>>> A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, A
DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE
LEADERSHIP AND NO AGREEMENT ON
TAXING THE RICH.
>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR
"REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH
MICHAEL ARON IS PROVIDED BY NEW
JERSEY REALTORS.
THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW
JERSEY.
MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT
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THE MAGAZINE THAT THE NEW JERSEY
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF
THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.
>>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE."
I'M MICHAEL ARON.
SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
PAUL STAR LOW CALLED IT OPENING
DAY, THE DAY WHEN THE STATE
TREASURER COMES BEFORE THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE TO DEFEND THE
GOVERNOR'S NEW SPENDING PLAN.
THIS YEAR THE BIG STICKING POINT
IS THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX.
MOST LAWMAKERS SHUN IT.
THE GOVERNOR, A MILLIONAIRE
HIMSELF, SAID PEOPLE LIKE HIM
CAN AFFORD IT.
AND THE MONEY CAN BE USED TO
INVEST IN THE MIDDLE CLASS.
>> DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION
YOU'VE PASSED OVER 2 --
LEGISLATURE SIGNED IN OVER
$2.25 BILLION IN TAX HIKES.
HOW DOES THAT HELP THE MIDDLE
CLASS?
>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR
REVENUE, OUR NEW REVENUES FOR
THIS PAST BUDGET AND THIS BUDGET
ARE -- COME, THOUGH, FROM THE
HIGHEST EARNERS IN THE STATE.
>> WOULD THE ADMINISTRATION
CONSIDER IF WE WERE -- IF THE
LEGISLATURE WAS TO COME UP WITH
AN ADDITIONAL $447 MILLION IN
SUSTAINABLE SAVINGS TO OFFSET
THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX, IS THAT
SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATOR
WOULD CONSIDER.
>> THE TREASURER RESISTED THAT
IDEA EXPLAINING THE STATE NEEDS
THAT REVENUE.
>> WE HAVE INCREASED PENSION
PAYMENTS AND INCREASED EDUCATION
FUNDING PAYMENTS TO NAME A
COUPLE.
>> THE STATE INCOME TAX WOULD
RISE FROM 8.97% TO 10.75% ON
INCOME ABOVE A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER OPPOSE IT.
ACCORDING TO A FDU POLL THIS
WEEK, 46% OF NEW JERSEYANS
STRONGLY SUPPORT IT, 26%
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT IT, AND 14%
STRONGLY OR SOMEWHAT OPPOSE.
JOINING US NOW WITH THEIR OWN
ASSESSMENT, NICK OKOCHELA, AND
JOE HERNANDEZ STATE HOUSE
REPORTER FOR HYY AND BGO RADIO,
MICHAEL SIMMONS, STATE HOUSE
REPORTER FOR NEW JERSEY 101.5
RADIO AND DAVID CRUZ, SENIOR
CORRESPONDENT FOR NJTV NEWS.
NICK, WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR
THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX.
>> NOBODY COULD TELL BUT THE
LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SEEMS SO
ADAMANTLY OPPOSED AND WITH THE
ASSEMBLY UP, MAYBE IT WILL THROW
THEM A COMPROMISE.
LAST TIME IT WAS EVERYBODY OVER
$5 MILLION AND MAYBE $4 MILLION
OR $3 MILLION BUT I DON'T SEE --
>> YOU JUST SOLVED THE WHOLE
PROBLEM.
>> THEY DON'T ASK ME.
>> JOE, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON
THIS?
>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN WHEN WE HEARD THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET MANY
LAWMAKERS SAID IS SET A BETTER
TONE THAN LAST YEAR AND IT WAS
MORE COL EEJAL AND EVERYBODY WAS
GETTING ALONG BETTER THAN LAST
YEAR SO MAYBE THE TABLE IS SET
IN A WAY THAT IS MORE -- MIGHT
ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO
HAPPEN.
BUT AS WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TOP
DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE
DON'T WANT IT.
>> MIKE, THE FORMER
GUBERNATORIAL PRESS SECRETARY
CARL GOTTON WHO I FREQUENTLY
QUOTE AT THIS TABLE, WROTE THIS
WEEK THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX IS
OFF THE TABLE AND THERE IS A
STALEMATE AHEAD AND THAT WE MAY
WELL HAVE A SHUTDOWN IN JULY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I GUESS THAT IS CONCEIVABLE.
