>>> WITH THE MIDTERM ELECTION A

FEW DAYS AWAY FOUR RACES IN NEW

JERSEY STILL LOOK LIKES TOUPS.

>>> MAJOR FOUNDING FOR REPORTER

AS ROUND TABLE BY IS PROVIDED BY

NEW JERSEY REAL TORS THE VOICE

FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION ON NY

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PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

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THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AND

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21

COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE

SINCE 1954.

>> WELCOME TO REPORTERS RIGHT

NOW TABLE I'M MICHAEL ARON.

WE HAVE TIGHT RACES FOR U.S.

SENATE AT ELECTION TIME AND

THREE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

SEATSEN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL

DISTRICT.

THE INCUMBENT DPEEBTED ANDY KIM

RIGHT HERE WEDNESDAY NIGHT

CLASHING ON THE TAX CUT.

KIM SAYING IT HURTS NEW

JERSEYENS MacARTHUR SAYING IT

HELPS.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY

OPPONENT THINKS THE KAI IS

FALLING WHEN THINGS ARE GOING

WELL.

>> MY OPPONENT SAYS EVERYONE

KNOWS WHERE HE STANDS ON THIS

ISSUE.

I AGREE WE KNOW WHERE HE STANDS.

WITH HIS PARTY LEADERSHIP HE

VOTES 94% IN LINE WITH.

HE STANDS WITH THEM ON TAXING

THE LOCAL SUSTAINABLE TAX

DEDUCTION WHEN HE CAMPAIGNED TO

PROTECT OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

I STAND WITH THE DELL NATION OF

THE NEW JERSEY THE OTHER 11S

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM NEW

JERSEY INCLUDING THE OTHER FOUR

REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE

CONGRESS THAT VOTED THIS IN LAW

BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS A BAD

DEAL FOR NEW JERSEY.

I STAND WITH NEW JERSEY ON THIS.

>> CAN I JUST RESPOND TO IN?

YOU'VE SAID THIS BEFORE.

I GUESS YOUR IDEA OF LEADERSHIP

IS IF PEOPLE GO THIS WAY YOU

FOLLOW THE HERD BECAUSE THAT'S

OBVIOUSLY THE WAY TO GO.

BUT I DON'T RELISH BEING ALONE

ON ANY VOTE.

BUT I DIDN'T GO TO CONGRESS FOR

PEOPLE TO TELL ME HOW TO VOTE.

I VOTE MY CONSCIOUS.

I SPENT MY LIFE IN BUSINESS.

WHEN I LOOK AT THESE TAX CUTS I

SEE GROW THE ECONOMY.

AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED >>

WITH US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE

ELECTION NICK OF "THE NEW YORK

TIMES," DUSTIN RACIOPI,

STATE HOUSE REPORTER FROM THE

BERGEN RECORD.

JOHN WRIGHT MEYER FOR NJ

SPOTLIGHT AND DAVID CRUZ,

SEEN YEAR CORRESPONDENT FOR NJ

TV NEWS AND MODERATOR OF THE

MacARTHUR KIM DEBATE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL,

DAVID HOW DOES IT LOOK FROM THE

MODERATORS POINT OF VIEW.

>> I THOUGHT OUR BIGGEST

CHALLENGE WAS TRYING TO SORT OF

BALANCE THE TWO CANDIDATES

BECAUSE ONE WAS A NATURAL

DEBATER OR AT LEAST A MORE

PRACTICED DEBATER.

AND THE OTHER WAS HIS FIRST

DEBATE.

SO MY CHALLENGE WAS TO KIND OF

GET MacARTHUR TO STOP WHEN THE

LIGHT TURNED RED AND TO GET KIM

TO GO PAST THE RED LIGHT.

SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGE.

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,

SORT OF LIKE BOB HUGHEN WHO WENT

BY SHOWING UP AND NOT FALLING

DOWN ON HIS FACE.

I THINK KIM HAD THE SAME EFFECT.

>> JOHN,

YOU LIVE TWEETED THE DEBATE FOR

SPOTLIGHT.

>> I DID, YES.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING

IN THE SENSE THAT MacARTHUR IS

THE INCUMBENT BUT PORT LI SORT

OF PLAYED THE ROLE OF THE

CHALLENGER IN THAT HE WAS THE

AGGRESSOR AND KIM WAS PLAYING IT

SAFE AND MATTER OF FACTLY

ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

THE QUESTION YOU HIGHLIGHTED ON

THE TAX CHANGES EXEMPLIFIES

WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE

DISTRICT.

BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A REPUBLICAN

DISTRICT ON ONE SIDE AND

DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ON THE OTHER

SIDE.

THE WAY THAT TAX PLAN WORKS OUT

SOME PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM IT AND

THEN IF YOU ARE IN THE GROUP

THAT LOSES YOUR FULL DEDUCTION

FOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES YOU'RE

UPSET WITH IT.

SO MacARTHUR DID THE CALCULUS

AND SAID I'M ALL IN ON THE TAX

CHANGES AND SAY IT'S A TAX CUT.

I THINK KIM BRINGS OUT THE OTHER

GRAUP THAT SAYS I'M GOING TO

GET- I'M TAKING A HIT FROM IT.

WE ARE SEEING -- NOBODY DOES

TAXES UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS FROM

NOW.

BUT FOR THOSE ALREADY FIGURING

IT OUT I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE

IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> DUSTIN,

MacARTHUR IS TRYING TO PAINT KIM

AND DID DURING THE DEBATE AS A

RADICAL,

AS A FAR LEFT RABLE ROUSER,

A PROFESSIONER PROTESTER HE

CALLED HIM TWICE DURING THE

DEBATE.

SAYS HE FOUNDED IN GROUP CALLED

RISE STRONGER AND THAT IT'S

REVOLUTIONARY AND ANARCHIST.

IS ANY OF THAT STUFF STICKING?

HAS HE SUCCEEDED IN PAINTING KIM

AS OUT OF THE MAIN STREAM.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SORT OF

STUFF STICKS.

BUT IT MAY ENERGIZE THE

REPUBLICANS TO -- HE NEEDS TO GO

TO THE POLLS TO VOTE FOR HIM,

THE MORE OCEAN COUNTY SIDE OF

HIS CONSTITUENCY PICKING UP ON

WHAT JOHN SAID HE MADE THE

CALCULUS ON THE TAX CUTS AND

MacARTHUR DID THE SAME ON HEALTH

CARE BECAUSE HIM AND KIM ARE ON

COMPLETELY OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE

SPECTRUM IN TERMS OF WHAT

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE AND THE

CARE.

>> NICK,

YOU WREATH ABOUT IN RACE A FEW

DAYS AGO.

WHAT DID YOU WRITE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUSED

ON WAS OU MacARTHUR TRAYS TO

HAVE IT BOTH WAYS,

TRYING TO BE I STAND UP TO THE

PRESIDENT WHEN I CAN BUT ALSO

HIS ALLY WHEN IT MAKES SENSE FOR

THE DISTRICT.

I ASKED HIM ARE YOU TRYING TO

THREAD THE NEEDLE HE SAID NO I'M

TRYING TO STRADDLE THE 1.8

MILLION PINE BARREN.

BECAUSE TRUMP HAD ONE PART AND

HILLARY HAD ANOTHER.

HE TRIES TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

YOU SAW THAT IN THE AD WHERE HIS

CHOSING ARGUMENT I'M HERE FOR

WITH YOU WHETHER YOU SUPPORT

TRUMP OR NOT.

HE IS TRYING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF

WHILE MAYBE ATTACHING HIMSELF TO

POLICIES.

>> EARLY IN THE CAMPAIGN OR

MID-WAY THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN,

A FLIER CAME OUT FROM THE STATE

REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE THAT SAID

ANDY KIM, NOT ONE OF US.

AND IT HAD SOME LETTERING ON IT

THAT THE FONT IS KNOWN AS CHOP

SUY, ASIAN ORIENTED LETTERING.

THAT'S THE LOWEST -- LOWEST BLOW

SO FAR.

HERE IS A PIECE OF IT.

SOMETHING IS REAL FISHY ABOUT

ANDY KIM.

AND THERE IS THAT SCRIPT THAT'S

CALLED CHOP SUY FONT.

MacARTHUR WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS.

YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT IT HOW DID

HE HANDLE IT.

>> THE QUESTION WAS DO YOU

DENOUNCE THE AD?

AND HE STATED IT WASN'T HIS AD.

HE CAN'T COORDINATE WITH THE

PEOPLE WHO PUT IT OUT.

