, THIS SEEMS
TO BE AN EASY PASS FOR HIM TO BE
AT THE VANGUARD OF THIS.
>> MIKE CATALINI, I THINK YOU
BROKE THIS STORY THIS WEEK THAT
JACK SHATARELLI WHO RAN FOR
GOVERNOR THIS PAST YEAR IN 2017
CAME UP SHORT IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY IS ALREADY EYEING 2021
AND BEING THE REPUBLICAN TO RUN
AGAINST MURPHY.
>> YEAH, THAT CAME OUT OF -- I
CALLED JACK TO TALK ABOUT BOB
HUGAN, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE HUGAN
ANNOUNCED THE DAY BEFORE AND HAD
THE EVENTS THIS WEEK IN
SPRINGFIELD AND UNION COUNTY AND
IN BURLINGTON.
AND I GOT TO TALKING TO HIM
ABOUT HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH TRUMP
IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN?
AND HE WAS SAYING, YOU NEED TO
THREAD THE TRUMP NEEDLE AND YOU
NEED TO STAND UP AND DISAGREE
WITH TRUMP WHERE YOU DISAGREE
WITH HIM.
AND HE SAID HE WAS SORT OF FIRED
UP.
I SAID, YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
STILL INTERESTED IN POLITICS,
ARE YOU RUNNING FOR ANYTHING?
I SAID, ARE YOU RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR IN 2021?
HE SAID, YES, IF YOU ASK ME
TODAY, I'M RUNNING.
THAT'S TWO YEARS AWAY.
THAT'S A LONG WAY OFF.
A LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN.
>> THE QUOTE THAT JUMPED OUT AT
ME FROM YOUR PIECE WAS BE STILL,
MEANING MURPHY, HE STILL HASN'T
COME TO GRIPS THAT HIS PROMISES
JUST AREN'T REALISTIC.
THAT'S THE KNOCK ON MURPHY, IS
IT NOT?
UP AND DOWN THE STATE, THAT HE'S
JUST MAKING TOO MANY EMPTY
PROMISES?
>> I THINK SO.
I LIKE MOST OF HIS PROMISES, BUT
HE HASN'T COME CLOSE TO
PROVIDING SOME VISUAL FOR HOW
HE'S GOING TO FINANCE THEM.
WE'LL SEE IN A MONTH WHEN HE HAS
TO MAKE THE REAL DECISIONS,
ENOUGH FOR THE RHETORIC AT THIS
POINT.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE OF
MURPHY THAT I'M STRUCK BY.
AND THAT IS WHAT I CALL THE
HAPPY WARRIOR SIDE.
HE SEEMS TO BE HAVING A GOOD
TIME.
HE SEEMS TO BE GROWING INTO THE
JOB.
HUBERT HUMPHREY WAS THE ORIGINAL
HAPPY WARRIOR BACK IN THE '60s.
I HAD A MOMENT WITH MURPHY THIS
WEEK, LET'S HEAR IT.
HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING IT SO FAR?
HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR?
>> WE ARE LOVING IT.
WE ARE 27 DAYS IN.
IT'S AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S ABOVE WHAT WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE.
>> MICHAEL HILL, WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
>> I THINK HIS FACE, HIS TONE, I
THINK HE ABSOLUTELY RELISHES
THIS.
I THINK IT'S EVERYTHING HE
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I THINK THAT THIS IS -- HE'S
LIVING HIS DREAM.
>> I DON'T THINK HIS ANSWER WILL
EVERY CHANGE IN THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS.
>> YOU DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO
HAVE A BAD DAY?
>> I THINK HE'LL HAVE A LOT OF
BAD DAYS.
BUT I THINK -- THAT'S HIS
DEMEANOR, HIS DEFAULT IS THE BE
THE HAPPY WAR YORE.
THAT'S IN HIS DNA.
AND I THINK HE'LL ALWAYS SAY,
THIS IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE
OF MY LIFE AND THE GREATEST JOB
AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT DEMEANOR TO
HAVE IN POLITICS, IS IT NOT.