WHEN THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE
HEARING ENDED REPORTS SAID TO
SENATOR SAR LOWE, SO THE
MILLION'S TAX IS DEAD.
AND HE SAID WE'RE NOT SAYING
THAT YET.
AND THEY'RE NOT CLOSING THE DOOR
ON THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THE SAVINGS THAT
THEY WOULD NEED TO COME WITH TO
OFFSET A MILLIONAIRE'S TAX AND
THERE IS TALK ABOUT NEW JERSEY
TRANSIT AND CONCERNS ABOUT
DIRECT SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALS
AND WHAT THE MINIMUM WAGE
INCREASE COULD MEAN FOR
STABILITY IN THAT INDUSTRY.
AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING
PARTS THE BIGGEST IS HOW DOES
THE INCOME TAX DUE IN APRIL AND
WHAT DOES THE LANDSCAPE LOOK
LIKE IN MAY AND UNTIL THEN IT IS
ALL SORT OF TRYING -- IT IS
PRELIMINARY.
>> DAVID, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
>> WELL, IT SHOULD BE NOTED UP
FRONT THAT MICHAEL SIMMONS IS
THE OFFICIAL SHUTDOWN CHEF.
WHENEVER THERE IS A SHUTDOWN AND
WE'RE ALL BACK DOWN IN TRENTON
WAITING TO SEE WHEN IT ENDS OR
BEGINS --
>> HE BARBECUES.
>> HE BARBECUES, THAT IS RIGHT.
BUT I LIKE NICK'S IDEA OF LAST
YEAR THEY OFFERED $5 MILLION AND
MAYBE THIS YEAR THEY'LL GO TO
$2.5 MILLION AND MAKE IT MORE
MANAGEABLE.
AND I LIKE SARLO SAYING WE COULD
COME UP WITH $400 MILLION FOR
YOU.
I DON'T SEE HOW THEY'LL AVOID A
SHUTDOWN.
>> I THINK THERE IS SOME
SERIOUSNESS IN THAT SUGGESTION.
IN A $38.6 BILLION BUDGET, TO
FIND AN ADDITIONAL $447 MILLION
IN CUTS IS NOT THAT HIGH A LIFT
OR HIGH A BAR, RIGHT?
>> IT IS NOT EVEN A ROUNDING
ERROR.
>> EXCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
ALREADY -- I THINK THEY MIGHT
SAY COME UP WITH $800 MILLION IN
CUTS TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE HEALTH
CARE, SO --
>> $200 MILLION ON TOP OF THAT
IN DEPARTMENTAL SAVINGS.
>> AND THEY JUST LEGALIZED
MARIJUANA, THEY WOULD BE ON
THEIR WAY.
>> THE MAIN THING THAT SENATE
PRESIDENT SWEENEY SEEMS TO BE
INTENT ON RIGHT NOW IS THIS IDEA
ABOUT CHANGING THE HEALTH
BENEFITS PLAN FOR TEACHERS AND
THAT WOULD HAVE SOME IMPACT ON
THE STATE BUDGET BUT THAT WOULD
HAVE A LIMITED IMPACT ON THE
STATE BUDGET.
THAT IS A BIGGER IMPACT ON
LOCAL --
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A
SECOND.
THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS WHAT HE
CALLS HIS PATH TO PROGRESS PLAN,
MUCH DISCUSSED FOR ABOUT NINE
MONTHS NOW.
AMONG OTHER THINGS IT WOULD
CHANGE THE PENSION SYSTEM TO
MAKE IT LESS BURDENSOME ON THE
STATE AND A LITTLE MORE
BURDENSOME ON THE WORKERS.
AND IT WOULD REDUCE PUBLIC
WORKER HEALTH BENEFITS FROM
PLATINUM LEVEL TO GOLD AS
DEFINED BY THE OBAMA HEALTH LAW.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HE'S
GOING TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION
TO THESE EFFECTS IN THE VERY
NEAR FUTURE, WITHIN WEEKS.
