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AND BY POLITICO'S "NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK," A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM ♪ >>> STATE OF THE STATE WEEK FOR THE GOVERNOR, SWEARING IN DAY FOR THE LEGISLATURE, LOTS OF STUFF HAPPENING IN TRENTON THIS WEEK.

WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL, COLLEEN O'DAY, SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, MIKE KELLY, COLUMNIST FOR "THE RECORD" AND NO NO NORTHJERSEY.COM AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WITH US IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

BUT WE WANT TO START TODAY WITH THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH AND TRY TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM THERE WHAT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

OUR GUEST IS THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN SUMTER.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO "ROUNDTABLE."

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

THANK YOU.

>> I WONDER WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

>> SO, DAVID, THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH HAPPENED ON OUR SWEARING DAY, WHICH WAS MY SIXTH TERM, SO OF COURSE I HAD SOME EXCITEMENT JUST FROM THAT ALONE.

WE HAVE HAD A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR DID A GREAT JOB ON HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN REVIEW AS WELL AS LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TERM.

I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR COMPONENTS ABOUT THE WORK WE DID ON ACCESS TO VACCINATIONS, ACCESS TO TESTING, AND CONTINUING TO GROW IN THAT SPACE.

ALSO LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE BILLS WE'VE DONE TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE, TO BECOME FOURTH IN THE NATION FOR OUR ECONOMY WHERE WHEN I ENTERED THE LEGISLATURE IN 2012, UNDER A CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE IN THE BOTTOM TIER DURING A HISTORIC, HISTORIC DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY.

MAKING A FULL PENSION PAYMENT THIS YEAR.

EXCITING TIMES FOR WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF NEW JERSEY.

AS THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN IN THE KITCHEN TABLE CONVERSATIONS, ABOUT MAKING SURE WE KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSING, MAKING SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE WEALTH DISPARITIES GAP, WHICH WE HAVE STATISTICS ON THAT, AND REALLY DOUBLING DOWN IN THE SPACE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES CAN THRIVE IN JERSEY AS WELL AND WE'RE NOT LEFT BEHIND.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK AROUND TRENTON SINCE ELECTION DAY, ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THE SO-CALLED KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER, JUST AS YOU MENTIONED, COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION, MINIMUM WAGE, DAY CARE, WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE FUNDING, I MEAN, IF THAT'S NOT TABLE -- KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS.

BUT THEN IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT, AND WE SHOULD FOCUS ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AND AFFORDABILITY, AREN'T REALLY JUST SAYING, HEY, POLICE REFORMS, CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS, REPARATIONS, ET CETERA, THOSE ARE BACK BURNER ISSUES NOW.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> SO, WHAT I SAY TO THAT IS, THESE ISSUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREVALENT AND TOP OF MIND PRESENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING, AS CHAIR OF A CAUCUS THAT SPANS FROM CAPE MAY COUNTY ALL THE WAY TO HUDSON COUNTY, SO WE COVER NEW JERSEY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE IN POCKETS OF THE STATE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, WHICH I'M EXCITED, NEW JERSEY HAS A HISTORY STEEPED IN REDLINING AND OPPRESSIVE BEHAVIORS OVER POLICING AND WE HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT IT.

THE WORK DOESN'T STOP, NO MATTER WHAT YEAR IT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 400 YEARS AND COUNTING.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT MAKING GAINS AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO OWN PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT FROM AFFORDABLE LOANS FROM ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOODS OF THEIR CHOICE, FROM ACCESS TO SCHOOLS OF THEIR CHOICE, SO OUR WORK DOESN'T CHANGE AS A LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

IN FACT, WE'RE MORE INTENTIONAL AND DOGMATIC IN OUR APPROACH, TODAY MORE SO THAN EVER, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK TO GO FORWARD, AND IT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB TO RAISE THOSE ISSUES AT EVERY TABLE WE SIT AT.

>> THERE WAS SOME TENSION IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW SENATE PRESIDENT.

NIA GILL AND RON RICE, MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS, MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT GETS DISCUSSED IN THE CAUCUS BEFORE IT HAPPENS?

PUTTING NIA GILL UP AS A SENATE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE?

>> THEY FOLLOWED THEIR PROCESS ON BEING ABLE TO ELECT A MEMBER OF THEIR PEERS TO SERVE AS LEADERSHIP, SO THAT RIGHT IS BESTOWED UPON EVERY ONE OF US WHO'S ELECTED TO SELECT A LEADER OF OUR PEERS.

