Another showdown over COVID-19 Statehouse protocols left some North Jersey lawmakers unable to enter the building that holds the Assembly and State Senate. GOP Assembly members Jay Webber (R-26), Robert Auth (R-39), Serena DiMaso (R-13), Brain Bergen (R-25), Erik Petersen (R-23) and Gerry Scharfenberger (R-13) were stop from entering the Statehouse at two places when both chambers were scheduled for business Dec. 20 for refusing to confirm their vaccination status or take a COVID-19 rapid test. GOP lawmakers throughout the day addressed a group of anti-vaxx and mask protestors who showed up outside on the statehouse grounds to show their support. When voting started at 1 p.m., those who were unable to access the building instead voted remotely. North-JerseyNews.com
Those same legislators led an effort upending a busy state Assembly session with more than eight dozen bills on the docket. Voting remotely, the same Republicans denied access repeatedly commented on measures that would normally sail through in minutes, slowing the session to a crawl and frustrating Democrats who control the chamber. The marathon session—which was also beset by technical problems at points—began shortly after 1 p.m. and ended at 12:13 a.m., more than 11 hours later. NJ1015.com
President Joe Biden will announce new steps today to confront a surge in coronavirus cases, including reading 1,000 military medical professionals to help at overburdened hospitals, setting up new federal testing sites, deploying hundreds of federal vaccinators and buying 500 million rapid tests to distribute free to the public. The plan for new federal testing sites will debut in New York City, where several new sites will be running before Christmas. And President Biden is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act to accelerate production of tests. The New York Times
New Jersey residents preparing to travel or visit their families over the Christmas holiday are having difficulty in getting tested for COVID-19. Appointments for COVID tests within the next few days are scarce, lines at testing centers are hours long, pharmacy shelves have been emptied of at-home test kits and online sites that sell the test kits are usually out of stock. At Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the official COVID-19 test site for Bergen County, demand for the tests quadrupled Dec. 20 to 300, compared to two weeks ago. New Jersey Herald
Newark is now requiring face masks be worn indoors in all public setting—a step beyond current state requirements that “strongly recommend” coverings regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. “We are still in the midst of a pandemic and need to take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard and best ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our residents,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said, who did not rule out additional measures based if the city’s positivity rate continues to rise. InsiderNJ
In-school coronavirus cases in New Jersey spiked the week of Dec. 12, with 6,947 cases reported between students and staff, an increase of 79% from two weeks prior. There were 5,632 new student cases and 1,315 new staff cases the week ending Dec. 12, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. That’s 5.25 cases per 1,000 students, and 6.81 cases per 1,000 staff, the second week in a row New Jersey set a new high for in-school cases. The number don’t include all schools in New Jersey, with about 33% not reporting statistics. NJ.com
The NHL called off this week’s remaining five games, effectively putting the entire league on pause until next week. More than 119 players—16% of active skaters—and five coaches are currently in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. The NHL hasn’t specified whether the individuals who tested positive had been fully vaccinated or received booster shots, but did note in a statement that “there have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness.” The Wall Street Journal
Rep. Josh Gottheimer is touting his success in bringing federal grant money home to his constituents. New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District has clawed back 112% more federal tax dollars from Washington and what Gottheimer calls “Moocher States” since he took office in 2017, bringing an average savings of $415 for each household in the Fifth District in 2020. “Getting our tax dollars back home is not a Democrat or Republican issue — it’s a purely what’s good for hardworking Jersey families and businesses issue, and it’s about cutting taxes and helping make life more affordable,” Gottheimer said. North-JerseyNews.com
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to force votes on voting rights, a social policy bill and a change to Senate rules early next year. In a letter to Democratic colleagues, Schumer wrote the Senate would vote in early January on a new version of President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion Building Back Better Act as well as voting rights legislation deemed essential by many Democrats in advance of the midterm elections. Schumer said that if Republicans use procedural tools to block consideration of voting rights through the filibuster, the Senate then would consider changes to its rules to bar such tactics. New Jersey Monitor