>> IT IS.
HE'S ON A WINNING STREAK.
HERE'S A GUY THAT WAS NEVER IN
POLITICS AND BECAME GOVERNOR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO BE
GOVERNOR.
>> YEAH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SPEAKING OF, WELL, NEVERMIND.
LET'S MOVE ON.
PRESIDENT TRUMP LAID OUT A $1.5
TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
THIS WEEK THAT SPANS $200
BILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS OVER TEN
YEARS AND LEVERAGES THE REST.
HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY GOES
TOWARD THE GATEWAY TUNNEL
PROJECT IS UNCLEAR.
THE PLAN MOVES GATEWAY'S
PRIORITY FROM MEDIUM-HIGH TO
MEDIUM-LOW.
MICHAEL HILL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN?
>> IT'S ODD FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS,
WHO IS A NEW YORKER AND KNOWS
HOW IMPORTANT THAT COMMUTING IS
HERE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND YOU HAVE A CORPORATION BASED
IN NEW YORK CITY, YOUR EMPLOYEES
HAVE TO GET BACK AND FORTH,
OTHER BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT
YOUR BUSINESS HAVE TO --
EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GET BACK AND
FORTH.
WHY IT IS NOT A PRIORITY?
>> THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THIS PERSONALLY OR
WHETHER THIS HAPPENS AT A LOWER
LEVEL, I MEAN, THE FEDERAL
TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION THAT'S
DISTRIBUTING THE PRIORITIES, YOU
CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, IS TRUMP
PUNISHING THE BLUE STATES?
WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING ON?
>> I THINK HE'S BARGAINING WITH
CHUCK SCHUMER AND SAYING, I'M
NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS
UNLESS YOU DANCE WITH ME ON
SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS HAS TO BE BUILT.
THIS IS THE MAIN RAIL CONNECTION
BETWEEN BOSTON AND WASHINGTON.
WE'RE A GREAT NATION.
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER
THIS IS GOING TO BE BUILT AFTER
IT COLLAPSES AND THERE'S AN
ECONOMIC RUIN IN THIS REGION OR
IN TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO CONCEDE, THIS IS A VERY LOW
PRIORITY, GIVE ME A BREAK.
THAT'S JUST NONSENSE.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE
GAME REGARDS IT AS NONSENSE.
THE WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN IS
A BIT FARCICAL.
WE WERE TOLD, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE ALL THE SHINY NEW -- THIS
IS -- THIS IS LIKE ONE OF HIS
CASINOS.
DOESN'T IT?
HIS BIG NAME AND HALF BANKRUPTCY
AND REALLY LAME.
SO, I MEAN, $200 BILLION IS
NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.
>> OVER TEN YEARS.
>> AND NO ONE BELIEVE THAT IS
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
INTEREST CAN FILL IN THE GAP OF
$1.3 TRILLION.
THERE'S NO ONE I HAVE TALKED TO
WHO BELIEVES THAT.
SO THIS IS POLITICAL POSTURING,
I HOPE.
OTHERWISE IT IS INSANITY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE ON GATEWAY?
>> HIS ADMINISTRATION SHOULD
HAVE A FRANK CONVERSATION WITH
THE REGIONAL PLAN ASSOCIATION.
>> ANYTHING ELSE, MIKE?
>> I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW -- WHEN
YOU HEAR MURPHY TALK ABOUT
GATEWAY, IT'S SORT OF THE ONE
AREA WHERE HE -- HE SAYS HE'S
GOING TO TALK TO TRUMP AND IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
ON THOSE THINGS MURPHY IS HIGHLY
CRITICAL OF TRUMP WE ALL KNOW,
IT'S SORT OF HOW HE GOT INTO
OFFICE.
AND I WONDER IF HE'S -- I'M
CURIOUS IF HE'S MAKING THE
CALCULATION, IF I CAN GET INTO
THE ROOM WITH THE PRESIDENT, WE
CAN TALK ABOUT THIS WITH CHUCK
SCHUMER.