THAT IS GOING TO THROW A LITTLE
KIND OF A BOMB RIGHT INTO THIS
WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS, IS IT NOT?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
THE GOVERNOR SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT.
HE INSISTS THAT ALL OF THIS MUST
BE DONE THROUGH COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND HE'S GOT THE
FINAL SAY.
HE'S GOT THE PEN.
>> SO THAT IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL
STUMBLING BLOCK.
>> I THINK THAT HAS BEEN THE
STUMBLING BLOCK ALL ALONG.
FROM BEFORE HE WAS INAUGURATED,
I THINK THAT WAS THE BONE OF
CONTENTION BETWEEN HIM AND
SWEENEY.
>> PUBLIC WORKER BENEFITS.
>> GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO
SWEENEY BEING ATTACKED BY THE
NJEA DURING THE ELECTION AND
MURPHY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO
CALL THEM OFF.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE PATH TO
PROGRESS BEING ACTUALLY AN
IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS?
>> I THINK THAT THE PATH TO
PROGRESS BILLS ARE COMING AND
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO GET
HEARINGS BUT I DON'T EVEN
THINK -- SWEENEY SEES THEM ALL
AS SOMETHING DONE BY THIS JUNE.
THAT'S A LONG PROCESS AND SOME
OF THAT MIGHT HAPPEN THIS YEAR
AND SOME OF IT MIGHT HAPPEN THE
FOLLOWING YEAR AND SOME OF IT
MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN.
BUT, YEAH, IT IS GOING TO BE
PART OF THIS YEAR'S
CONVERSATIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER STICKING
POINTS IN THE BUDGET BESIDES THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX?
>> A LITTLE BIT ON THE SURPLUS.
>> ON THE SURPLUS?
>> THEY KEEP SAYING WELL MAYBE
IT IS TOO BIG AND WE COULD USE
SOME OF THAT MONEY --
>> IT IS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
FIRST TIME THAT EVER HAPPENED
BECAUSE BUDGETS GROW OVER TIME
AS WELL.
>> RIGHT.
>> THE TREASURER KEEPS SAY THAT
OTHER STATES AND I'VE SAID IT AS
WELL -- OTHER S HAVE SAID IT AS
ALL, OTHER STATES PUT IT IN 8.4%
OF THE BUDGET TOWARD SURPLUS AND
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE
AND OURS IS 3% AND WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO LET IT GO UNDER 3% AND
THE RATING AGENCIES IN NEW YORK
WILL HOWL AND DROP OUR BOND
RATING YET AGAIN.
BUT IT SEEMS THAT A BILLION
DOLLARS SURPLUS IS JUST SITTING
THERE FOR A RAINY DAY AND MAYBE
THE ALTERNATIVE, RAISING THE
MILLIONAIRE'S TAX WOULD LOOK
LIKE A RAINY DAY TO THE
LEGISLATORS.
>> OR MIGHT NOT BE SITTING
THERE, TO GO BACK TO WHAT
MICHAEL WAY SAYING.
IT DEPENDS ON TAX COLLECTIONS.
IF TAX COLLECTIONS TANK, YOU
DON'T HAVE YOUR BILLION DOLLARS
SURPLUS.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THERE ARE LAWMAKERS TALKING
ABOUT HOW NJ TRANSIT NEEDS MORE
MONEY.
SO THAT IS MORE THAN A COUPLE
MILLION DOLLARS IF THEY'RE GOING
TO FUND IT TO THE LEVEL THAT
THEY THINK IS APPROPRIATE.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT
COMES OUT OF THIS POTENTIAL
SURPLUS.
>> AND REPUBLICANS ALL OF A
SUDDEN ARE SAYING WE SHOULD PUT
MORE INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JOHN
DEMARROW THE OFFICER IN THE
ASSEMBLY SAID WHY ARE WE
SPENDING MONEY ON NEW THINGS
LIKE PRE-K AND FREE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE WHEN WE'RE NOT FUNDING
THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA.
SCHOOL FUNDING IS A STICKING
POINT EVEN THOUGH IT IS UP
$200 MILLION, DEMAYO'S POINT IS
LAST YEAR YOU ONLY RAISED IT AND
WHY ONLY $200 MILLION THIS YEAR.