Both houses of the State Legislature passed a bill that would officially enshrine gay couples right to wed into state law. Democrats who lead the Legislature felt this new bill (A5367) was needed amid fear the right-leaning U.S. Supreme Court might overturn the court decision that awarded them the right to marry. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37) said “Devoted same-sex couples all across New Jersey are raising families as contributing members of their communities. We fought to correct the injustice that denied these rights for too many loving couples for far too long. We don’t want to see those rights lost to an arch-conservative agenda of recent Supreme Court appointees.” NJ.com
Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) said that legislative Democrats are “still working” on the Reproductive Freedom Act to ensure abortion rights in New Jersey. “If I can get the bill right, we will [post it this session],” Sweeney said. “The skill in this job is to get 21, and for the [Assembly] Speaker to get 41. That’s not always that easy. People have very strong feelings on reproductive freedom.” He added that the bill won’t be brought to the Senate in its current format. New Jersey Globe
The Murphy Administration is pushing hard to phase out polluting diesel-powered trucks on New Jersey’s roads, adopting an aggressive new rule to begin electrifying everything from delivery vans to long-haul tractor trailers Dec. 20. The Advanced Clean Truck Rule would require manufacturers to sell and deliver pollution-free zero-emission trucks to New Jersey beginning in 2025, and 40% to 75% of new zero-emission truck sales would be required by 2035. NJ Spotlight News
North Jersey will have at least one new member in the House delegation in 2023 as Rep. Albio Sires (D-2) will not seek re-election in 2022. Robert J. Menendez, the son of the U.S. Senator, is emerging as the frontrunner to succeed him. While the filing deadline for the June 2022 primary is April 1, the candidacy of the younger Menendez has received the key backing of lawmakers in that district, including State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Brian Stack. “I am supporting Rob Menendez for Congress,” said Stack. “I’ve gotten to know him over the last several years and he’s a great guy. He’s very intelligent and brings a lot of energy. He will be a great Congressman.” North-JerseyNews.com
David Gilmore, Paterson’s director of the Division of Community Improvements, has been suspended without pay for five days over allegations he sexually harassed another city employee. Administration officials imposed the suspension on Dec. 16, the same day Gilmore picked up nominating petitions to run for mayor and one day after Gilmore’s lawyer filed new allegations in his pending federal lawsuit accusing the city of retaliating against him for his whistleblower activities regarding Mayor Andre Sayegh’s political allies. The Record
After more than four years, Col. Patrick Callahan can now remove the “acting” from his Superintendent New Jersey State Police title. The State Senate voted 38-0 to confirm Callahan to become superintendent of the state’s top law enforcement agency. A 52-year-old Warren County resident, Callahan is a second-generation State Police trooper and a 26-year veteran of the force who has gained widespread attention over the last two years with his frequent appearances as Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 briefings. NJ.com
Jersey City swore in 30 new police officers Dec. 20 at City Hall. The latest class includes four women, 14 Hispanic, 11 white and three Black officers. The new officers will aid efforts to increase police presence and walking patrols, community outreach, crime deterrence and diversity recruitment among other crime-fighting initiatives. The Jersey Journal
State Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-31) did not have alcohol in her system following her arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated earlier this year, but she did have unspecified “other drugs” in her blood and urine. The report appears to support the claim made by former Gov. Jim McGreevey McGreevey and Senate President Stephen Sweeney in the days after her March arrest that Cunningham had a health issue and a bad reaction to medication. The Hudson County lawmaker still faces driving while intoxicated and careless driving charges in Bergen County municipal court, where it was moved to avoid conflicts of interest. The Record
After nearly a decade, the dispute between former police Capt. James Carifi and Parsippany were settled with Carifi obtaining a $1 million settlement, a letter in good standing, a retirement badge and a retirement ID card. In a 2011 whistleblower claim, Carifi claimed the governing body of Parsippany at the time, along with then-Police Chief Michael Peckerman, had conspired against him because he reported improper activities within the department. As a result, his lawsuit alleged, he was transferred and denied a promotion, resulting in his 2013 retirement. The Daily Record
And finally…Back up at ports is causing alcohol shortages across U.S. News12 New Jersey
