>>> 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
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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.
>> 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
YEARS.
PROPOSALSLE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION.
REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES AND
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COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE