>> 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.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWEN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE," THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S "NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK," A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM ♪♪ >>> THE COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF FEDERAL PROTECTION FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS HAS BEGUN.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR NEW JERSEY AND THE COUNTRY?

THIS IS "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WE ARE JOINED BY SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOURNALISTIC VOICES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THIS WAKE, KATHERINE LANDERGAN, DUSTIN, STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR THE RECORD AND USA NETWORK, AND FRED SNOWFLACK, COLUMNIST FOR INSIDER NJ.

THE PANEL'S GOING TO JOIN US IN A BIT BUT LET'S START TODAY WITH A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT IS EXPECTED.

WE'RE JOINED BY THE CO-DEAN OF RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL, HER FOCUS IS ON REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE BIOETHICS AND FAMILY AND HEALTH LAW.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK KIMBERLY.

PROFESSOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> SO, A LEAK FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF A REALLY HISTORIC DOCUMENT FORETELLING OF A SEISMIC CULTURAL CHANGE.

HOW RARE IS IT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE LEAKED, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN?

>> OH, IT'S EXTREMELY RARE FOR OPINIONS TO GET OUT.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THEY GET DRAFTED, THEY GET CIRCULATED AMONG THE JUSTICES, THEY'RE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE HORSE TRADING OF WHO'S GOING TO VOTE AND FOR WHAT, BUT FOR IT TO BE RELEASED INTO THE PUBLIC SPHERE AT THIS STAGE IS REALLY UNPRECEDENTED.

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY?

DOES IT INDICATE HOW POLITICS HAVE REALLY INFILTRATED THE COURT AT THIS TIME?

AND DOES IT AFFECT THE COURT'S CREDIBILITY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AFFECTS THE COURT'S CREDIBILITY SO MUCH AS WHAT THE COURT HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AFFECTS ITS CREDIBILITY.

YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY SUGGESTS, I THINK, THAT THE LEVEL OF POLITICS WITHIN THE CHAMBER IS SORT OF HIGHER THAN WE WOULD NORMALLY TALK ABOUT, RIGHT?

IT'S SORT OF BEEN, YOU KNOW, TYPICAL THAT THE JUSTICES WILL TALK ABOUT BEING -- WE'RE FRIENDLY, WE'RE COLLEGIAL, WE MAY NOT AGREE ON THE ISSUES, BUT WE'RE ALL SORT OF FRIENDS HERE.

THIS SORT OF SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE THAT NARRATIVE IS FALLING APART A LITTLE BIT.

>> HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN?

I MEAN, WHO HAS ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS LIKE THIS?

I MEAN, IT REALLY KIND OF, FOR ME ANYWAY, GIVES A KIND OF A PEEK INTO THE SYSTEM OVER THERE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THE JUSTICES HAVE ACCESS TO THE OPINIONS IN THEIR DRAFT FORMS, AND THEN ALL OF THEIR CLERKS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE OPINIONS AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON THEM.

I THINK WHAT'S HARD IN THIS SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES IS WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE MOTIVATION WAS FOR THE PERSON WHO DID DECIDE TO LEAK IT.

SO, IT'S HARD TO REALLY SPECULATE ABOUT WHO IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AND WHAT PURPOSE THERE MIGHT BE IN HAVING RELEASED IT IN THIS WAY.

>> AND SO WHAT ACTUALLY WAS IT?

IT WAS A DRAFT OF AN OPINION?

WHO WROTE IT?