BUT JUST REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH SHE -- SENATOR GILL MAY NOT BE THE SENATE PRESIDENT, SENATOR SCUTARI IS, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE STILL WILL HAVE OUR VOICE HEARD AT THE TABLE.

WE WILL ELEVATE THE ISSUES OF PRIORITY, AND BY NO MEANS CAN YOU EVER SILENCE THE VOICES OF A RON RICE OR A SENATOR NIA GILL OR ANY MEMBER OF THE BLACK CAUCUS OR THE LEGISLATURE.

>> DOES GOVERNOR MURPHY HAVE A SPECIAL COMMITMENT TO BLACK VOTERS WHO, BY FAR, WERE THE MOST LOYAL DEMOCRATS FOR HIM AT ELECTION TIME, TWICE?

>> SO, DAVID, IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS BEEN SINCERE.

THE WORK THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DOING HAS BEEN SINCERE.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 2012.

PRIOR TO GOVERNOR MURPHY COMING INTO OFFICE.

SO, THE WORK THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, JUST UNDER A FOUR-YEAR TERM, TURNING OUR ECONOMY AROUND, FOCUSED ON BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH, WHERE THERE'S A THREE-TIME LOSS OF LIFE FOR A BLACK WOMAN DELIVERING A BABY VERSUS A NON-BLACK WOMAN IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS.

JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS.

PUTTING -- ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING MINIMUM WAGE THAT INCLUDED TIPPED WORKERS.

ALL THINGS I HAD ACTUALLY WORKED ON PRIOR TO THE GOVERNOR COMING INTO OFFICE, GOVERNOR MURPHY, BUT YET WE GOT DONE.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I SAY THIS OFTEN, THAT LEADERSHIP MATTERS.

HAVING A HEART FOR SERVICE MATTERS.

HAVING A SPEAKER, A SENATE PRESIDENT, AND A GOVERNOR WHO CARES ABOUT ALL OF NEW JERSEYANS BUT A SPECIAL CARE TO THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED BY OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMIC POLICIES ROOTED IN A HISTORY OF SLAVERY, ROOTED IN A HISTORY OF OPPRESSION ARE NOW OVERTURNED SO WE CAN THRIVE AND BE CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR GREAT STATE.

>> IS THERE ONE BILL THAT YOU COULD SAY IS A PRIORITY OF YOUR CAUCUS?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES FOR OUR CAUCUS GOING FORWARD.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

HOUSING SECURITY IS CRITICAL AND IT ALSO HELPS TO BUILD WEALTH.

THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD IS IMPORTANT TO US.

WE ARE WORKING HARD ON THAT BILL AND THE REPARATIONS TASK FORCE ARE THREE THAT I AM UPLIFTING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STUDY WITH THOUGHT LEADERS FROM ACROSS OUR STATE, NEW JERSEY'S HISTORY AND ROLE IN SLAVERY SO WE HAVE A DOCUMENT, ONE, TO DETAIL IN ONE PLACE WHAT NEW JERSEY'S ROLE HAS BEEN SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK BACK AND KNOW THAT STORY AND ALSO WE CAN REALLY BE PRESCRIPTIVE IN OUR POLICY ACTIONS TO RIGHT SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL HARMS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TODAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, ASSEMBLY MEMBER SHAVONDA SUMTER, THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

LET'S BRING OUR PANEL IN HERE.

COLLEEN O'DAY, MIKE KELLY, BRENT JOHNSON.

LET'S START WITH THE STATE OF THE STATE.

COLLEEN, DELIVERED IN FRONT OF AN EMPTY AUDITORIUM BECAUSE OF COVID.

HOW'D IT GO, DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THE SPEECH IN FRONT OF AN EMPTY AUDIENCE IS REALLY VERY HARD TO GAUGE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THAT APPLAUSE THAT'S KIND OF INTERRUPTING HIM.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE SAME KIND OF ENERGY LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, BUT CERTAINLY, THE GOVERNOR DELIVERED HIS SPEECH, YOU KNOW, WELL, I THINK.

>> HE DIDN'T FALL.

>> HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FOOTING FOR COVID.

YOU KNOW, IT HAD A DIFFERENT TONE.

I THINK IT WAS A FOUR-YEAR SPEECH RATHER THAN KIND OF A ONE-YEAR SPEECH, LOOKING BACK.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT I THINK WERE NOTABLY ABSENT.

