The NJ GOP's abortion defense

From: POLITICO New Jersey Playbook - Tuesday Oct 24,2023 10:56 am

Oct 24, 2023

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Good Tuesday morning!

Talk about ominous. New Jersey is “just one election away from losing abortion access” says the big type in a mailer from Planned Parenthood’s super PAC.

Democrats have seen abortion play well in redder states than this whenever it’s been on the ballot, and it helped them stave off 2022 midterm losses. So, naturally, New Jersey Democrats are flogging Republicans with it whenever and wherever they can.

The Republican response is that this is all just false. They’ve gone out of their way to say they won’t ban abortion. And speaking broadly, that’s almost certainly true. They’re not going to change the state Supreme Court overnight, which has ruled the procedure is constitutionally protected. And state law protects abortion as well.

But what about nibbling around the edges? They’re not eager to talk about that, but they won’t rule it out either.

It’s not far-fetched to think that Republicans could in some ways curtail access to abortion if they get a majority. It took one Republican governor, Chris Christie, to cut off millions in state funding for clinics that performed abortions, with legislative Republicans preventing Democrats from overriding him. Shortly before losing power more than 20 years ago Republicans sought to require parental notification, even though the Supreme Court overturned that. And Republicans in the Legislature, including the Assembly and Senate leaders, have introduced about a dozen bills that would restrict abortion in some way.

Republicans counter that limiting the amount of time in which women can have abortions is mainstream. Maybe, but they’re not eager to make that the theme of this campaign. And it’s not unreasonable to think the Republican base would expect them to act on the issue.

Read more about it here.

TIPS? FEEDBACK? Email me at mfriedman@politico.com.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I've been really happy doing the Assembly job … [but] my heartstrings weren't being pulled upon anymore by Trenton. When you're in the minority, and you're trying to do what's right for the people, it's very difficult to get any bills, partisan or nonpartisan, … to a committee or onto the Assembly floor." — Assemblymember John Catalano, who’s running for mayor of Brick and from this quote doesn’t sound especially optimistic about Republicans winning a majority next month.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Patrick Murray, Chris Fifis, Stacy McCormack

WHERE’S MURPHY? In Glen Rock at 11 a.m. to sign legislation “expanding access to reproductive health care,” presumably this one

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WHAT TRENTON MADE

GREENWALD ENERGY — Some Democrats question Murphy plan to ban sale of gas cars, by POLITICO’s Ry Rivard: Some Democratic lawmakers have serious concerns about Gov. Phil Murphy’s move to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. The concerns — including outright opposition — were revealed in public comments on the plan to phase out gas-powered cars … The New Jersey lawmakers include several members of leadership, such as Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden). “Demanding that society and our economy change unilaterally to fit a policy is a dangerous formula,” wrote Greenwald and 6th legislative district colleague Assemblymember Pamela Lampitt. The Democrats’ letters, obtained by POLITICO, were sent to the Department of Environmental Protection as part of a just-closed public comment period. By opposing the car rule these Democrats are joining Republicans who are opposed to the proposed rule. Some of the lawmakers are in obviously contested races, like Assemblymember Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester), who is running for Senate in South Jersey and urged Murphy’s administration to “reconsider this mandate, prioritizing a balanced approach.”

THE PROBLEM-HAVERS CAUCUS — “Family-friendly NJ Democrats turn to the middle as vote looms. Here's why,” by The Record’s Charles Stile: “Democrats, depicted as ‘woke’ radicals who want to move the country too far and too fast to the left, are pushing a new image in this fall's races for the New Jersey Legislature. Candidates, especially those in danger of being dislodged from their competitive districts, are presenting themselves as the homespun offspring of Ozzie and Harriet who are concerned about property taxes and other kitchen table issues. For state Sen. Joe Lagana, … and his Assembly candidate partners in the 38th Legislative District in Bergen County, the message literally begins on the kitchen table — in a new video depicting the candidates working together to make tomato sauce … This family-first approach is part of a familiar campaigning strategy that introduces candidates in a gauzy, innocuous and friendly way — the politician from the neighborhood — before savaging their opponents. In almost all cases this fall, Democrats have followed the warm and fuzzy portraits with attacks on Republican rivals as Trojan horses for Trumpist extremism.”

