OPINION: The Do Something Congress Matters in An Election Year. As North Jersey residents begin to consider who to vote for this November, the accomplishments of this Congress to pass legislation—that will have a significant impact on your life now and in the future—should be a priority. The centerpiece of this Congress was the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure program approved last year, followed by passage of major legislation investing in the domestic semiconductor industry, the Invest to Protect Act that will fund the police, and medical care for military veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. A return to a gridlocked Congress talking past each other as they position themselves for the 2024 Presidential election will be a result if Republicans retain control of either house. The accomplishments of Democrats versus the agenda Republicans have offered are stark. A Congress that does the people’s work is on the ballot as much as abortion this year. North-JerseyNews.com
Republican partisans have rewarded those who voted on Jan. 6, 2021, to dispute the Electoral College count with grassroots support, paths to higher office and campaign money. Corporate backers have reopened their coffers to lawmakers they once denounced as threats to democracy. And almost all the objectors seeking re-election are now poised to return to Congress next year, when Republicans could possibly hold a majority in the House. The New York Times
An Assembly panel unanimously approved a partial rollback of a New Jersey law banning police officers from polling places, advancing a bill Sept. 29 that would let authorities into public schools where voting takes place. The revision to allow a carveout for schools arises from school safety raised by mass shooting events across the U.S. and difficulties finding locations to house voting machines on Election Day. New Jersey Monitor
A majority of Americans believe the U.S. Supreme Court is “out of touch” with the values and beliefs of the country and supports ending lifetime terms for justices, a new poll found. A Monmouth poll released Sept. 30 found that 54% of Americans disapprove of the job the court is doing and that 59% believe the justices are out of touch. Additionally, 66% said they support term limits for justices, including 86% of Democrats, 63% of Independents and 51% of Republicans. North-JerseyNews.com
The Supreme Court opens its new term Oct. 3 with a docket that could reshape features of American society ranging from college admissions to political redistricting. The first case, Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, will have justices hearing arguments on whether to curb the federal government’s power to fight water pollution, following last term’s decision limiting the agency’s authority to combat greenhouse-gas emissions. Later this year, the court will hear arguments challenging precedents that permit colleges to consider race in university admissions decisions to promote student diversity and a First Amendment case based on right to speak as one pleases entitling a business owner to deny service to same-sex couples despite state law prohibiting discrimination. The Wall Street Journal
Rep. Josh Gottheimer recently announced 10 houses of worship, schools, and local community organizations have received $1.4 million in new Nonprofit Security Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The funds will provide additional security protection that may be potential targets from a terrorist attack or a homegrown lone wolf, inspired by extremists along with other domestic threats. “This is about making sure that our churches and our synagogues and our mosques are safe, and that religious institutions and freedom, which are so deep at the heart of who we are, are safe,” said Gottheimer. North-JerseyNews.com
A San Antonio sheriff’s office investigation has reportedly identified the person in connection with the operation by Gov. Ron DeSantis to transport migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. Perla Huerta, a former combat medic and counterintelligence agent who was discharged in August after two decades in the U.S. Army, is believed to have helped round up Venezuelan asylum seekers in Texas and shipping them on private planes to Massachusetts. In the case of the flights to Martha’s Vineyard, Florida state records show that an airline charter company, Vertol Systems, was paid $615,000 on Sept. 8 and $950,000 less than two weeks later. The New York Times
President Joe Biden is scheduled to be in New Jersey on Oct. 6 to appear at a private fundraiser at Gov. Phil Murphy’s home to help national Democrats about a month before the closely watched midterm elections. The event at Murphy’s mansion along the Navesink River in Middletown will raise money for the Democratic National Committee’s Grassroots Victory Fund. The appearance is part of a big fundraising swing for Biden, who is slated to appear the same day in New York City, as the President has been ramping up public events as he and the Democratic Party seek to keep control of Congress in the Nov. 8 elections. NJ.com
Rob Menendez has proposed a compromise for the $4.7 billion highway-widening project for the New Jersey Turnpike leading to the Holland Tunnel. Menendez, the Democratic candidate for the 8th Congressional District that includes Jersey City and Bayonne, wants the expanded roadway to be used for a dedicated bus lane and to create a truck-only exit and entrance ramp to bypass local Bayonne streets en route to the ports. The Record
Legislation proposed in Albany would allow the imposition of an extra $50 fee on vehicles from New Jersey driven into New York City if the Garden State enacts a law that prevents information from being shared in connection with camera-generated traffic tickets. The New York state proposal is a response to New Jersey lawmakers considering a bill that would prohibit the Motor Vehicle Commission from disclosing license holders’ personal information to other states seeking to issue speed camera or red-light camera citations. The Senate unanimously passed it in June, though the Assembly hasn’t yet taken it up. NJ1015.com
The annexation of Ukrainian territory by Vladimir Putin and the “coercive and violent conscription of unwilling Russian men” is an act of desperation, said Sen. Bob Menendez. “To be clear, the United States will never recognize Putin’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian land,” declared Menendez, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “We will demand accountability for the atrocities in places under Russian illegal occupation like Bucha and Izyum. And we will never entertain Putin’s delusional attempts to rewrite the map of Europe.” New Jersey Globe
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Moscow-led allies, collectively known as OPEC+, is set to consider its most drastic reduction of production since the pandemic this week. OPEC+, meeting on Oct. 5, is expected to explore a cut of more than 1 million barrels a day in order to help prop up falling oil prices, a move that economists state could put pressure on global economic growth. The Wall Street Journal
New Jersey is bucking the national trend as gas prices continue to drop here, with AAA reporting the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline at $3.42. Supply has been tightest on the West Coast, were some of the most dramatic increases. California, Oregon and Washington have all seen prices rise between 40 and 50 cents per gallon in the last five days. NJ1015.com
Moody’s Investors Service on Sept. 30 revised the state of New Jersey’s outlook to “positive” from “stable,” while affirming the state’s issuer and general obligation bond ratings at A2. In doing so, Moody’s has joined the other two major credit rating agencies—S&P and Fitch—in upgrading the state’s outlook from “stable” to “positive” and said the upgrade is based on the idea that the state is headed in the right direction financially. ROI-NJ.com
A new state law allowing school districts to temporarily hire retired teachers to fill vacant classroom positions is already having an impact in Newark. Classes are currently being taught by 26 retired teachers with another 10 retirees will be starting in the next few weeks. Newark is among nearly 100 New Jersey school districts that have applied to the state to hire retired teachers to fill “critical need” teaching jobs under a new law that loosens pension rules to lure educators back to the classroom. All of the retirees are being paid $92,000 for the 2022-2023 school year while continuing to receive their pensions. NJ.com
Hoboken has revealed its completed design for its southwest resiliency park expansion. The plans include six pickleball courts along with a full basketball court and a playground, and a more permanent version of the pop-up park at the location residents have enjoyed in the last year. The Jersey Journal
And finally…Bruce Springsteen, along with Jake Clemons, joined The Killers for a three song set over the weekend at Madison Square Garden. NJ.com