TALKED A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY BUT NO MENTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR INSTANCE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S QUESTIONABLE HOW IT'S PLAYED WITH THE LEGISLATURE, GIVEN WE GOT, YOU KNOW, THIS REPUBLICAN -- REPUBLICANS TRENDING, I THINK, MORE CONSERVATIVE IN THE NEW LEGISLATURE.

>> BRENT, NOT A NEW INITIATIVE IN SIGHT.

OR DID I MISS SOMETHING?

>> NO.

NO, YOU DIDN'T.

IT WAS REALLY A SPEECH TO DO TWO THINGS, REALLY.

ONE WAS TO BRANDISH HIS PROGRESSIVE AGENDA AND CREDENTIALS, AND TWO WAS TO THROW IN SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT NEW FROM HIM WHICH IS TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES.

OBVIOUSLY, MURPHY GOT A REPUTATION OVER THE FIRST FOUR YEARS AS BEING THE GUY WHO RAISES TAXES, AND SOME WOULD SAY THAT THE LAST ELECTION SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WERE, IN PART, REBELLING AGAINST THAT.

SO, THE FACT THAT HE SPOKE SO MUCH ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND PROPERTY TAXES WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS MORE THAN HE USUALLY DOES, AND YOU HEAR THAT FROM LEGISLATORS TOO.

YOU HEAR CRAIG COUGHLIN AND OTHERS TALK ABOUT, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW BUT MURPHY HASN'T BACKED AWAY FROM THE PROGRESSIVE THINGS HE WANTED TO DO, LIKE MORE GUN REFORM, AND HE JUST SIGNED THE ABORTION BILL.

SO YEAH, I AGREE WITH COLLEEN, IT SEEMED LIKE A FOUR-YEAR SPEECH, VERY BROAD STROKE.

>> YEAH.

>> MIKE KELLY, YOU'VE SEEN A FEW STATE OF STATE SPEECHES.

ANYTHING COME AWAY WITH YOU FROM THAT?

>> IT WAS A COMPLETE SNOOZE.

AND DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK MURPHY'S DOING HERE IS HE'S JUST TRYING TO SAY, HEY, I'M A PROGRESSIVE, LOOK, I GOT SOME INTERESTING IDEAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE, BUT AS COLLEEN POINTS OUT, THERE'S NO GRAND INITIATIVE HERE.

THERE'S NO PLAN THAT HE IS PUSHING FORWARD THAT WILL GET PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THAT SAID, IN FAIRNESS TO MURPHY, HE'S GOT A MAJOR PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS, AND THAT IS THIS LINGERING AND CONTINUING COVID PROBLEM, AND THIS MIGHT CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED.

I MEAN, THIS GUY JUST GOT ELECTED TO HIS SECOND TERM.

YOU KNOW, WHY NOT GO OUT THERE AND REALLY TALK BIG AND INSPIRE PEOPLE?

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A SNOOZE.

IT'S TOO BAD.

I THINK HE'S PROBABLY TRYING TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL.

HE ALMOST GOT -- HE ALMOST GOT BEAT BY A NOBODY, YOU KNOW, IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, AND THERE WAS A BACKLASH FROM CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE IN THE STATE, NOT JUST REPUBLICANS, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, MODERATES AS WELL.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE WON A SECOND TERM, THAT HE WOULD COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING DRAMATIC, BUT MAYBE HE WAS JUST ON SLEEPY TIME.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> I WOULDN'T CALL JACK CIATTARELLI A NOBODY, BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT.

WAS THERE A HINT ANYWHERE, I MEAN, IN THAT SPEECH OR IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO OR COMING OUT OF IT AS TO WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION IN THE SECOND TERM?

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THERE OR BRENT, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS SECOND TERM IS GOING TO BRING THIS?

BRENT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, HE, AGAIN, THE ONLY REAL TWO THINGS THAT WERE NOT NEW BUT THAT WERE INDIVIDUAL WERE HIS -- HE WANTS TO PASS THIS GUN REFORM BILL THAT STEVE SWEENEY T FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT, STOPPED LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND HE WANTS TO MAKE HEALTHCARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE DETAILS ON THAT PLAN.

AND YOU KNOW, AND HE TALKED ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES BUT THERE WASN'T A GRAND VISION FOR PROPERTY TAXES.