NJ TO BE THE CALIFORNIA OF THE EAST AND THE JAPAN OF THE WEST — Murphy returns from historic trip to East Asia with future jobs expected, by POLITICO’s Dustin Racioppi: Gov. Phil Murphy returned Sunday from a nine-day "economic mission" to Asia having met with three heads of state and securing partnerships and the expectation of new jobs … Tim Sullivan, CEO of the Economic Development Authority, said he came away with hundreds of business cards after more than a week of meetings with business leaders from start-ups to Sony. The trip itself yielded one announcement of potential jobs, but many more are expected, he said. "I’m positive to the level of almost guaranteed that there will be multiple job announcements out of this in the next few years," Sullivan said in an interview. "We’re playing the long game."

GHOSTS COMING BACK TO HAUNT HER — “Senator seeks Education Department probe of school employee who circulated phantom candidate petitions,” by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein: “A South Jersey lawmaker wants the New Jersey Department of Education to investigate the role of an administrative employee of the Washington Township public schools in circulating a nominating petition for phantom candidates running for the legislature. The New Jersey Globe reported on Sunday that Angela McGeehan, who obtained a clerical job at the local high school last year, had obtained signatures for the ghost candidates running as independents under a conservative label: Giuseppe Costanzo for Senate and Maureen Dukes-Penrose for Assembly. State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) sent a letter to the acting Education Commissioner, Angelica Allen-McMillan, asking for assurances that the hiring of McGeehan, the daughter of former Washington Township Democratic Chairman Frank Cianci, wasn’t politically motivated.”

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Biden's Beltway

AGENT CODY NO BANKS — Menendez pleads not guilty to latest charge accusing him of acting as foreign agent, by POLITICO’s Jason Beeferman: Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court Monday to a charge he secretly acted as an agent for the government of Egypt during his tenure as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez’s appearance was his second in the past month. He pleaded not guilty in September to charges of bribery and extortion connected to his influential position in the U.S. Senate. The New Jersey Democrat, 69, appeared before the federal judge for less than 15 minutes. He entered his not guilty plea and then ignored questions from dozens of reporters stationed outside the courthouse. … He reiterated his innocence in a statement Monday. “The facts haven’t changed. The government is engaged in primitive hunting, by which the predator chases its prey until it's exhausted and then kills it. This tactic won't work," he said.

—Opinion: The blind ambition of Chris Christie

A message from Alibaba:

New Jersey businesses are making it big in China and having a bigger impact back home. How?

By partnering with Alibaba, an online marketplace that reaches over one billion Chinese consumers, New Jersey businesses generate enough sales to add $1.2 billion to the state’s economy, supporting 10,000 local jobs and $694 million in wages.

Alibaba helps emerging and established brands from New Jersey, like Nuria and Phyto-C, sell their products to consumers across China. From start to finish, Alibaba partners with U.S. companies to inform their strategy, marketing plan, and sales tools, and even assists with fulfillment so that they can tap into the world’s second largest economy.

This translates to big business for companies of all sizes. Explore how Alibaba benefits local businesses and New Jersey’s economy.

LOCAL

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTM… I MEAN THE HOLIDAY SEASON — “N.J. district ends in-school Halloween activities to mixed reviews,” by NJ Advance Media’s Tina Kelley: “Citing concerns about equity, financial hardships, and religious and cultural preferences, the South Orange-Maplewood School district has decided that Halloween celebrations will be held after school hours. In a letter to families earlier this month, Superintendent Ronald Taylor said the Essex County district has been wrestling with three questions: “Is promoting school-sponsored Halloween activities creating indirect and unintentional financial hardships for students and families? Do school-sponsored Halloween activities violate the dignity of some of our students and families, either culturally or religiously?”

CRATE NEWS! — “Brick Republicans stage challenge to Democrats' sole Ocean County stronghold,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Amanda Oglesby: “Republicans hope to wrest control of Brick Township in November from the grip of Democrats, who have held an overwhelming majority on the township's governing body and control of the mayor's role for the past decade. Popular ex-Mayor John Ducey resigned earlier this year to accept a new job as a Superior Court judge, and Republicans see an opportunity to gain a majority on the Township Council and defeat Mayor Lisa Crate, a Democrat. In February, the governing body picked Crate — who had served on the Council for eight years at that point — to finish out the year in the mayor's role. Crate, 52, is running on the November ballot to continue serving the two-year remainder of Ducey's four-year term. She faces a challenge for the job from state Assemblyman John Catalano, a Republican and former Brick councilman who has lived in the township for more than 40 years.”

