Rep. Mikie Sherrill introduced a pair of bills that would provide assistance to military vets as well as advocating in Congress to make it easier for veterans to get the medical help they need. The first bill would help veterans to acquire rental housing, while the second would start an independent investigation of the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) program. Besides the two bipartisan pieces of legislation, the former Navy helicopter pilot and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy spoke last month in favor of her bipartisan Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act in front of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing that would provide a range of services to improve life-saving support to veterans. North-JerseyNews.com
State Senate President Steve Sweeney conceded his reelection loss Nov. 11 to Republican challenger Edward Durr. Asked his interpretation of events that led to his stunning loss, he said simply, “a red wave. There were 12,000 more people who voted this time than in 2017. So…we have to focus on the things that are important to the people of the state. We have to listen to them.” PoliticoNJ
State Sen.-elect Ed Durr (R-3) said his election was a result of a backlash against Gov. Phil Murphy. Calling Murphy his “secret weapon,” Durr opined that his supporters didn’t want a “government ruled by a dangerous guy armed with a bunch of executive orders. They don’t want Gov. Murphy’s vision of making New Jersey the California of the East Coast.” The newly elected State Senator said he regretted some social media comments he made before entering the race criticizing the Islamic religion, Vice President Kamala Harris, support for the Capitol insurrection and comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust by stating “you get behind a keyboard and you don’t see a person. These are things I have done in the past. It doesn’t define me as a person. I’m apologizing to anyone who may have been offended by the things I did.” NJ.com
Eight days after Election Day, Gov. Phil Murphy now has a 72,758-vote lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Murphy’s is now ahead by 2.85%—1,303,263 to 1,230,505. Ciattarelli has opted to not concede defeat until all the votes are counted. With election officials taking Thursday off in observance of Veterans Day, that number is expected to remain fairly solid until Friday when most of the counting resumes. New Jersey Globe
A New Jersey man caught on video storming the U.S. Capitol and punching a police officer during the Jan. 6 attack was sentenced Nov. 10 to more than 3 years in federal prison — the most severe punishment a Capitol rioter defendant has faced yet in connection to the attack. Senior U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth said he could not “in good conscience” sentence Sussex County resident Scott Fairlamb below the sentencing guidelines, which called for a sentence of 41 to 51 months, due to the seriousness of the case. Lamberth sentenced him to 41 months. In speaking to the court, Fairlamb expressed regret and took responsibility for his actions. “That is not Scott Fairlamb,” said the Hardyston resident. “That is not who I am. That is not who I was raised to be. I truly regret my actions that day. I have nothing but remorse.” New Jersey Herald
U.S. inflation hit a three-decade high in October, delivering widespread and sizable price increases on everything from groceries to cars due to persistent supply shortages and strong consumer demand. The Labor Department said the consumer-price index—which measures what consumers pay for goods and services—increased in October by 6.2% from a year ago. That was the fastest 12-month pace since 1990 and the fifth straight month of inflation above 5%. Price increases included higher costs for new and used autos, gasoline and other energy costs, furniture, rent and medical care. Food prices for both groceries and dining out rose by the most in decades. The Wall Street Journal
Seaports facing historic backups from the pandemic are making plans to put the money from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and policy changes to use. Port operators are expected to start many programs within 45 to 90 days through a variety of funding streams and policies the bill will provide. The Biden Administration expects the Port of Savannah to be the first to take advantage of a policy change allowing ports to redirect about $8 million in funding to immediately address supply chain challenges, converting existing facilities to temporary container yards in Georgia and North Carolina, freeing up space closer to the port itself. New Jersey Monitor
A growing body of early global research shows that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States remain highly protective against the disease’s worst outcomes over time, with some exceptions among older people and those with weakened immune systems. The vaccines remain more than 50% effective at preventing infection, the level that all COVID vaccines had to meet or exceed to be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration back in 2020. The New York Times