NOW, IT WAS -- IT VERY MUCH FELT LIKE A -- THIS IS MY AGENDA, AGAIN, IN BROAD STROKES TERMS.

SO, YOU KNOW, MURPHY'S NEVER GOING TO BE AS BULLDOGISH AS CHRIS CHRISTIE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE A CHRIS CHRISTIE STATE OF THE STATE, HE WOULD COME OUT WITH, YOU KNOW, REALLY MEMORABLE LINES AND HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE ATTACK THE CAMERA.

YOU DON'T GET THAT FROM MURPHY.

YOU GET MORE DAD JOKES, YOU KNOW?

AND BROAD STROKES VISION.

>> YEAH.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS ALSO ENDED.

WHAT HAPPENED?

ANY NOTICEABLE BILLS MAKE IT THROUGH?

WHAT DIED FOR LACK OF SUPPORT, AND WHAT LIVED, COLLEEN?

>> YEAH, BOY, IT WAS A CRAZY DAY ON MONDAY.

LAME DUCK LAST DAYS ALWAYS ARE, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN, IN THE ASSEMBLY IN PARTICULAR, WHEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE PHONE CALLING IN, IT JUST MAKES EVERYTHING EVEN CRAZIER.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SAW SOME INTERESTING BILLS PASSING, CERTAINLY THEY PASSED THAT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM BILL, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY SHOULD REALLY CHEER ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE BASICALLY -- >> VERY STRIPPED DOWN.

>> VERY STRIPPED DOWN.

IT DOES WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND THERE WAS SO MUCH IN THAT BILL THAT HAD PROMISE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE -- THEY DID KEEP -- THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP, IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT, POLICE AWAY FROM DROPBOXES AND POLLING LOCATIONS.

THAT WAS A BIG PROGRESSIVE CAUSE THAT DID GET PASSED, BUT AS BRENT NOTED, THE GUN LEGISLATION DIDN'T.

SO, IT WAS KIND OF A MIXED BAG, I THINK, ON THE LAST DAY.

>> THE WEEK WAS ALSO MARKED BY THE ASCENSION OF NEW LEADERS AND THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF SOME BIG NAMES, MOST NOTABLY PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY, WHO LEAVES HIS SEAT AFTER A DOZEN YEARS AS, I GUESS, THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE.

HE WAS OUR GUEST ON "CHAT BOX" THIS WEEK, AND HE WAS VERY STEVE SWEENEY.

LET'S TAKE A SAMPLE OF THAT AND COME BACK.

>> WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE, WE HAD OUR HONEST DISAGREEMENTS, AND WE MOVED ON.

WE NEVER MADE THEM PERSONAL.

FIRST TWO -- THE FIRST TWO YEARS WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY, I WAS THE MOST VETOED LEGISLATOR IN THE STATE.

ON BILLS THAT WERE UNANIMOUS.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND OH, BY THE WAY, I'M THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST VETOED LEGISLATOR IN THE STATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT BEYOND THAT.

DAVID, WE GOT BEYOND THAT, AND WE GOT A LOT OF -- I AGREE WITH WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID.

WE GOT A LOT DONE.

>> AND BY THE WAY, I'M THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

MIKE, LOTS OF BIG BILLS MADE IT THROUGH THAT SWEENEY SENATE.

I MEAN, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, PAID SICK LEAVE, MINIMUM WAGE, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE SWEENEY IN THE HISTORY BOOKS?

>> MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER STEVE SWEENEY, UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT WHO WAS DEFEATED BY -- I HATE TO USE THE WORD AGAIN -- A NOBODY.

AND HE WASN'T WATCHING HIS HOME TURF, AND CONSEQUENTLY GOT DEFEATED IN AN ELECTION.

I MEAN -- >> WILL THEY FORGET EVERYTHING THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE POLITICAL CLASS THAT'S GOING TO REMEMBER THAT.

AVERAGE CITIZENS IN THE STATE ARE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER THIS.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, DAVID, THIS WAS A GUY WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT CHALLENGING MURPHY IN THE PRIMARY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR -- TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

SO, THIS WAS A GUY WHO HAD SOME SERIOUS DREAMS ABOUT HIS FUTURE, AND TO WATCH HIM GO DOWN LIKE THIS -- I MEAN, I LIKE THE GUY.

