The Jaffe Briefing - June 24, 2021
TRENTON – Politicians complain when government moves too darn slow. And now they are complaining when government moves too darn fast. Republicans are quick to note the Senate Budget Committee pushed through this mega, $46.4 billion state budget just 11 minutes after it became public, thus ensuring that no one had a chance to read it or perhaps pose a thoughtful question or two. Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon says there are plenty of “slush funds” in the spending plan, “doled out all over the state by this administration; it is going to be obscene.” Perhaps, as people now reading the budget are discovering millions for museums in Newark and Jersey City, $15 million to knock down vacant homes in Camden, and more than $1 million for the Battleship New Jersey. News 12 contends these are all last-minute goodies. Response from Gov. Phil Murphy? “The process has been a really good one, I have to say.”
TRENTON – Many thought it was bad taste when Donald Trump insisted on having his name plastered on stimulus checks to Americans. And it would certainly be the same thinking if Murphy elects to do the same when tax rebate checks are cut while he is running for re-election. “Names on the checks, I don’t know if we’ve made that call yet, so stay tuned on that one,” Murphy said, as reported by New Jersey Globe. The same strategy was used by Gov. Brendan Byrne, when he launched the Homestead Benefits Program, with checks mailed out a month before election day featuring his name as the generous benefactor of taxpayer money. Byrne won by double-digits, and Murphy will likely do the same – without the need for such a shameless tactic.
TRENTON – Media has been reporting all week about the pork in this record-high, mega-budget. But one group out in the cold appears to be business owners, facing a July 1 hit in unemployment taxes. Business owners say the state could use some of the $6.5 billion in federal pandemic aid to replenish the unemployment trust fund, pounded over the past year or so with billions of dollars in claims. GOP lawmakers suggest $2.5 billion of federal aid over three years could be used to refill the fund and pay off state loans used to keep the benefits rolling, NJ Biz reports. But, nope. Murphy approved a bill in January to spread out the tax increases over a three-year period in order to reload the fund. And the business community – the state’s employers – are on the hook for the entire darn thing, despite the $10 billion surplus.
BRIEFING BREATHER
It's possible to lead a cow upstairs... but not downstairs.
(Go ahead; prove us wrong.)
STATEWIDE – Leaders in towns across New Jersey have been wringing their hands, trying to decide before a looming deadline if they will allow cannabis businesses within their borders. By August 21, towns are required to pass an ordinance that shows the world their policy on pot. Towns who don’t make a decision would then fall under state guidelines for five years, promising the sprout of cannabis shops all over. Assemblyman Chris Tully thinks these town leaders need a little more time to make such a decision, asking his colleagues to extend the deadline by 60 days. It’s a smart bill, as municipal leaders are still a bit hazy regarding the state’s guidelines, as the nascent marijuana industry is just emerging. So, let’s kick the can to October.
ATLANTIC CITY – State money is going here and going there. And “there” includes Stockton University, receiving $200,000 to help further its reach within the booming video game industry. Sure, grandpa is spitting through dentures that his tax money is being wasted on lazy, good-for-nuthin’ kids glued to Atari. But the fact is the “esports” industry is huge and growing, and the state has big dreams that Stockton can create a national esports innovation center on its Atlantic City campus. So, if you are a high school kid who loves gaming, loves living in a brand-new oceanfront dorm and loves being in what has become a $1 billion industry, you may have found your ideal school just down the Parkway.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
HARLEM – To the 148 million fans who have been thrilled by the Harlem Globetrotters’ ball-spinning, fancy-dribbling and high-flying acrobatics, the idea of making them the 31st NBA team is a slam dunk. The team that has brought its fun and flamboyant style of basketball to courts from Paris, France to Paris, Kentucky over the past 95 years has dashed off a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as part of its full-court press to finally become a real basketball team, the Daily News reports. Silver hasn’t commented on the official request to be a NBA franchise, or chances of the ol’ hide-the-ball-under-you-jersey trick becoming legal in the rules book. Seriously, though, how many proposed expansion teams already have worldwide recognition and generations of fans? No word yet on an application from the Washington Generals, now on a 7,541-game losing streak against the Globetrotters.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 1994 that Sally Field files for divorce from her second husband. Good news for the Bandit.
WORD OF THE DAY
Forswear – [for-SWAIR] – verb
Definition: To deny under oath
Example: Sally Field and her husbands forswore all others, pledging fidelity until, perhaps, the divorces were finalized.
WIT OF THE DAY
“Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.”
– Jackie Mason
BIDEN BLURB
“People everywhere in the world are hungry for economic opportunity. And it's about a lot more than being able to make money.”
-Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Perfect