IS THAT GOING TO SEAL SOME SORT
OF A DEAL?
>> TALKING ABOUT RHETORIC AND
ALL THE OTHER DEALS HE'S SO
CRITICAL OF IN SOME POINT IF HE
WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL WITH TRUMP.
WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE FOR THE
FORMER ASSEMBLY SPEAKER BECOMING
THE NEW CEO OF THE SPORTS AND
EXPEDITION AUTHORITY.
REACTION?
>> IT'S A CLUB OF 500 PEOPLE AND
THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IN
TRENTON.
HE'S IN THE CLUB.
HE GETS A BIG JOB BECAUSE HE WAS
SPEAKER.
>> IT'S A $280,000 A YEAR JOB.
>> THERE'S NO WAY HE'S THE MOST
QUALIFIED NERN THE COUNTRY TO DO
THIS JOB.
>> ONE THING THAT DID OCCUR TO
ME IS WHEN I WAS EVALUATING THIS
NEWS IS HE DOES LIVE ABOUT A
MILE FROM GIANTS STADIUM, FROM
METLIFE STADIUM.
HE CAN WALK TO THE CAUCUS RIGHT
ACROSS ROUTE 3.
SO HE DOES HAVE SOME GEO
AWARENESS.
>> GEO AWARENESS.
>> GEO AWARENESS.
>> HE CAN WALK TO WORK NOW, TOO.
>> HE CAN WALK TO WORK.
YEAH, I GUESS THERE'S A WALKWAY
OVER THAT HIGHWAY.
AND MARIJUANA, IN 30 SECONDS, IT
SEEMS TO BE IN TROUBLE,
LEGALIZATION.
>> YES.
I THINK IT IS IN TROUBLE.
WE'RE GOING TO, MORE THAN LIKELY
DECRIMINALIZE, WHICH MEANS THE
VIOLENT DRUG TRADE WILL
CONTINUE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT TO MOVE TO YOUR
JOURNALISTIC HIGH POINTS OF THE
WEEK.
MICHAEL HILL.
>> JUDGE GRANT DOWN IN TRENTON
TALKING ABOUT CHANGES TAKING
PLACE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND LARGELY BECAUSE OF, WHAT A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
LARGELY BECAUSE OF A DEADLY
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE IN
NEWARK.
>> WHERE THE JUDGE IS GETTING
SOME CRITICISM.
FOR LETTING SOMEBODY OUT.
MIKE?
>> I'LL MENTION THE -- YOU
MENTIONED THAT MEDIUM-LOW FOR A
GATEWAY RATING FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
I THINK THAT CAME OUT IN A
POLITICO REPORT, THEY GOT AHOLD
OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT, THAT
WAS A GOOD PIECE OF REPORTING.
>> DUSTIN?
>> MY COLLEAGUE SCOTT FALLON AND
JIM O'NEAL HAVE PUBLISHED A
LENGTHY INVESTIGATION ON DUPONT
AND ITS ROLE IN HIDING SOME
DISTURBING CANCER-CAUSING
CHEMICALS UP IN THAT AREA.
IT'S ALREADY UP ONLINE.
AND YOU CAN BUY IT STARTING
SUNDAY IN THE PAPER.
>> TOM?
>> IT'S A LOW-LIGHT, AFTER THE
SHOOTING I HAVE HEARD NOTHING
THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE
OTHER TWO DOZEN SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS.
WE ARE SO STUCK AS A COUNTRY.
>> AND MINE WAS ASSEMBLYWOMAN
HOLLY SHAPIZI'S UNDERCOVER VIDEO
WHEN SHE WENT INTO AN
UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE IN BERGEN
COUNTY, THERE WERE ABOUT 45
PEOPLE WAITING HOURS TO BE
PROCESSED BY ONE CLERK, SECOND
TIME I HEARD A COMPLAINT ABOUT
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK.
>>> UP NEXT ON NJTV,
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE MIKE
ASHIRO FOLLOWED BY THREE
OBSERVERS.
THAT'S THIS WEEKEND'S "ON THE
RECORD."
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