I THINK HE'S REALLY GOT A GOOD FEEL FOR, I THINK, THE COMMON MAN AND COMMON WOMAN, AND I'M SORRY TO SEE HIM GO, BUT THIS IS ONCE AGAIN AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WEIRD OUR POLITICS HAS BECOME, TO SEE A GUY LIKE THIS DEFEATED, AGAIN, BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS REALLY KIND OF A BASIC ROOKIE IN POLITICS.

>> BRENT, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE ARC OF THE SWEENEY PRESIDENCY?

>> I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, I'M ONLY 38, SO I WASN'T HERE FOR THE LENGTH OF NEW JERSEY BEING A STATE, BUT IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE SHOCKING LOSS THAN HIM GOING OUT LIKE THAT.

THAT SAID, I MEAN, HE INSISTS -- HE SWEARS HE'S NOT DONE AND THAT YOU'RE GOING SEE HIM, WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IN TWO YEARS, TRYING TO TAKE HIS SEAT BACK, IN FOUR YEARS, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, IT'S NOT A SECRET IN TRENTON THAT STEVE SWEENEY WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND PROBABLY WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER HE'LL HAVE A SHOT AT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

WE'VE SEEN VETERAN LAWMAKERS LEAVE THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE, BUT SEEING HIM AND WEINBERG AND TOM KEAN JR. AND KIP BATEMAN, IT JUST FELT LIKE A SEA CHANGE, AND THEN YOU SAW ALL THESE REALLY NEW FACES AND THESE NEW LEADERS, AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAD ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MUSLIM WOMEN JOINING THE LEGISLATURE AND SEVEN NEW REPUBLICANS, SEVEN REPUBLICANS WHO FLIPPED SEATS.

IT FELT LIKE, EVEN THOUGH DEMOCRATS STILL CONTROL THINGS, IT'S IN LESSER NUMBERS, LOWER NUMBERS, AND IT FEELS LIKE A NEW LOOK LEGISLATURE IN SOME RESPECTS.

>> COLLEEN, ANYTHING GOING TO BE DIFFERENT UNDER SCUTARI?

>> I MEAN, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE A FRIENDLIER, IN SOME WAYS, OR MAYBE IN MANY WAYS, SENATE PRESIDENT-GOVERNOR RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK THAT SENATOR SCUTARI IS, YOU KNOW, IN MANY WAYS, A DIFFERENT PERSON FROM STEVE SWEENEY.

HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T COME IN WITH ANY KIND OF -- THERE'S NO GRUDGE THERE, YOU KNOW, SWEENEY DID WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2017 WHEN MURPHY LOCKED DOWN ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND ESSENTIALLY BOXED HIM OUT.

SO, THERE'S ALSO NOW THIS SHIFT TO NORTH JERSEY.

I DON'T THINK YOU'VE GOT THAT -- ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THAT SOUTH JERSEY, GEORGE NORCROSS, STEVE SWEENEY GROUP, SO I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE THINGS -- I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT WILL NECESSARILY GET DONE.

FOR INSTANCE, THE GUN LEGISLATION, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE STILL GOT A DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LOSSES OF LAST YEAR, IS KIND OF TENTATIVE ABOUT PUSHING THINGS.

YOU SAW THAT WITH THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE TENSIONS WILL BE MUCH LESS THAN WE SAW, PARTICULARLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION.

>> MEANWHILE, REPUBLICANS, THEY FLIPPED SOME SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEY FEEL AND THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE RESURGENT.

IS THAT SO, BRENT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

AGAIN, DEMOCRATS STILL CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH REPUBLICANS ARE MAJORLY RESURGENT, BUT YEAH, THERE'S A NEW VIGOR AMONG THE REPUBLICANS.

>> THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.

>> YEAH, FOR EIGHT YEARS WAS REALLY THE PARTY OF CHRIS CHRISTIE AND CHRIS CHRISTIE ALONE IN SOME RESPECTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THIS FEELS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING NEW BREWING HERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH EFFECT IT WILL HAVE BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WILL STILL CONTROL WHAT BILLS GET POSTED AND LARGELY WHAT BILLS GET PASSED BUT YEAH, THERE IS A DIFFERENT FEELING AMONG REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.

>> MIKE, IS THAT -- IS IT TRUMP THAT HAS REPUBLICANS PUFFING OUT THEIR CHEST, OR IS IT JACK CIATTARELLI?

>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION, DAVID.

I MEAN, I THINK TRUMP HAS HAD SOME IMPACT, BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT CIATTARELLI FOUND HIS VOICE ABOUT MIDWAY INTO THE CAMPAIGN AND OBVIOUSLY HAD AN EFFECT.