Republicans in the State Senate are pushing to have Garden State residents who had the COVID-19 exempted from vaccine and testing requirements. State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-26) introduced legislation that could allow a person’s naturally developed immunity resulting from a prior COVID-19 infection to satisfy vaccination requirements imposed on workplaces, schools, or any other entity in New Jersey. “We don’t think anyone should be discriminated against due to their vaccination status, personal health decisions, or desire for medical privacy,” said Pennacchio in a press statement Nov. 9. “However, to the extent that Gov. (Phil ) Murphy and others have imposed burdensome vaccine mandates already, we believe those requirements should be based on science and recognize the significant protection and natural immunity that results from a person’s prior COVID-19 infection.” North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey businesses owned by people of color were more likely to lose money in the early days of the pandemic and have less access to the credit they needed to make up for it. The report by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority showed Black- and Latino-owned business were at a particular disadvantage when it came to the government’s main emergency finance plan, as White business owners had more access to money through the federal Payroll Protection Program. For example, 76% of white-owned businesses received the funding they requested, but 54% of Hispanic-owned businesses and 44% of Black-owned businesses said the same. The Daily Record
A new report found the state, municipalities and school boards appear to be doing a better job of curtailing pension abuses in New Jersey. After referring more than 200 examples of potential pension-credit abuses by providers of professional services in 2012, the Office of the State Comptroller found just two cases of possible improper enrollment while preparing a new investigative report on pension-law compliance. Meanwhile, ongoing investigations stemming from the initial probe by the comptroller’s office have so far saved taxpayers an estimated $59 million. NJ Spotlight News
Gov. Phil Murphy is “fast-tracking” New Jersey’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect the state from climate change. Under an executive order signed Nov. 10, the Democratic governor is accelerating the reduction in state-generated greenhouse gases to 50% by 2030, the end of this decade. That brings New Jersey’s goals more in line with federal benchmarks set by Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration. Murphy said it’s especially necessary to find ways to fight climate change immediately as New Jersey continues to face destructive storms such as Hurricane Ida. “The science is clear. More severe impacts are happening now. The time for wakeup calls if frankly long past. And while we can’t turn back the clock, we also can’t keep hitting snooze,” he said. NJ1015.com
Passaic County Commissioners will wait at least two more weeks before taking a stance on a proposal to pump more natural gas through a North Jersey pipeline. Commissioners plan to revisit the issue during their Nov. 23 meeting after spending two hours Nov. 9 hearing from project representatives and public opponents regarding Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s East 300 Upgrade Project. The project would construct a new electric-driven compressor turbine in West Milford. It would also upgrade two existing gas-fired compressor stations. One is in the Sussex County town of Wantage. The other is in Pennsylvania. The Record
In the near future, instead of showing paper New Jersey vehicle registration document to a police officer, you’ll be able to show electronic proof of registration. But it is New Jersey, so there’s a catch—you’ll have to wait 18 months for the benefit to arrive. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-26), was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy Nov. 8. “Knowing they will be able to use their phone to prove their car is properly registered may provide a bit of relief. This will also save drivers from the hassle and costs of responding to unnecessary tickets for failing to provide proof of registration,” said Bucco. North-JerseyNews.com
New Jersey will begin accepting applications to run legal marijuana businesses on Dec. 15. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission will open the application process then to marijuana growers, processors and testing labs. Applications for dispensaries will open three months later on March 15. There are no deadlines to file applications as they’ll be accepted on a rolling basis. News12 New Jersey
The Bayonne Planning Board has approved plans to convert the former St. Andrew’s School into a public elementary school. The school at Fourth Street and Broadway closed its doors in 2008, when the city’s Catholic elementary schools were consolidated into All Saints Catholic Academy due to financial strain caused by declining enrollment. The city’s school board is looking to purchase the property at 124 Broadway, which currently consists of three buildings including the vacant parochial school, the convent building that currently houses the dormitories for the Sisters of Charity and Equity, and a one-car garage. Hudson Reporter
And finally…Many restaurant chains and retailers are offering discounts for veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day. News12 New Jersey