>> AND AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS
THERE WERE WAVES OF SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENTS COMING TO
TESTIFY FROM THE DISTRICTS THAT
ARE LOSING MONEY.
IT IS PART OF PUTTING NEW MONEY
TO THE FORMULA, THERE ARE ALSO
ADJUSTMENTS IN THE FORMULA SO I
DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD THE PERCENTAGE BUT
DISTRICTS ARE GETTING LESS
MONEY.
>> NEARLY 200 DISTRICTS GETTING
LESS MONEY AND PATTERSON CAME
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SAYING
WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH LESS UNDER
THIS NEW FORMULA THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO LAY OFF 232
EMPLOYEES, 150 OF THEM TEACHERS,
12 OR 13 PRINCIPALS.
SO I THINK SCHOOL FUNDING IS
ANOTHER AREA WE'RE GOING TO BE
HEARING ABOUT.
>> THOSE HEARINGS WERE PACKED
WITH TEACHERS AND
SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS
SAYING IT IS GREAT YOU'RE
PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THIS
OVERALL BUT BECAUSE OF THE
CHANGES WE'RE LOSING OUT SO
WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY HAPPY WITH
HOW THIS FORMULA HAS CHANGED.
>> MEANWHILE MIKE SIMMONS WROTE
A BUDGET-RELATED PIECE A WEEK
AND A HALF AGO THAT CAUGHT MY
ATTENTION ABOUT HOMESTEAD
REBATES, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
AN ICONIC ELEMENT OF STATE
BUDGETS GOING BACK TO WHEN
BENNOT VERN INVENTED THE
HOMESTEAD REBATE BEFORE HIS
ELECTION AND PEOPLE GOT A BIG
CHECK IN THE MAIL TWO WEEKS
BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND
RE-ELECTED BRENDON BURN AND
ALREADY LOOKED AT CLOSELY UNTIL
RECENT YEARS WHERE IT IS GOING
UNDER THE RADAR AND IT IS NOT
THE PROGRAM IT USED TO BE.
>> RIGHT.
>> GIVE US THE FACTS ON THAT.
>> AT ITS PEAK, AND I GUESS IT
WAS JOHN CORZINE'S SECOND YEAR
IT ACCOUNTS FOR ONE OF EVERY $15
THE STATE GOVERNMENT SPENT THAT
YEAR OUT OF ITS OWN BUDGET AND
THEN THE UPCOMING BUDGET IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OUT OF EVERY
$135 THE STATE SPENDS.
DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE NOT OTHER
FORMS OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF,
BUT IT IS SCHOOL AID AND PICKING
UP THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE
TEACHERS PENSION FUND AND THINGS
LIKE THAT BUT THE DIRECT AID
THAT GOES OUT HAS -- BASICALLY
THE CUT-OFF TO QUALIFY FOR
HOMESTEAD REBATE, IF YOU ARE NOT
A SENIOR CITIZEN, IS $75,000 IN
INCOME AND THERE IS PLENTY OF
FAMILIES THAT ARE SOLIDLY,
SOLIDLY MIDDLE CLASS WHO BY THAT
MEASURE ARE CONSIDERED RICH AND
DON'T QUALITY.
>> AND I DON'T THINK THE REBATE
IS AS BIG AS IT USED TO BE.
I REMEMBER DAYS WHEN VIRTUALLY
EVERY MIDDLE CLASS HOMEOWNER IN
THE STATE WAS GETTING A THOUSAND
DOLLARS FROM THE STATE AND NOW
WHAT DO THEY GET IN $335?
>> ENOUGH TO GO OUT TO DINNER.
>> THEY AVERAGE $400 IN THE
COMING YEAR FOR THOSE WHO STILL
QUALIFY FOR IT.
SO YOU COULD ARGUE IT WAS AN
INEFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATHER THAN
TAKE MY MONEY AND WASH IT AND
SEND IT BACK, JUST COLLECT IT.
>> AND GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIEI
CHANGES THAT YOU DON'T GET A
CHECK ANY MORE, IT IS APPLIED TO
YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL FROM
THE -- SO YOU DON'T EVEN SEE IT.
>> NOW THE HOMESTEAD CREDIT
PROGRAM.
>> RIGHT.
YOU DON'T EVEN SEE THE CHECK.
SO --
>> IT IS CERTAINLY -- THAT WAS A
GOOD GOVERNMENT MOVE BY CHRIS
CHRISTIE.
>> GOOD GOVERNMENT MOVE BUT
DIDN'T MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.
>> IT LOST ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS
A POLITICAL TOOL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> YEAH.
AND AGAIN, CHRISTIE DID THAT
INTENTIONALLY.
>> YEAH.
>> TO HIS CREDIT.
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
>> A LOT OF WHAT THE STATE DOES
NOW HAS DIRECT --
>> TO HIS CREDIT, THAT IS A PUN
BY THE WAY.
>> VERY GOOD, MICHAEL.
>> A LOT OF DIRECT PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF IS NOW ALLOWING --
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DEDUCT
MORE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES WHEN
THEY PAY INCOME TAXES AND SO IT
IS -- IT IS DIRECT RELIEVE BUT
IT IS ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF
IT IS NOT MONEY THAT THE STATE
TULLY SPENDS, IT IS A TAX
EXPENDITURE THAT THE STATE
FOREGOES INCOME BY ALLOWING YOU
TO REDUCE YOUR INCOME TAX AND SO
IT DOESN'T COUNT.
WHEN WE SIGN A $38 BILLION
BUDGET, THAT SPENDING ISN'T PART
OF THAT $38.
>> AND YOU SAY IT WAS 2-.2
BILLION DOLLARS PROGRAM BACK
WHEN AND NOW IT IS HOW MUCH IN
THE BUDGET?
>> ONCE YOU INCLUDE THE --
WITH SENIORS AND THINGS, I WANT
TO SAY IT IS -- I'LL GET IT
WRONG AND REGRET THIS, BUT IT IS
AROUND $500 MILLION.
>> OKAY.
LET'S MOVE ON.
GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD A FULL WEEK.
HE WAS IN LOS ANGELES MONDAY
TALKING TO HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVES
ABOUT SHOOTING MORE FILMS HERE.
HE GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO NJ
SPOTLIGHT PUBLISHED THIS WEEK
SAYING HE HAD NO BIG INITIATIVES
PLANNED.
JUST WANTED TO FOCUS ON TRANSIT,
EDUCATION AND FIXING THE STATE'S
FINANCES.
HE DID AN EVENT ON THURSDAY TO
UNDERSCORE THE ADDED FUNDING
SLATED FOR EDUCATION IN HIS
PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND HE SAID THE CONGESTION
PRICING PLAN THAT NEW YORK
APPEARS TO BE ADOPTING IS UNFAIR
TO NEW JERSEY.
>> I HAVE STRONG CONCERNS
STARTING WITH THE LACK OF
SIGNALS FROM THE MTA THAT EITHER
GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE
COMMUTERS WILL BE TREATED
EQUALLY WITH COMMUTERS ENTERING
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN VIA THE
LINCOLN AND HOLLAND TUNNELS OR
THAT NJ TRANSIT AND PASS WILL
GET ADDITIONAL CAPITAL SUPPORT
FROM CONGESTIVE PRICING.
>> JOE, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT
WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN
NEW YORK CITY AND WITH
CONGESTION PRICING?
>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A
BONAFIDE EFFORT ON MURPHY'S PART
FOR PEOPLE LOOKING IN NEW JERSEY
AND WORKING IN NEW YORK AND
DOESN'T WANT THEM DOUBLY TAXED,
I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD GO
OVER WELL FOR NEW JERSEYANS
ALREADY PAYING PLENTY OF TAXES
TO HAVE TO PAY THIS AGAIN.
SO I THINK THERE WAS A REPORT IN
MAYBE POLITICO TODAY THAT SAID
MURPHY IS TRYING TO TALK TO NEW
YORK GOVERNOR CUOMO ABOUT
SOMEHOW FIGURING OUT IN A WAY
THAT DOESN'T HURT DRIVERS HERE.
