The Jaffe Briefing - November 29, 2021
TRENTON – There’s big work to do at the Statehouse this week, as the lame-duck session is in full swing after state lawmakers took four months off to campaign and do other things. Yet, some Republican lawmakers are refusing to show up. (Sigh.) And why? New Jersey Globe reports they have a big problem with the sensible rule that bans access to the Statehouse for any lawmaker who doesn’t show a vaccination card or proof of a negative test at the next session, convening Thursday. GOP legislators – in their wisdom – deemed if some of their colleagues are blocked at the door, none will show. “I have no intention of complying with this unconstitutional statehouse policy,” said Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville). “To do so would give credence to the idea that mandates and discrimination based on vaccine status is ok, and it’s not ok.” So, apparently, fighting a policy to keep lawmakers healthy is much more important than finally getting around to serving the people of New Jersey.
SOUTH JERSEY – The media remains entranced with Ed Durr – the trucker who stunned the political world by soundly defeating Senate President Steve Sweeney. The New York Times has decided to dig deep and find some new dirt about a guy who was likely unknown throughout the 3rd Legislative District until the election results. So, here’s more stuff that was completely none of our business: Durr had three children under 13 when a mortgage company began foreclosure proceedings on his 1,200-square-foot, one-story home in South Jersey in 1997. Within two years, he and his first wife had filed for bankruptcy, identifying $64,784.99 in debts to J.C. Penney, an insurance company and a bank. Durr dropped out of high school when his father, a self-employed carpenter, got sick and needed help at work. The net of all of this? “Ed the Trucker” offers plenty of unique perspective to the state Senate, from a silent, struggling faction of New Jerseyans who rarely – if ever – are given a voice about anything. This Cyber Monday, we will be online to buy “Dangerous Durr” beer coolies, which the senator-elect is now hawking for $15.
TRENTON – New Jersey taxpayers shelled out more than $60 million last year to settle the state’s lawsuits. And before you spit out your coffee in shock and shake your fist at the heavens in all your frustration, you should actually be pleased… Huh? That’s because it was one of the lowest annual payouts in a decade and – even more importantly – the state Attorney General yanked in more than $95.2 million from people and companies accused of misconduct, an increase from the previous year. The big announcement was made by “acting” Attorney General Andrew Bruck, who was named in July and should remain in the job for as long as the state can keep him.
BRIEFING BREATHER
The name “Wendy” was made up for the book “Peter Pan.”
ON THE ROAD – “Public hearings are sort of like karaoke night at the hotel bar… You never know what will come out of people’s mouths when you open up the floor.” That gem of a lede is courtesy of Gannett, reporting on the 16 public hearings over the past three months to address the plan for “congestion pricing” in Manhattan south of 60th Street. It seems like everyone has a problem with it, other than environmentalists who will support anything to reduce NYC traffic. The MTA got an earful from New Jersey, of course, through the Fair Congestion Pricing Alliance. A summary: NYC needs $15 billion to pay for its infrastructure and wants New Jersey commuters to foot the bill. A quote from the alliance head: “But you know what we’re going to do instead? We’re going to do what we’ve been doing during the pandemic. We’re going to stay in New Jersey.”
AT HOME – But staying home will cost you, too. And why, dammit? Unless you live under seven blankets and a Snuggie, you are paying much more to heat your home this late autumn. The cost of heating oil is up more than 50% from last November, while natural gas prices have doubled this year. There are some solutions. The state offers rebates for people who want more energy-efficient houses, and utility companies offer free energy audits. And if you try to wean your teen from his Xbox, TV, desktop, laptop, PS4, smartphone and iPad, there could be some substantial savings, as well.
IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
MARION, Ohio – Former President Warren G. Harding’s dog is back in the news this morning, as a local radio station is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who has information about Laddie Boy’s missing dog collar. An anonymous caller is putting up the reward, as the morning DJs at WWGH-FM in Marion are now fully immersed in finding this collar. The caller was in possession of the antique collar in 2012, when it was stolen from his house. The groundskeeper found a ladder propped against a second-story window, prompting speculation that the thief had a special affinity for the antique dog collars of deceased Airedale terriers, owned by dead U.S. presidents from north central Ohio. So, keep an eye out for a collar that reads “Laddie Boy,” in raised letters surrounded by hearts. That $1,000 could be yours, as well as an exclusive interview on WWGH-FM.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
It was this day in 2010 that Picasso’s electrician admitted he possessed 271 previously unknown works by the artist, describing these masterpieces as $67 million worth of “gifts.”
WORD OF THE DAY
Menorah – [muh-NOR-uh] – noun
Definition: A candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship
Example: I lit the menorah last night with plenty of excitement, hoping someone bought me the 2021 Hess truck.
WIT OF THE DAY
“You can tell Biden’s 79 because, when he blew out his candles, everyone started clapping and the lights went on and off.”
-Jimmy Fallon
BIDEN BLURB
“You can’t hide the variants. It’s not like someone could hide the fact that there’s a new variant with people getting sick more quickly.”
-Joe Biden
WEATHER IN A WORD
Cool