TOM AND GERRY — “Bertoli and McCann trade leather over McGreevey’s expected bid for Jersey City mayor,” by Hudson County View’s John Heinis: “Political operative Tom Bertoli and former Jersey City Mayor Gerry McCann are trading leather centered around ex-Gov. Jim McGreevey’s expected bid for mayor in 2025. ‘I have a lot of respect for people that are against me: they stood up and said I’m with Joe Jones. The guy in the middle I don’t respect,’ McCann said over the phone this afternoon ‘Whoever becomes the mayor is going to inherit a tremendous, tremendous problem. This is three years in a row we’re operating in a deficit. … Am I supporting Jim McGreevey? Absolutely. Am I running his campaign? Absolutely not.’ Bertoli identified McGreevey as a friend, but not someone he was helping politically, before unloading on McCann. … ‘From what I’m told, Gerry McCann is running his campaign,’ Bertoli stated. ‘The last time Gerry McCann was running a campaign was the Jersey City mayoral special election in 2004 when he supported Lou Manzo and we know how that ended. Whatever good will Jim has in the African American community will go right down the tubes if he has Gerry running the campaign.’”

—“Jersey City has spent hundreds of thousands on JCPD whistleblower lawsuit, and is asking for more”

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HE WASN’T ‘A LITTLE SAUCED’, HE WAS A LITTLE GRAVIED — “Atlantic City police detective charged with eluding traffic stop,” by BreakingAC’s Lynda Cohen: “An Atlantic City police detective allegedly eluded police who attempted to stop him after running a red light last month, BreakingAC has learned. Fariyd Holmes, 36, of Mays Landing, allegedly lied about driving the vehicle, which ran two red lights and nearly struck a patrol car head-on, according to the affidavit. … The pursuit was ended after the officer was able to get the vehicle’s registration information, which led to Holmes, who was called on his cell phone. He told the officer that he was waiting for a ride and his niece was driving the vehicle, according to the affidavit. He also said he was ‘a little sauced.’ … Video surveillance showed the vehicle traveling through the streets of Atlantic City with the driver wearing white. The driver is identified as a black male wearing a white dress shirt, black watch and using a cell phone in video surveillance at the Pleasantville Toll Plaza on the Atlantic City Expressway.”

CHECK LORETTA WEINBERG’S BANDSHELL — “What happened to Teaneck's tax bills? Internal investigation of post office requested,” by The Record’s Marsha A. Stoltz: “The fourth-quarter property tax bills have gone missing, local officials report, but the township still wants payments made by the Nov. 1 deadline. Village Manager Dean Kazinci posted a notice on the township's Tax Department News webpage reporting that an unknown number of tax bills hand-delivered to the Teaneck post office on Sept. 22 have not yet been received by residents. ‘I have been made aware that many township residents have yet to receive their fourth-quarter tax bill and the delay is very concerning,’ Kazinci said.”

—“Second police sergeant files lawsuit against Palisades Park in a week. Here's why”

—“'It's a delusion': Advocates clash over how to help people hidden in Toms River woods”

—“Ex-teacher claims unwanted hugs; gets $775K settlement from Central Regional”

—“Paterson wins lawsuit over $25 million garbage contract”

EVERYTHING ELSE

THE HEISENBERG LEGAL PRINCIPLE — “‘Breaking Bad’ comment overturns conviction in N.J. shooting death trial,” by Kevin Shea for NJ.com: “A Newark man will get a new trial in a 2018 shooting death due to several improper comments a prosecutor made during his trial including a reference to the hit television show “Breaking Bad,” a state appeals court found. Lonnie Arrington, 53, was compared to the fictional meth kingpin Walter White during his trial in the killing of Michael Shendock, 38, of Voorhees, in September 2018 in Newark. Arrington was convicted by a jury and had been serving a 20-year prison sentence. … The ‘Breaking Bad’ reference came as the prosecutor described video surveillance played at trial that showed Arrington walking from the crime scene, not running, according to the appeals court ruling. ‘He’s walking away from it calmly, deliberately. He’s not scared of the danger. If any of you watched Breaking Bad, if you remember that . . . Walter White line where he says, ‘I am the danger,’ that’s exactly what it is. He is the danger,’ the prosecutor told the jury. The prosecutor ‘trayed from the permissible path’ by using the name of Walter White, a villain associated with “violence or guilt.”

—“Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march through Paterson to demand cease-fire”

— “N.J. ranks among top 10 most educated states in the country. Here’s the list”

—“Ex-corrections officer who dated inmate, gave him cell phone, takes plea deal”

—“Apprentice programs booming as N.J. looks for trade workers for 2 huge projects”

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