AND HE EVEN SAID THAT KIM WAS

TRYING TO GAIN SYMPATHY FROM IT.

BUT HE DIDN'T OUTRIGHT DENOUNCE

IT.

IT DOESN'T STAY A ROCKET

SCIENTIST TO SEE THE MESSAGE

THERE.

>> THE IRONY IS BECAUSE THERE

HAS KOREAN BORN CHILDREN, TWO,

SO HE WOULDN'T -- YOU WOULD

THINK,

PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING

PREJUDICE.

>> ONE WOULD THINK.

>> BUT IF YOU HAVE KOREAN

CHILDREN YOU COULD SAY I FIND

THAT OFFENSIVE IF YOU DO.

>> AND HE DIDN'T.

>> HIS ANSWER TIP FIEED THE WAY

HE WAS ON THE DEBATE CANNIBUS,

CONSTANTLY ON THE ATTACK THE TWO

MAJOR THINGS HE VOTED FOR HEALTH

CARE AND THE TAX REFORM HAVE

BEEN UNDER ATTACK IN THE ENTIRE

STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE

BETTER PART OF A YEAR.

>> SO HE IS SHIFTING THE

CONVERSATION OR TRYING TO TO THE

IDEA THAT ANDY KIM IS A FRAUD.

I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T THINK THAT

WORKED THAT NIGHT.

ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT MacARTHUR

PERFORMED VERY WELL.

I THOUGHT -- I THOUGHT AS YOU

SAID THAT KIM DID WELL JUST BY

STANDING ON THE STAGE WITH HIS

VERY SMOOTH DEBATER.

KIM HELD HIS OWN THAT NIGHT,

BOTTOM LINE IN MY ESTIMATION,

YES?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

>> YEAH,

I THINK HE -- FOR BEING A

NEWCOMER FOR SURE HE STEPPED TO

THE PLATE.

I USED TO LIVE IN THAT AREA AND

COVER THAT DISTRICT.

AND IT'S REALLY A SPLIT DISTRICT

AS THE REGISTRATION.

BUT JIM SAXON WAS THE

CONGRESSMAN THERE FOREVER ON

ISSUES ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

STRONG ON THE MILITARY BECAUSE

OF THE MILITARY BASE.

SHORE ISSUES.

IT'S A -- IT'S AN UNUSUAL

DISTRICT IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S

COMPETITIVE FOR ONE.

AND PEOPLE WILL SPLIT THEIR

TICKETS DOWN THERE AND VOTE FOR

THE CANDIDATE INSTEAD OF THE

PARTY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

>>> THE U.S.

SENATE RACE LOOKS TIGHT.

POLICE BAY BOB MENENDEZ IS AHEAD

OF HUGHEN.

BUT DEMOCRATS ARE NOT POPPING

CHAMPAGNE IN FACT NERVOUS.

HERE IS WHAT EACH CANDIDATE PUT

UP.

>> I'M BOB MENENDEZ AND APPROVE

THIS MESSAGE.

>> TRUMP AND HUGHEN.

IT'S WAY MORE THAN A HANDSHAKE.

BOB HUGHEN WAS TRUMP'S TOP NEW

JERSEY FUNDRAISERER HUGHEN STOOD

BY THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE

SUPERRICH WHILE STRIPPING THE

PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION.

HUGHEN STOOD BY THE SUPREME

COURT PICKS.

HUGHEN STOOD BY TRUMP WHEN HE

TRIAL DATE KILLING OBAMACARE,

ATTACKED WOMEN AND MADE RACIST

THE COMMENTS.

BOB HUGHEN WILL NEVER STAND UP

TO TRUMP.

TO STOP TRUMP STOP HUGHEN.

>> I OFTEN HERE WILL YOU STAND

UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP?

THE ANSWER IS YES.

MARINES NEVER BACK DOWN FROM A

FIGHT.

I'VE BEEN INDEPENDENT MY WHOLE

LIFE.

I'M PRO CHOICE.

PAN I SUPPORT EQUAL PAY FOR

EQUAL WORK.

I'LL PROTECT PATIENTS WITH

PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND FIGHT

TO MAKE NEW JERSEY MORE

AFFORDABLE.

I'LL ALWAYS PUT NEW JERSEY

FIRST.

THAT'S MY PROMISE TO YOU.

IT'S TIME TO SEND IN A MARINE

PROCESS.

I'M BOB HUGHEN AND APPROVE THIS

MESSAGE.

AND I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

>> THEY'VE CLEANED IT UP A BIT.

FOR THE CLOSING ARGUMENT.

>> THAT SHOULD HAVE -- I THINK

I'VE SAID HERE MANY TIMES.

>> MANY TIMES.

>> HE MIGHT HAVE STARTED THAT

TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.

>> UM-HUM.

>> IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES THAT

HUGHEN ACT YOU COULD THINK HE

WAS A DEMOCRAT.

SAYING HE IS STANDING UP TO

PRESIDENT TRUMP,

SAYING HE IS PRO CHOICE.

YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE IMPACT

OF A PRESIDENT WHO IS UNDER

WATER IN DOUBLE DIGITS IN NEW

JERSEY AND THE DIFFICULTIES OF

RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN IN IN

CLIMATE.

>> BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET.

IS IT?

I MEAN HE COULD STILL WIN,

RIGHT?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

THERE AREN'T ANY POLLS THAT

INDICATE -- PUBLIC POLICE THAT

INDICATE THAT HE IS CLOSE TO

THAT.

BUT WE CAN'T GO ON POLLS

ANYMORE.

I MEAN WE HAVE TO BASED ON WHAT

HAPPENED IN 2016 WE JUST CAN'T

PUT ALL OUR STOCK IN WHAT THE

POLLS SAY.

THERE COULD BE AN UPSET TURNOUT

AND COULD BE A HUNL FACTOR.

>> MENENDEZ BY EIGHT OR NINE.

HUGHEN BY 2.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT.

>> I SPOKE TO SOME DEMOCRATIC

PEOPLE THIS WOKE AND THEY'RE

CONCERNED ABOUT MENENDEZ.

AND THEY'RE -- THEY'RE NOT

COUNTING ON ANYTHING ON ELECTION

DAY.

AND JUST LOOKING AT THE ADS YOU

KIENT OF HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED

NOW LIKE IF THE CANDIDATE

APPROVAL COMES AT THE BEGINNING

IT'S LIKE BUCKLE UP THIS ONE IS

GOING TO BE A ROUGH ONE.

IF THEY START OUT POSITIVE AND

TO THEIR CANDIDATE APPROVAL AT

THE END IT'S LIKE OKAY,

WE'RE BACK TO TALKING ABOUT REAL

STUFF.

>> REALLY WITH THEM,

I MEAN THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE

NUMBERS.

AND THE TRADITIONAL GET OUT THE

THE VOTE EFFORT.

BUT THEY ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED

THE THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO ABOUT

THE GETTING OUT THE VOTE PART.

AND NEF A BUNCH OF RALLIES

SCHEDULED IN HUDSON COUNTY THIS

WEEKEND WHERE THEY HOPE,

YOU KNOW THOSE COUNTIES WITH THE

BIG DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS COME OUT

STRONG.

IF ANY DON'T THEY ARE DEFINITELY

IN TROUBLE.

>> HOW DO WE -- GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS SPEAKING TO GOVERNOR

MURPHY ABOUT THIS HE WAS SAYING

HIS BIGGEST CONCERN WHERE

MENENDEZ'S BASE IS THE HUDSON

ABBERGEN COUNTIES THERE IS NO

COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

WHAT'S ENERGY IN THE SEVENTH AND

11th WHERE HE MAY NOT BE AS

POPULAR YOU ARE NOT SEEING THE

SAME.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE MURPHY AND

BOOKER AND TOP DEMOCRATS FOCUS

ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE

STATE.

>> WE WENT OUT IN THE FIELD THIS

WEEK.

WENT TO THE 11th AND SEVENTH

DISTRICTS AND DID A VOTER

INTERVIEWS ON THE STREET.

AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE NUMBER

OF PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY CAN'T

VOTE FOR MENENDEZ.

I GUESS THAT $30 MILLION THAT

HUGHEN HAS SPENT HAS HELPED

TARNISH MENENDEZ'S REPUTATION IN

THE STATE.

>> MY LAST TWO UBER DRIVERS SAID

THE VERY SAME THING.

>> WHAT.

>> I'M A EXACT BUT CAN'T VOTE

FOR MENENDEZ.

