State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) announced Jan. 31 that his legislation to limit the New Jersey governor’s emergency powers gained a formidable Democratic backer. According to O’Scanlon, State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11) has agreed to be a co-prime sponsor on this legislation. O’Scanlon’s new bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 60 days unless the legislature extends it. Additionally, the bill limits a public health emergency declaration to a total of 60 days—the initial 30-day duration and one 30-day renewal by the governor—unless the legislature authorizes an extension. North-JerseyNews.com
State Senate Republicans announced an online petition and social media campaign called the “Give It Back” initiative to pressure Gov. Phil Murphy to cut taxes and end the pandemic-era rules he has instituted over the past two years. “Gov. Murphy has taken so much from New Jerseyans since the start of the pandemic,” said State Senate Minority Leader Steve Oroho (R-24). “He’s taken money, he’s taken power, and he’s taken rights, choices and freedoms from every single New Jerseyan.” NJ1015.com
A broad and bipartisan group of U.S. Senators are coalescing around legislation to create a high-level independent commission, modeled after the one that examined the Sept. 11 attacks, with broad powers to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and the response across the Trump and Biden Administrations. Under a plan proposed by the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Health Committee—Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard M. Burr (R-NC)—a 12-member panel would have subpoena power to “get a full accounting of what went wrong during this pandemic,” said Murray and make recommendations for the future. The New York Times
Rutgers students will receive between $50 and $70 each from a $5 million settlement of a class action lawsuit when the school transitioned to remote learning in March 2020 because of the pandemic. The settlement for a suit against the university asking for a refund for on-campus tuition and fees means that the approximately 65,000 students will receive their share as a credit to their next tuition and fee bill. Students no longer enrolled at the university can have checks mailed to their last address or deposited in their Venmo or PayPal accounts. The Record
Gov. Phil Murphy’s pick of Matt Platkin to serve as the state’s next Attorney General has the backing of some key North Jersey lawmakers. State Sens. Brian P. Stack (D-33), Paul Sarlo (D-36) and Gordon Johnson (D-37) were among the state legislators supporting the nomination. “Matt Platkin worked closely with the Legislature during his time as Chief Counsel and I am confident he will continue to be a valuable and reliable partner from the Attorney General’s Office. I look forward to working with Matt to increase diversity in our police departments, fight discrimination in our workplaces, curb the rise in hate crimes across the state and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Johnson. North-JerseyNews.com
The New Jersey Supreme Court on Feb. 3 voted 5-0 to side with Democrats and dismiss a GOP lawsuit that asked the court to remand the map to the redistricting commission for further consideration and require the tie-breaker commissioner, former Supreme Court Justice John Wallace, to recuse himself. The state’s highest court ruled that for all the Republicans’ complaints about the process, the lawsuit did not challenge the map itself as unlawful or unconstitutional. “The outcome commonly garners praise from one party and criticism from the other. This redistricting cycle was no different…This Court has no role in the outcome of the redistricting process unless the map is ‘unlawful’,” wrote Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. PoliticoNJ
President Joe Biden unveiled a new initiative to combat gun violence in New York City on Feb. 3, saying “the answer is not to defund the police. It’s to give you the tools, the training, the funding to be partners, to be protectors and the community needs you.” The Justice Department launched a national ghost gun enforcement initiative “designed to prevent these unserialized firearms from being used to commit crimes, including by prioritizing bringing federal charges against criminal use of these weapons,” according to the administration’s fact sheet. New Jersey Monitor
U.S. payrolls grew sharply by 467,000 in January, and the jobless rate rose to 4%, the Labor Department said Feb. 4, as the economy weathered the Omicron wave and staffing shortages. Many economists are projecting the labor market will bounce back later this year, as the virus subsides as workers who were sick will be able to return to their jobs, and employers eager to hire will have fewer disruptions to confront. Additionally, there are numerous signs the labor market remains tight, from elevated job openings and worker turnover to low numbers of unemployment claims. The Wall Street Journal
Rep. Josh Gottheimer was part of a coalition of House Democrats urging the U.S. Senate to pass a version of the Build Back Better agenda that centers on climate action. Gottheimer joined representatives of the New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Progressive Caucus to support a letter calling on President Joe Biden to fashion a bill that can pass the Senate and House. “These costs will get worse if we do not continue to act urgently,” stated Gottheimer. “The cost of inaction is simply too high….We have an important opportunity to deliver another piece of the puzzle in fighting against climate change.” North-JerseyNews.com