>> IT WAS A DRAFT OF A MAJORITY OPINION WRITTEN BY JUSTICE ALITO, AND IN MANY WAYS, IT SAID WHAT A LOT OF US EXPECTED IT TO SAY, WHICH IS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN OR WILL TAKE, RIGHT, THE FINAL OPINION WILL PROBABLY COME OUT IN JUNE, THEY'RE TAKING THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT STEP OF NOT JUST CONTINUING TO ROLL BACK ROE VS. WADE, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY, REALLY, SINCE 1992 IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD VS. CASEY, BUT TO EXPLICITLY OVERRULE ROE AND OVERRULE CASEY, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A FEDERALLY PROTECTED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE OPINION, DRAFT AS IT MAY BE, THAT YOU READ THAT SAYS ANYTHING TO YOU ABOUT HOW THE COURT CAME TO THIS DECISION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YEAH, YOU COULD REALLY READ THE OPINION AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM, BUT FRANKLY, I COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS OPINION, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IT SAYS EXACTLY WHAT SOME OF THESE JUSTICES HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND YOU KNOW, PUT ASIDE WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS IN THEIR CONFIRMATION HEARING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SUPER PRECEDENT AND SETTLED LAW AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS EXACTLY WHAT WE EXPECTED, RIGHT?

AN ASSERTION THAT ROE WAS WRONGLY DECIDED IN 1973, AN ASSERTION THAT THE COURT, WHEN IT LOOKED AT ROE AGAIN IN CASEY SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, ENGAGED IN VERY WEAK LEGAL ANALYSIS, AN ASSERTION THAT, YOU KNOW, ABORTION DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND SO WE SHOULD BE SUSPICIOUS OF THE IDEA THAT IT COULD BE PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION IF IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ENUMERATED THERE, AND THEN A SORT OF LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE CALL FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, RIGHT, THESE RIGHTS THAT WE THINK OF IN THIS COUNTRY, AT LEAST, AS BEING SO NECESSARY AND SO FOUNDATIONAL THAT WE REALLY PROTECT THEM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AND WHAT JUST ALITO SAYS IN HIS OPINION IS THAT ABORTION CAN'T BE SUCH A RIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A PROTECTED RIGHT IN OUR HISTORY.

AND I'LL PUT ASIDE ALL THE CRITIQUES OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD, THE WAY THAT IT'S ARTICULATED BY JUSTICE ALITO, BUT I'LL ALSO JUST SAY, RIGHT, IF THE RULE IS THAT WE CAN ONLY HAVE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS THAT ARE ROOTED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND TRADITIONS, WELL, FRANKLY, THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE LEFT A LOT OF US OUT IN THE COLD.

AND SO, THAT'S A REALLY PROBLEMATIC STANDARD TO USE GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY BLACK PEOPLE, WOMEN, IMMIGRANTS, THE WHOLE SWATH OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN NECESSARILY TREATED EQUALLY IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> YEAH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO JERSEY.

KATHERINE, JUMP IN HERE.

YOU HAD A QUESTION.

>> HI, YES, I HAD A QUESTION DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE WILL DO, IF ANYTHING?

WE SAW A LAW THAT WAS SIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WILL TAKE IT ANY FURTHER, OR IS THERE NOT THE SUPPORT FOR THAT?

THANKS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THEY WILL TAKE IT FURTHER.

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT ANY STATE THAT SORT OF BORDERS STATES THAT ARE LIKELY TO BECOME EITHER STATES WHERE THERE'S A COMPLETE BAN ON ABORTION OR STATES WHERE ACCESS TO ABORTION IS SEVERALLY RESTRICTED, IF YOU ARE NEIGHBORING SUCH A STATE, WE CAN EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE AN INFLUX OF WOMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS INTO NEW JERSEY.

SO, ONE THING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, AS A STATE, IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE CAPACITY WE HAVE AND PROBABLY EXPAND THAT CAPACITY FOR THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO END UP IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ABORTIONS, SAY, IN PENNSYLVANIA.

SO, THAT'S ONE THING.

THE SECOND THING IS, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY SIDE OF THIS EQUATION IS TAKEN CARE OF, SO YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT POOR WOMEN HAVE ACCESS, ENSURE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE COVERING ABORTION SERVICES.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CRITICAL.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- AND ONE OTHER THING, WHICH IS POSSIBLE, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT CONNECTICUT IS DOING NOW, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHO MIGHT CROSS BORDERS TO GET ABORTIONS, SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF MISSISSIPPI STARTED TRYING TO COLLECT THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE STATE IN ORDER TO GET ABORTION SERVICES, NEW JERSEY, FOR INSTANCE, MIGHT PASS LEGISLATION THAT SAYS, YOU CANNOT RELEASE THOSE NAMES BACK TO A STATE WHERE THEY WANT THAT INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN PUNISH PEOPLE.

