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The Jaffe Briefing - July 27, 2021

STATEWIDE – Even the Washington Post now realizes New Jersey’s awkward relationship with the feds. The Garden State famously gives more tax dollars to Uncle Sam than it can ever dream of getting back in financial aid, infrastructure and other goodies. (In fiscal 2018, New Jersey received less back on every federal tax dollar paid — 79 cents — than any other state.) We were also slammed, repeatedly, by President Trump, who limited federal property tax deductions and ignored repeated pleas for the Gateway tunnel. But, with a Democrat now in the White House, it’s time to settle the score, right? Not so fast, the Post reports, as New Jersey’s wish list clashes with the Biden agenda for overhauling climate policy, reshaping the tax code and handing out money to poorer American families through a sweeping expansion of social programs. New Jersey Democrats need to “realize they’re part of a team,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). Yeah, Democrats have to play nice in the sandbox. But we have a powerful Congressional delegation at this fleeting moment. Time to hand over at least some goodies, finally. Anything at all.

STATEWIDE – Should employers give up drug testing for marijuana? The answer seems to be an obvious “yes,” as cannabis is now legal in New Jersey. But, like everything else, there are two sides. Construction companies, for example, don’t want stoned people behind the wheel of a heavy-duty crane and, therefore, must test heavily. That’s obvious. But NJ.com asks about the office worker who may have enjoyed a nice sunset with a joint on a Saturday night, but then walks into an unannounced drug test on Monday morning, even though he or she has shown zero signs of impairment. And you can bet labor lawyers have their own opinions on things, warning that employers who don’t test could be slapped with lawsuits if their workers cause damage. NJ.com concludes these pot tests are akin to an outdated witch hunt, and only people who are blitzed on the job should face penalty. But, with anything involving lawyers who live on the billable hour, it is never quite that simple.

TRENTON – Hey teens, want your learner’s permit? “Good luck,” is the message from the MVC, which is hopelessly backlogged with requests for permits and licenses. NJ.com reports there seems to be no appointments available over the next 60 days unless you drive out to the boondocks of South Jersey. And, with a weary sigh, we ask: Why?  Well, in early May, there was a new law enacted that allows hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to finally be allowed to drive. That’s a great thing, of course, but the roll-out has been a disaster, as an additional 400,000 residents are now eligible as part of this “status-neutral licensing.” The online appointment system currently offers no appointments at any of the 23 MVC centers, giving the next generation of New Jersey drivers a crash course in dealing with this agency.

BRIEFING BREATHER

The first person nailed for speeding was driving at 8 mph.

TRENTON – Will New Jersey require all government workers to be vaccinated or face weekly testing? Let’s sure hope so, after both New York and California announced they were embracing this policy as a way to curb the escalating infection numbers among unvaccinated people, such as police officers and teachers. The AP reports this controversial decision could open the floodgates for so many other government entities that have been waiting for other brave souls to make this tough decision, so they could just follow suit. While the anti-vax people would howl that this latest protective mandate is unfair, here’s our question: Why hasn’t it been instituted months ago? So far, Gov. Phil Murphy’s non-answer: we “have to have all options available.”

TRENTON – Well, for a moment, we were big Buffalo Bisons fans. The Triple-A team of the Toronto Blue Jays has been playing the past few weeks at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. But now the Bisons are going home on Friday, ending the Triple A baseball season in Trenton. And how did the Bisons end up here? Good question. The Blue Jays have been playing at the Bisons field in Buffalo because of COVID border restrictions, forcing the minor league team to find somewhere else to play. But with the Blue Jays now allowed to play in Toronto, the Bisons can return home. And when the music finally stops on all these musical chairs, Trenton no longer has a Triple A baseball team this summer. But the MLB Draft League Thunder, comprising college players, will be taking the field Aug. 3-8. Great seats still available.

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

TOKYO – Sure, we all want cameras as close as possible to the action. But the “up close and personal” shots during the Olympic men’s triathlon forced a much-needed do-over yesterday when a boat filled with cameras blocked the competitors were trying to swim. In fact, a bunch of the competitors who were stuck on the dock, helplessly watching others swim away. Some of the swimmers were already 200 meters out in the water and needed Olympic staff to chase them down in personal boats to inform them of the do-over. The race restarted 10 minutes later – with the boatful of cameras at a distance.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 2014 that Dollar Tree bought its rival, Family Dollar, for $8.5 billion. That’s a lot of dollars.

WORD OF THE DAY

Urbane – [er-BAYN] – adjective

Definition: Notably polite or polished in manner.

Example: Consider me a young, urbane writer who kills it at cocktail parties.

WIT OF THE DAY

“A lot of people think international relations is like a game of chess. But it's not a game of chess, where people sit quietly, thinking out their strategy, taking their time between moves. It's more like a game of billiards, with a bunch of balls clustered together.” 

- Madeleine Albright

BIDEN BLURB

“I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.”

-Joe Biden 

WEATHER IN A WORD

Steamy