>> DAVID, YOU LIVE CLOSE TO THE
NEW YORK BORDER.
WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
NEW JERSEY?
>> WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS
INTERESTING THAT JERSEY CITY
MAYOR STEVEN PHILIP FLOATED THE
IDEA THAT MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE
A REVERSE TAX FOR NEW YORKERS
WHO ARE VISITING INTO NEW
JERSEY.
I THINK THERE IS SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS, RIGHT?
BECAUSE IF CONGESTION PRICING
SUCCEEDS AT GETTING PEOPLE OUT
OF THEIR CARS, THEY'LL START
HITTING THE RAILS AND NJ TRANSIT
IS AT CAPACITY.
AND THE PATH SYSTEM GOING INTO
NEW YORK IS AT CAPACITY.
SO NOT ONLY WILL YOU HAVE THOSE
SYSTEMS EVEN MORE OVERBURDENED,
BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REAP
ANY OF THE BENEFITS ECONOMICALLY
FROM IT AND WE'LL HAVE TO PAY
MORE TO INCREASE SERVICE OR
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
>> SO YOU ALSO LIVE CLOSE TO THE
NEW YORK BORDER.
FROM WHAT I GATHER, FROM WHAT
THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING, WE DON'T
WANT GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE
COMMUTERS TO HAVE TO PAY THE
TOLL AND THE CONGESTION
SURCHARGE.
>> RIGHT.
>> DOES THAT MEAN THAT LINCOLN
TUNNEL USERS AND HOLLAND TUNNEL
USERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXEMPTED
FROM HAVING TO PAY THAT?
>> NO, I THINK IT IS THE OTHER
WAY AROUND.
THE TUNNEL PEOPLE WILL AND THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE
COMMUTERS WON'T PAY IT, WHICH
STRIKES ME AS TOTALLY INSANE.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO --
>> EVERYBODY WILL GO TO THE
BRIDGE.
>> OF COURSE.
AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TOTAL
CHAOS.
>> WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE.
>> YOU ALREADY HAVE IT.
IT HAS TO BE DONE EQUITABLY.
BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THE
CONGESTION PRICING IS ONLY FOR
BELOW 60th STREET BUT IT DOESN'T
TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT IF
GOW OVER THE GEORGE WASHINGTON
BRIDGE YOU COULD BE AT 60th
STREET VERY QUICKLY.
OR MAYBE NOT SO QUICKLY IN THE
MORNING.
BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE EQUITABLY
AND SOME OF THE BENEFIT HAS TO
COME BACK TO NEW JERSEY, THE
TRANSIT SYSTEM IN NEW JERSEY.
>> IS THIS TOUCHING OFF A NEW
ROUND OF NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY
HOSTILITY OR WARFARE?
>> WELL AT LEAST THE GOVERNORS
GET ALONG WELL.
SO THAT IS A POSITIVE THING.
BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE BOTH
DEMOCRATS MEANS THAT THEY'LL
SOMEHOW SCREW THAT UP, I THINK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE'VE SEEN THAT MOVIE BEFORE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I GUESS THERE IS -- THERE IS
THAT POSSIBILITY.
THERE IS ALSO -- IF HIGH TAXES
INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR, THEN MAYBE
THERE IS A WAY FOR NEW JERSEY TO
TRY TO TURN THIS INTO A BENEFIT
FOR -- ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO
FIND JOBS ON THE JERSEY SIDE OF
THE RIVER AND IF YOU SITE
YOURSELF IN SUSSEX YOU COULD
BENEFIT --
>> AND ANOTHER BENEFIT IS THE
ORIGINAL REASON FOR DOING THIS
WHICH IS TO UNCLOG THE STREETS
OF MANHATTAN TO SOME EXTENT.
AND WHAT ELSE?
WHAT ARE THE OTHER -- AND I'M
SORRY, AND TO FIX THE SUBWAYS.
THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAYS ARE
NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> THAT IS WHERE THE BULK OF THE
MONEY WOULD GO.
>> I THINK THAT IS A MAJOR
FALLACY.
IF YOU THINK THAT CONGESTION
PRICING IS GOING TO EASE TRAFFIC
IN MANHATTAN DURING THE DAY
BELOW 60th STREET, YOU'RE CRAZY.