>> I HAVE A FRIEND VERY MODERATE

WHO SAID AFTER THE HUGHEN YOU

KNOW THE PROSTITUTION SMEAR AD

CAME OUT,

THAT THAT PUSHED HIM AWAY FROM

NOT VOTING GEBS AGAINST MENENDEZ

AND NOW HE WILL BECAUSE HE FELT

LIKE IT SHOWED POORLILY ON

HUGHEN'S JUDGMENT THAT HE WOULD

GO TO THAT.

>> WE HAVE TALKED HERE ABOUT HOW

GOING SO LO COULD BACK FIRE AND

HUGHEN BUT HE PULLED IT BACK AS

WE JUST SAW FOR THE FINAL WEEK.

IN THE 11th DISTRICT MIKEY

SHERYL AND JAY WEB WEBBER NP IN

THE SEVENTH.

LEONARD LANCE AND TOM

MALENNOUSKY.

>> CLOSE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE

OF THE DISTRICTS.

THESE HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY

REPUBLICAN FOR YEARS.

EVEN IF IT LOOKS LIKE ESPECIALLY

WITH MIKEY SHERYL SHE IS PULLING

HEYDE WE HAVEN'T SEEN A DEMOCRAT

WIN THERE SO LONG IT'S DIFFICULT

TO PULL BASED ON THE SURGE

MEDDLE.

I DON'T THINK EITHER OF ENEMY IS

TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

I THINK NO MATTER WHO WINS IT'S

WITHIN THREE OR FOUR POINTS MAX.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PLAYING A

LARGE ROLE IN THE ELECTION

NATIONWIDE.

HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE NEWS

ALL ABOUT KAVANAUGH AND THE

CARAVAN UNTIL THE PIPE BOMB

STORY BROKE.

FOLLOWED BY THE HORRIBLE

SHOOTINGS AT A SYNAGOGUE IN

PITTSBURGH.

NOW HE IS TRYING TO SEIZE BACK

THE MOMENTUM AROUND IMMIGRATION

ISSUES,

WHICH ARE HIS BREAD AND BUTTER

AND WHICH HE GOES TO WHEN HE

NEEDS TO.

FROM HIS PERFORMANCE ON

THURSDAY,

WHERE HE DELIVERED A VERY

POWERFUL ANTI-IMMIGRANT SCREED,

HAS HE MANAGED TO TAKE BACK THE

CONVERSATION?

>> HE CERTAINLY MANAGED TO

DOMINATE IT, I THINK.

IN A WAY WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE

DOING IS RECREATE WHAT LED INTO

THE 2016 ELECTION.

HE WANTS TO BUILD UP THE SAME

ENERGY THAT DELIVERED HIM STATES

THAT HE NEEDED TO WIN.

AND TO BUILD SOME ADVANTAGE IN

THE SENATE AND GIVE YOURSELF

MAYBE A PRAYER IN THE HOUSE HE

IS JUST CALCULATING ON THE

STATES HE WON THAT RESPONDED TO

THE SAME MESSAGE.

WHY DON'T I JUST BRING THE SAME

MESSAGE OUT.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT HURTS

REPUBLICANS IN STATES WHERE THAT

DIDN'T WORK LIKE NEW JERSEY.

>> HOW WELL DOES IMMIGRATION

PLAY FOR REPUBLICANS IN NEW

JERSEY WHEN TOURISM AND SEASONAL

WORKERS -- IMMIGRATION IS --

IT'S PART OF THAT -- THOSE

ECONOMIES.

SO YOU KNOW,

ESPECIALLY THE COMMENT THAT HE

MADE ABOUT THREATENING TO SHOOT

IMMIGRANTS COMING CROSS IF THEY

HAD ROCKS.

>> ROCKS.

>> YOU KNOW,

I THINK PEOPLE SORT OF GET TAKEN

ABACK BY THAT.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT CRAZY.

>> IF HE WANTED TO HELP THE NEW

JERSEY REPUBLICANS IN TIGHT

RACES HE WOULD INVOIT THEM TO A

DINER,

TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND

THEN WALK OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW,

CONGRESSMAN LANES,

JAY WEBBER THEY CONVINCE ME TO

FUND GATEWAY.

>> CALL THEM UP FOR THE SHOW

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

>> EVEN THE PRESIDENT WHO IS,

YOU KNOW,

NOT AS UNPOPULAR AS THIS

PRESIDENT,

YOU GET TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT

-- THE NEWS ALWAYS PRESIDENT DID

IN, THAT OR THE OTHER THING.

WITH IN PRESIDENT,

EVERY TIME HE IS OUT THERE,

LIKE THURSDAY'S PERFORMANCE WAS

JUST -- IT WAS ALMOST SURREAL TO

HEAR HIM JUST START, YOU KNOW.

>> IT WAS.

>> ROLLING DOWN A HILL.

>> IT WAS.

>> AND I WONDER IF PEOPLE HAVE

JUST SAID,

I CAN'T LISTEN TO THIS GUY.

>> FROM BEING OUT IN THE FIELD

ON -- TRYING TO GET THE MAN ON

THE STREET INTERVIEWS I CAN TELL

YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FED UP

WITH THE WHOLE THING AND DON'T

WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT OR TALK

ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S US MOVE ON.

THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY THIS

WEEK APPROVED CREATION OF A

SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND MISCONDUCT

IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

THE VOTES WERE VIRTUALLY

UNANIMOUS.

AT THE SAME TIME A GRAHAM MUCH

60 WOMEN SUPPORTERS OF GOVERNOR

MURPHY SENT A LETTER TO EVERY

LEGISLATOR WAGENER THEM AGAINST

TURNING THE HEARINGS INTO A

POLITICAL CIRCUS.

WEBL AN INDEPENDENT

INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW ARE

MEANINGFUL FIRST STEPS.

THESE- THAT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND NOT

MADE SPECTACLES TO YOUR FOR THE

PUBLIC SKUFRPG.

OUR COLLECTIVE CALL IS THAT THE

POLITICAL MACHINATIONS NOT

HINDER THE OPPORTUNITY TO EFFECT

REAL CHANGE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE

OF NEW JERSEY.

WHAT ARE THEY REALLY SAYING

HERE?

>> DON'T USE -- DON'T USE THIS

ISSUE AS,

LIKE BUDGET 2.0 AND CONTINUE

THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE

GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE

LEADERS.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT

THESE ARE SOWERS ISSUES.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE

ISSUES LOOK AT THE ISSUES AND

NOT MAKE IT A -- ANOTHER WAY TO

JUST UNDERMINE THE GOVERNOR.

>> I THINK IT'S A PREEMPTIVE

STRIKE.

I THINK THAT THEY KNOW THAT

THESE HEARINGS ARE NOT GOING TO

BE FISHINGLY PARTICULARLY GOOD

FOR THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S PEOPLE

ARE TRYING TO RESET THE

BATTLEFIELD.

>> AMONG THE 60 WOMEN SIGNING

THE LETTER.

OF NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES

EDDIE ROSENSTEIN.

MARIE BLIFTEN.

MARCIA OF MARLIE OF BLUE WAVE

NJF LORTA IS A SWEENEY ALLY.

BRIANA SPOKE TO HER ABOUT THIS

THIS WEEK.

>> I HAVE NOT SEEN THE LETTER.

THE LETTER WAS RELEASED TO THE

PRESS.

I FIND IT KIND OF FUNNY THAT IT

NEVER MADE IT TO MY DESK.

THE ONLY THING I NO HE ABOUT THE

LETTER IS WHAT I READ IN THE

PRESS.

THERE IS NO OVERREACH.

AND WE ARE VERY RAILROAD CLEAR.

I'VE SAID IT FROM THE BEGINNING

WHEN I MADE A STATEMENT EVEN

BEFORE THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND

THE SPEAKER CONVENED A SPECIAL

COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

POLICIES, PROCEDURES,

THAT COVER ALL OF NEW JERSEY

GOVERNMENT.

>> SO I ASK AGAIN,

WHAT ARE THE PRO MURPHY WOMEN

AFRAID OF?

>> WELL OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE

AFRAID OF THIS TURNING INTO A

SPECTACLE.

BUT I THINK THAT BY SENDING A

LETTER LIKE THIS IT QUESTIONS

THE MOTIVATIONS OF THE

LEGISLATORS ON THE PANEL.

AND THEY MAY FIND THAT

INSULTING.

AND THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO

BACK FIRE ON MURPHY.

