The Jaffe Briefing - March 9, 2022

TRENTON – Well, there you have it. New Jersey has another proposed state budget, to the tune of $48.9 billion – about $2.5 billion over the current year. As Gov. Phil Murphy outlined his big spending plan yesterday, it was clear that fiscal ’23 is not typical, as the state remains oddly flush with cash. There will be no new taxes or fees, which is downright amazing, full contributions to the state’s pension system for the second consecutive year, which is incredible, and even a small bit of property tax relief to families falling under income guidelines, a nice “wow.” Of course, with a surge in tax revenue and billions in federal pandemic aid, there’s lots that can be done here. The big question – as state lawmakers begin analyzing individual line items – is where the cash should go. Overall, with all the extra money, it looks to be a happy budget season – a nice prelude to next year’s election season, when all 120 seats in the state Legislature are up for grabs.

TRENTON – Billions and billions, and where do they go? While the proposed spending plan is filled with fixed costs, like wages, salaries, contracts, rents, debt service, etc., Murphy has some glorious wiggle room when it comes to all this federal aid the state will be receiving, as well as a $4.6 billion anticipated surplus, Politico notes. New Jersey still has about $3 billion remaining from last year’s federal pandemic relief package, while many more billions will be reaching our shores to fund infrastructure projects. So far, when it comes to relief aid, the governor is just saying it should go to “short-term recovery and long-term restart efforts,” which doesn’t say much. It will be up to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee to approve whatever he suggests and hopefully ensure this rare opportunity is not squandered on silly stuff.

TRENTON – And how about this? Murphy is suggesting a “fee-free holiday,” a $60 million plan in which New Jerseyans would see fees waived on driver’s license renewals, marriage licenses, licenses for certain health care professionals and tourists enjoying state parks, NJ.com reports. “It seems to be good advice to jump in a car, drive to a state park, and marry a health care professional,” Murphy joked, during his speech. This special give-back is projected to affect 2.2 million people, including 1.75 million drivers who are just used to paying for everything, again and again, in every way imaginable.

BRIEFING BREATHER

To prevent themselves from drifting apart, sea otters hold hands while they sleep.

TRENTON – Of course, the raucous applause in the Statehouse yesterday did not include Republicans, who seemed completely mystified as to how $4.6 billion in surplus and $6 billion in federal aid does not include a plan to replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance fund. The state’s key employers, like small business owners, have been socked with extra contributions to make up for the many pandemic months when the fund was depleted. The GOP has its own proposal, called “Give it Back,” that would spread $3 billion to four million taxpayers through tax credits. Yet, at the same time, Republicans are also blasting the Democrats for spending more money than the state is taking in, a bit of a mixed message there.

TRENTON – A big focus of the proposed budget is always about school funding. Murphy is planning to increase the amount by $650 million, bringing the total state aid package to $19.2 billion for grades pre-K to 12. That amount includes, for some crazy reason, an additional $68 million for preschool education aid, using public money to provide child care to many families who can easily afford it on their own. The total school budget far exceeds what previous administrations spent on schools, Politico reports, but still somehow leaves a gap of about $850 million that the state owes school districts. This seems to be a good budget year for the state to cover the whole nut, right?

IN OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – An important message from local emergency response workers to one NYC man: please stop hiking. The city slicker needed to be rescued twice on two consecutive days while traversing northern Arizona mountains. The 28-year-old Brooklyn man first called 911 last Wednesday, lost while hiking on Humphreys Trail. Then, at 5 p.m. the next day, he was back at it, calling 911 after falling and injuring himself. Now, suddenly, he is a spokesman for safe hiking. “Warning: Unless you are an experienced alpine mountaineer, DO NOT attempt Humphreys Peak in the winter. There is so much snow and the wind is absolutely brutal,” he posted online. No comment from the local emergency workers, just praying he chooses to hike the Brooklyn Bridge.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

It was this day in 1946 that Ted Williams was offered $500,000 to play ball in Mexico. He refused.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cyanotic – [sī-ə-ˈnä-tik] – adjective

Definition: Marked by or causing a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of the skin and mucous membranes) because of deficient oxygenation of the blood

Example: Hmm. I’m noticing my foot is becoming dangerously cyanotic.

WIT OF THE DAY

“We live by the Golden Rule. Those who have the gold make the rules.”

-Buzzie Bavasi

BIDEN BLURB

“In my administration, the watchdogs have been welcomed back. We’re going after the criminals who stole billions in relief money meant for small businesses and millions of Americans.”

-Joe Biden

WEATHER IN A WORD

Slush