The House is expected to approve the $350 billion America Competes Act to boost U.S. competitiveness with China and other rivals on Feb. 4, but differences with the Senate signal struggles ahead in reaching a compromise. The Senate in June passed its $250 billion version of the measure, dubbed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. Both bills are aimed at increasing federal support for scientific research and particularly new technologies while providing substantial new federal incentives to help bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. Differences include the House including targets for more funding and related policy changes toward issues such as climate change, human rights and domestic social inequality. The Wall Street Journal
Rep. Tom Malinowski has tested positive for COVID-19. The 7th District Congressman tweeted on Feb. 3 that “I want to let everyone know that I tested positive today, but am feeling fine. This means I have a virus that killed 3,622 Americans yesterday, yet am only experiencing the most mild symptoms, thanks to the vaccine + booster. Please get boosted everyone!” Insider NJ
Four of Republican Commissioner Tayfun Selen’s colleagues on the Morris County Board of Commissioners endorsed Selen’s campaign for the 11th congressional district. “Republicans are fortunate to have a candidate of Tayfun Selen’s caliber stepping up for this seat,” Commissioner John Krickus said in a statement from Kathy DeFillippo, Steve Shaw, and Deb Smith. “Immigrating to the U.S. the right way, Tayfun worked minimum wage jobs, moved up the corporate ladder, and built an impressive business and tax-fighting career that we can all be proud of. I’m proud to endorse him.” Two other Republican county commissioners, Douglas Cabana and Tom Mastrangelo, both up for re-election this year, have not endorsed. New Jersey Globe
A bill under consideration in the state legislature would make it easier for spouses and children of military veterans to get free access to New Jersey beaches. The measure, A1662, would permit Jersey Shore municipalities to provide free beach access, or reduced fees, for spouses and dependent children of U.S. military veterans. Last session’s measure, A4870, was approved by the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee in November, but the full Assembly never voted on the bill before the two-year session ended. NJ.com
The Jersey City school district is considering a plan to open the state’s first girls-only public school for students from 6th through 12th grade. Interim Superintendent Norma Fernandez said the school would be open to all girls who want to attend and admission would not be contingent on test scores, unlike the admission process at Infinity Institute and McNair Academic High School. Fernandez said the district hopes to open the school in September, to be housed inside another school, with 6th and 7th graders. Grades would be added each year and the first class would graduate in June 2026. The Jersey Journal
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration announced that a final transaction needed to retire more than $2 billion in bonded debt was completed earlier in the week by the Department of Treasury. The result of the debt-relief effort is expected to save New Jersey taxpayers a combined $607 million over 10 years by reducing long-term interest costs, according to Treasury officials. NJ Spotlight News
For the second consecutive time, American Dream paid its scheduled, bi-annual bond payment from its dwindling reserves account. In August, the developer of the retail and entertainment complex, drew $9,285,625 from its debt service reserve, leaving a balance of $9,286,082.87. This week, the developer had another installment due and it withdrew all but $820.23 to cover the debt. NJ.com
A search will begin for a new borough administrator in Paramus after Mayor Richard LaBarbiera declined to appoint the council’s pick during a special meeting. The council hoped to hire Hector Olmo, the borough administrator in Wallington and a Republican councilman in Cresskill who ran for freeholder in 2018, and previously for Bergen County clerk. The administrator salary would have been $135,000. LaBarbiera, however, said there hadn’t been a proper candidate search and that he believed the pick was negotiated outside Borough Hall. The Record
Jacqueline Weimmer will run for Bayonne’s Second Ward council seat in the upcoming May 10 municipal election alongside Mayor James Davis. Weimmer is National Director of Special Needs Solutions at Comerica Bank, helping people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of benefits eligibility and financial and life planning. Weimmer is the fourth announced member of the Team Davis slate, following First Ward City Councilman Neil Carroll, Third Ward City Councilman Gary La Pelusa and City Councilman At-Large Juan Perez. Davis said he will unveil the final member of his slate as well as endorsements and other announcements in the coming weeks. Hudson Reporter
And finally…A complete list of Olympians with Garden State ties. The Daily Record