REGARDLESS OF THE LETTER IT'S

GOING TO BE A POLITICAL

SPECTACLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE

SOMEBODY CLAIMING THEY WERE

SEXUALLY ASSAULTED LIKELY GOING

TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE

AND THE ALLEGED ASSAULTER IS

GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF THE

COMMITTEE.

LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING

ATTENTION.

BY ITS NATURE IT'S A SPECTACLE.

>> IS IT GOING TO FREEZE TRENTON

AND PREVENT PROGRESS ON OTHER

FRONTS.

>> DEPENDS HOW WIDE RANGING THEY

WANT TO MAKE THE INVESTIGATION I

THINK.

THERE ARE LEGITIMATE SERIOUS

ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE MURPHY

CAMPAIGN AND TRANSITION THAT

SPILLED OVER TO THE

ADMINISTRATION.

YOU HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEM.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE IT WON'T

FREEZE IT.

LIKE DUSTIN SAID IT'S TAKING UP

ENERGY AND FOCUS ON AN ISSUE

THAT CARRIES A LOT OF EMOTION

BEYOND JUST THE POLICY ISSUES AT

PLAY.

SO I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW TO US EYE

THE GOVERNOR'S FAVORITE PHRASE

YOU CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE

SAME TIME WITH SOMETHING OF THIS

MAGNITUDE.

>> PEOPLE WONDER WHETHER THE

HEARINGS ARE THE EQUIVALENT --

MUFRFY'S EQUIVALENT OF THE CHRIS

CHRISTIE AS BRIDGE GATE

HEARINGS.

I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO MAKE

THAT COMPARISON FOR REAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK.

>> MINUS THE SMOKING GUN EMAIL.

>> MINUS.

>> THEY ARE SIMILAR RIGHT NOW

BUT THEY ARE DISSIMILAR BECAUSE

WE HAVE IN FACT HIRING PRACTICES

IN NEW JERSEY EMAIL YET.

>> THE ONLY EMAIL WE KNOW THAT'S

BORDER LINE SENSITIVE IS THE ONE

THAT KATIE BRENNAN SENT TO BILL

AND TAMMY MURPHY SAY I'D LIKE TO

TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING

SENSITIVE AND THEY PASSED IT ON

TO STAFF BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN

TOLD WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING

POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL LIKE

THAT YOU HAVE STAFF HANDLE IT

FIRST.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YEAH,

AND PROCEDURALLY IT IS IDENTICAL

TO AT LEAST HOW THE BRIDGE GATE

INVESTIGATION STARTED.

BECAUSE YOU HAD VOTES TO

ESTABLISH THE SELECT COMMITTEES

THAT ARE BIPARTISAN THAT HAVE

SUBPOENA POWER.

SO COMING OUT OF THE GATE IT'S

-- IT'S.

MIMICKING AT LEAST A PROCESS

USED ONCE THOSE EMAILS CAME OUT.

>> YOU LOOKED AT MURPHY'S TAX

RETURN THIS WEEK.

HE MADE -- HE AND HIS WIFE MADE

$6.2 MILLION.

>> 6.8.

>> THE I'LL GET IT RIGHT.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING IN THERE?

>> ACTUALLY SO MANY OF THE MORE

INTERESTING THINGS IS HE IS VERY

WEALTHY.

HE HAS A WIDE RANGE OF

INVESTMENTS,

MOST OF THEIR INCOME -- HIM AND

THE FIRST LADY COME FROM

INVESTMENTS AND NOT FROM FROM

SALARY LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN

NEW JERSEY.

NOT NECESSARILY ANYTHING THAT

JUMPED OUT AT YOU AS THESE

INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENTS.

HE PAYS A LOT IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> 300,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES.

>> WELL, NOW, IF YOU KNOW,

A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS YEAR

PREPAID PROPERTY TAXES TO GET

AHEAD OF THE THE DEDUCTION WE

TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

IT'S REALLY 200,

000 AND BUT IT WAS 300 AND THEN

YOU ADD PROPERTIES OVERSEAS AND

HE SPENT MORE MORE ON PROPERTY

TAXES THAN THE MEDIA YAN HOME IS

WORTH IN ZBLUJ THAN YOU HAD A

GOOD PIECE OF REPORTING ABOUT

BRENDEN GILL MANAGING MURPHY'S

CAMPAIGN AND FLUPGS IN THE

MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

THE QUESTION YOU RAISED IS

WHETHER HE SHOULD BE REGISTERED

AS A LOBBYIST OR NOT.