WILL THAT MONEY GO TOWARD
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SUBWAY
SYSTEM?
PERHAPS.
BUT WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SEE
THAT HAPPEN?
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING
A SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY OVER
THERE AS WELL.
SO I MEAN, THERE IS CERTAINLY
THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENTS
FOR PEOPLE IN MANHATTAN AND THEN
IN THEORY THOSE OF US FROM
JERSEY WHO VISIT MANHATTAN BUT I
THINK THAT -- IT IS LIKE ALL OF
THE TRANSIT SYSTEMS, I TAKE THE
LIGHT RAIL IN JERSEY CITY AND
THE DEVELOPMENT IN JERSEY CITY
IS MAKING THE LIGHT RAIL ALMOST
UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE MORNING.
IT IS LIKE THEY DESIGN THE
TRANSIT SYSTEMS TO BECOME
IMMEDIATELY OVERBURDENED.
IT'S RAILLY KIND OF VERY WEIRD
THE WAY THEY DO THAT.
>> MEANWHILE, A POLL CAME OUT
THIS WEEK, WE SAW WHAT IT SAID
ABOUT THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX.
IT ALSO ASKED ABOUT GOVERNOR
MURPHY'S JOB APPROVAL.
52% APPROVED.
THIS IS A RECORD IN FDU POLL,
52% APPROVE OF MURPHY'S JOB
PERFORMANCE, 43% DISAPPROVE.
JOE, HOW DOES THAT -- HOW DOES
THAT STRIKE YOU IF YOU ARE
WORKING FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY?
NOT THAT YOU ARE.
>> I'M NOT.
BUT THINK IT IS A MIXED BAG.
BECAUSE THE -- HIS APPROVAL
RATING WENT UP ABOVE 50% AND
THINK THE LAST APPROVAL RATING
WAS A LITTLE BIT BELOW 50% IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN WHICH IS A GOOD
THING BUT THE POLL ALSO NOTED
THAT THE DISAPPROVAL RATING
JUMPED BY DOUBLE-DIGITS SINCE
THE FALL.
SO THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
APPROVING OF WHAT HE'S DOING,
BRINGS HIM OVER THAT HALF WAY
THRESHOLD BUT THERE IS ALSO A
LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING,
WE DON'T APPROVE OF THIS.
>> MIKE SIMMONS, GO AHEAD --
NICK.
>> AND THE RIGHT TRACK AND WRONG
TRACK NUMBERS ARE COMPLETELY
UPSIDE DOWN.
42/58.
>> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT IF
YOU ARE RIGHT SIDE UP AND YOU'RE
OVER 50% YOU'RE DOING OKAY.
>> THE STATE IS ON THE WRONG
TRACK.
58%.
I THINK MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO
WITH MURPHY'S PERSONAL
LAUGHABLE, THE 52%.
>> HE'S REALLY A VICTIM OF
NUANCE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME
OF THE STUFF THAT HE'S TALKING
ABOUT REQUIRES THAT YOU TAKE A
THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO
UNDERSTANDING THIS SORT OF
STUFF.
AS OPPOSED TO HIS PREDECESSOR
WHO WAS LIKE DO THIS THIS WAY.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
HE TOLD NJ SPOTLIGHT, WHICH I
HAVE NO BIG INITIATIVES PLANNED
FOR THIS YEAR.
LET'S FIX TRANSIT AND LET'S
INVEST IN EDUCATION AND WORK ON
THE STATE'S FINANCES.
>> I MEAN, WELL FIRST OFF YOU
SHOULDN'T RUN OUT OF IDEAS IN
YOUR SECOND YEAR.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT HE HAS.
>> THANKS.
GO BACK TO THE STATE --
>> BUT ALTHOUGH HONESTLY IF
PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH NEW JERSEY
TRANSIT, BY THE END OF THE FIRST
TERM, HE'LL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
SOMETHING.
IT IS NOD A BAD THING.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON
DOING THINGS WELL THAT IS A GOOD
ONE TO PICK.
>> OTHER THOUGHTS?