AND WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, I THINK, WAS THE -- THOSE OLD-FASHIONED KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, AND THESE ISSUES SEEM TO RESONATE IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND THESE -- THIS GOES BACK 30 YEARS OR SO, WHEN CANDIDATES TALKED ABOUT BASIC -- WHEN WE SAY KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ABILITY OF FAMILIES TO PAY FOR CERTAIN THINGS, WHETHER IT BE COLLEGE EDUCATION OR TAXES OR THAT SORT OF THING, YOU KNOW, REALLY BASIC STUFF THAT FAMILIES CARE ABOUT, WHETHER THEY'RE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS OR BLUE OR RED OR GOD KNOWS WHAT, AND I THINK CIATTARELLI WAS ABLE TO FOCUS IN ON THAT AND CONSEQUENTLY ALMOST PULLED OFF A MAJOR, MAJOR UPSET.

SADLY, I THINK MURPHY, WITH HIS PROGRESSIVE TIES, IS KIND OF BLIND TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

MAYBE HE'S GOING TO WAKE UP.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT HE WILL.

BUT I DO THINK THE DEMOCRATS REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEMSELVES.

IMAGINE IF A GUY LIKE STEVE SWEENEY EMERGES AS A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, TALKING IN THAT SAME VOICE AS JACK CIATTARELLI.

I THINK HE COULD GO PLACES, I REALLY DO, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEMOCRATS -- >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

LET ME MOVE ON, MIKE.

I WANT TO GET IN SOME TALK ABOUT THE COVID FIGHT HERE.

BRENT, YOU HAD A PIECE THIS WEEK ON SIGNS THAT OMICRON MAY HAVE PEAKED OR BEGUN TO PEAK?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> YEAH, WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING, TODAY WAS THE -- WAS BACK-TO-BACK HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE DROPPED FOR BACK-TO-BACK DAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A MONTH.

AND CASES ARE STARTING TO LEVEL OFF.

THE TALK IS THAT OMICRON WAS GOING TO SHOOT UP LIKE AN ARROW AND COME DOWN LIKE A BOBSLED AND MAYBE THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THIS.

MURPHY SHOWED -- SAID YESTERDAY THAT HE IS HOPEFUL THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PLATEAU AND THE DROP.

SO, I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANOTHER VARIANT WON'T COME LOOK IN A FEW WEEKS AND SCARE THE HELL OUT OF ALL OF US, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE BEGINNING OF PROMISE.

>> ALL RIGHT, BUDGET SEASON FAST APPROACHING.

COLLEEN, YOU HAD AN INTERESTING PIECE THIS WEEK ON HOW SOME ITEMS MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET AND WHO'S BENEFITTING AND FROM WHERE.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO THESE THINGS KNOWN AS BUDGET RESOLUTIONS, AND WE LOOKED FOR FIVE YEARS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE PROCESS EVERY YEAR.

IT WAS $1.18 BILLION WORTH OF THESE THINGS OVER 5 YEARS, SO IT'S MORE THAN $200 MILLION EVERY YEAR.

THEY GO TO 95% GO TO DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS.

THERE WERE EIGHT REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS THAT GOT ZERO, NO MONEY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

YOU KNOW, THIS GOES FOR THINGS RANGING FROM YOUR LOCAL PARK OR YOUR YMCA TO $24 MILLION TO JERSEY CITY FOR THIS NEW ART MUSEUM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY YEAR COMES UP AND WE JUST THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO THROW OUT THERE THAT THIS IS REAL MONEY.

THIS COMES OUT TO REAL MONEY.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, INTERESTING READING.

THAT IS "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

COLLEEN, MIKE, BRENT, THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.

THANKS ALSO TO SHAVONDA SUMTER.

BE SURE TO JOIN US TUESDAY AT 11:00 A.M.

WHEN WE BRING YOU LIVE COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY'S INAUGURAL FROM THE TRENTON WAR MEMORIAL.

FOR THIS SPEECH, I'M TOLD THERE WILL BE AN AUDIENCE.

I'LL BE ANCHORING COVERAGE, AND WE'LL HAVE COLLEEN O'DAY, MICHAEL AARON, AND OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US.

THAT'S TUESDAY MORNING, 11:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS AND ALL OF OUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE STUFF LIKE NJ "BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI AND LIVE STREAMS OF OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

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