SOME GOOD GOVERNMENT PEOPLE

THINK HE SHOULD.

BUT EVERY GOVERNOR HAS SOMEBODY

NEXT TO HIM WHO IS A CHIEF

INFLUENCER DOES HE NOT.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD ALL

FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE

LOBBYING FIRMS.

HE DIDN'T DISCLOSE HIS CLIENTS.

HE DIDN'T DISCLOSE TO ME,

THE STATE I DON'T KNOW IF HE

DISCLOSE TO DO TO THE GOVERNOR

BUT IT A QUESTION DEVG TO BE

RAISED >> THERE WAS INTERESTING

REPORTING IN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HE IS DOING

ANYTHING WRONG.

>> NOBODY SAYS HE IS DOING

ANYTHING WRONG.

>> OKAY.

IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTIC

HIGH POINTS OF THE WEEK.

DAVID.

>> I MEAN, I HAVE TO SAY,

THE FIRST TELEVISED DEBATE SOLO

MODERATING I VOIFD.

THAT'S MY HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK.

>> MINE TOO.

JOHN.

>> AND NJ SPOTLIGHT HAD A AN

EVENT WITH THE UNITED WAY

TALKING ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO

NEW JERSEY'S LOWEST INCOME

RESIDENTS.

AND JUST HAPPY TO BE ASSOCIATED

WITH A GROUP THAT TOES THINGS

LIKE THIS TO BRING THE

CONVERSATION TO A THOUGHTFUL

PLACE THAT MAYBE GENERATES

INTEREST AND POSSIBLY MAKE

PEOPLE PEACE LIVES BETTER.

>> >> AND THE NJ SPOTLIGHT IS

GOOD AT THAT.

>> YES.

>> I'LL GO BACK TO THE BRENDEN

GILL STORY.

SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY

ON THAT IT'S UP ONLINE ON THE

WEBSITE SHOULD BE IN PRIN ON THE

WEEKEND.

>> GOOD STUFF.

>> HE IS SORT OF THE BILL

PALATUCCI OF THE NEW

ADMINISTRATION.

THE GUY YOU CALL IF YOU WANT TO

GET TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> HE IS.

WHEN YOU NEED A GUY TO GET TO

SOMEBODY WITH -- WITH INFLUENCE

AND POWER, HE IS THE GUY NP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICK?

>> A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE DID A

PRJT ON THE STONE PONY

REINTERVIEW AND BRUCE STRING

STEENG AND SOUL REARED SENT IN

MEMORIES WE POSTED THE TODAY THE

TEN.

>> YOU INTERVIEWED BRUCE STRING

STENE.

>> I DID.

>> THAT WAS A CAREER HIGHLIGHT.

HE IS HE WAS GRACIOUS WITH HIS

TIME.

HE SOUNDS LIKE HE SINGS WHEN HE

TALKS.

HE HAS THAT GRUFF.

>> WHERE WAS THE INTERVIEW.

>> OVER THE PHONE BECAUSE RIGHT

BEFORE ONE OF HIS BROADWAY

SHOWS.

I HAD TO MAKE SURE WE ENDED SO

HE HAD TIME TO DO HIS SHOW.

BUT WHAT WE PUBLISH TODAY IS THE

READERS SENT IN MEMORIES OF THE

STONE PONY THROUGH THE YEARS AND

REMEMBER THE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

BOOKS.

THIS IS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP FOR

THE NEW JERSEY SOUL.

>> AND MINE.

HATS OFF TO DAVID FOR AT

MASTERFUL JOB AND THE NJ TV

DEENT UP NEXT IS SPECIAL EDITION

OF ON THE RECORD.

WE GO OUT IN THE FIELD TO TALK

TO VOTERS IN TWO KEY DISTRICTS.

OUR PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ANY

TIME ON NJ TV ONLINE.ORG.

CAN YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

AND SWIRT.

I'M MICHAEL ARON.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR

REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE WITH

MICHAEL ARON IS PROVIDED BY NEW

JERSEY REALTORS,

THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW

JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ

REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH,

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF

NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND

BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100