>> I THINK THAT IS PART OF WHAT
I WAS SAYING ABOUT BEING A
VICTIM OF NUANCE.
YEAH, IF YOU IMPROVE NEW JERSEY
TRANSIT OVER THAT FOUR-YEAR
PERIOD, THAT IS GOING TO BE A
PRETTY GOOD THING THAT YOU DID.
BUT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO NOTICE
THAT REALLY?
AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS
REALLY GOING TO EXCITE PEOPLE?
>> ONE THING THAT PEOPLE WOULD
HAVE NOTICED WAS IF WE HAD
LEGALIZED MARIJUANA LAST WEEK,
WHICH WE DID NOT DO.
THE EFFORT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
SUFFERED A SETBACK.
THE VOTES WERE NOT THERE TO PASS
IT IN THE SENATE.
MIKE SIMMONS, WHAT IS NEXT FOR
MARIJUANA?
>> THEY'RE REALLY PUSHING HARD
FOR A VOTE IN MAY BECAUSE IF IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MAY, IT WON'T
HAPPEN UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR
AT THE EARLIEST.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO GET THERE.
AND THE LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING
THAT THIS IDEA OF, WELL WE'RE
EXPAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA
QUICKLY, IF WE DON'T THEY SAY
THAT IS HURTING THE RECRUITING
EFFORTS AND IN TERMS OF TRYING
TO ROUND UP VOTES.
SO I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE
JUST -- IF IT GETS THERE, IT IS
JUST AS NARROW IN MAY AS IT WAS
IN MARCH.
>> 30 SECONDS.
SOMEBODY.
IS IT EVER GOING TO GET THERE?
>> IT WILL L HAVE TO GO TO A
VOTE.
>> A REFERENDUM.
>> IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO A
REFERENDUM.
>> YEAH.
>> WE AGREE ON THAT.
LET'S TURN TO YOUR JOURNALISTIC
HIGH POINTS OF THE WEEK.
DAVID?
>> WELL IT WAS PROBABLY IN
NEWARK, AN OBIT FOR KEN GIBSON
AND TALKING TO OLD TIMERS AND
REALIZING THAT KEN GIBSON WAS
THE FATHER OF THE BLACK
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IN NOT
ONLY NEWARK BUT ALL OF ESSEX
COUNTY AND THAT IS HIS LEGACY.
>> MIKE SIMMONS.
>> IT IS NOT JOURNALIST BUT
GOVERNOR MURPHY AND THE FIRST
LADY WILL ATTEND THE
CORRESPONDENT'S CLUB, WE GOT AN
RSVP THIS WEEK.
THIS IS MY HIGHLIGHT TO GET YOUR
TICKETS NOW.
>> WHEN --
>> MAY 8th.
>> JOE.
>> I'LL GO NATIONAL.
THERE IS A USDA OF ALL STATE
HO
HOUSES IN THE COUNTRY AND
LOOKING AT WHO WRITES BILL AND
THERE IS LIBERAL AND
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS AND A LOT
WRITTEN BY ICHBDUSTRY.
>> AND I'M BEEN AFFECTED OF THE
MERGER BETWEEN NJTV AND
SPOTLIGHT PUSHING STORIES ON THE
NEWS AND I THINK HAD T HAS BEEN
WORKING WELL.
>> GLAD YOU THINK SO.
WE DO TOO.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO
KEN GIBSON.
HE WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICIAN TO
RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY
AND IN A FIVE-MAN FIELD IN 1985
HE FINISHED THIRD, WHICH WAS
PRETTY GOOD AND FINISHED THIRD
IN THE PRIMARY IN '81 IN A TEN
OR 11-MAN FIELD.
HE WAS A GENTLEMAN.
A GENTLE SPIRIT AND YOU DID A
GOOD JOB WITH CAPTURING THAT
YESTERDAY.
>>> UP NEXT ON NJTV, "ON THE
RECORD," THIS WEEK ASSEMBLYMAN
JOHN McKIAN AND JOHN BRAMNICK.
OUR PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON
OUR WEBSITE, NJ TV ONLINE.ORG
AND FIND US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER
AND YOUTUBE.
I'M MICHAEL ARON, THANKS FOR
WATCHING.
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♪
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