FOR GOING ELSEWHERE TO GET ABORTIONS THAT THEY COULD NOT GET AT HOME.

>> YOU MENTIONED MISSISSIPPI.

AND THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A STATE WHERE THE POVERTY RATE IS OVER 20% THERE, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WOMEN OF MEANS BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COURT DOES, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY FOR POOR FAMILIES AND MOSTLY HEADED BY SINGLE WOMEN.

I MEAN, THAT IS REALLY WHERE, YOU KNOW, DARK DAYS COULD BE AHEAD, NO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND LET ME JUST BE CLEAR THAT FOR MANY PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY, ROE VS. WADE HAS BEEN PARED BACK SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD VERY LITTLE ACCESS TO ABORTION SERVICES.

MISSISSIPPI HAS A SINGLE CLINIC THAT PROVIDES ABORTIONS TO THE ENTIRE STATE.

SO, YES, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A WORLD IN WHICH ACCESS TO ABORTION, WHICH IS A -- A CENTRAL PART OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, IS AVAILABLE TO YOU BASED ON GEOGRAPHY, BASED ON RACE, BASED ON CLASS AND POTENTIALLY BASED ON AGE.

AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT RIGHTS SHOULD BE DOLED OUT, RIGHT?

IT SHOULDN'T BE A FUNCTION OF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, THEN THE RIGHT DOESN'T EXIST FOR YOU.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO ADD, DAVID, IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT A STATE LIKE MISSISSIPPI WITH ITS VERY HIGH RATE OF POVERTY, MISSISSIPPI ALSO HAS A REALLY HIGH RATE OF MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, AND SO THERE'S SOMETHING DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC ABOUT A STATE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT HOW TO KEEP PREGNANT WOMEN ALIVE BUT THAT IS ALSO REALLY INTERESTED IN FORCING PEOPLE TO STAY PREGNANT WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO BE.

>> I WANT TO END, IF I CAN, ON A POSITIVE NOTE, BUT I AM TERRIBLE AT THAT, SO YOU HAVE TO HELP ME, PROFESSOR.

WHAT CAN FAMILIES OR ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL TAKE AWAY FROM THE NEWS THIS WEEK?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THE NEWS THIS WEEK IS, PAY ATTENTION.

THIS HAS BEEN A CAMPAIGN MANY, MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING, AND THERE WERE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WERE SOUNDING ALARMS WHO WERE IGNORED OR TOLD, AS WOMEN OFTEN ARE, THAT WE WERE BEING HYSTERICAL, AND YET HERE WE SIT ON THE EDGE OF ROE VS. WADE BEING OVERRULED.

BY THE SUPREME COURT.

SO, THE IMPORTANCE OF PAYING ATTENTION AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING HOW INTERTWINED SO MANY OF OUR RIGHTS ARE.

SO THE SAME SORT OF BROAD RIGHT TO PRIVACY THAT PROTECTS ABORTION ALSO PROTECTS OUR ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION.

IT PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO GET MARRIED.

IT PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS.

FOR OUR CHILDREN.

SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY TAKING SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING THE COUNTRY THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN AND THAT WE ARE LEAVING TO OUR CHILDREN A COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE MORE RIGHTS, IF ANYTHING, THAN WE DO AS OPPOSED TO FEWER.

>> ALL RIGHT, KIMBERLY MUTCHERSON, CO-DEAN OF RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL, PROFESSOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALWAYS.

WE'LL TALK SOON.

>> TAKE CARE, DAVID.

>> KATHERINE, DUSTIN, FRED, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

IT'S LIKE A BOMB ON THE BODY POLITIC, NO?

THE MIDTERMS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT ECONOMIC STRESS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT IS THERE ANY DOUBT THAT ROE V. WADE EXPECT SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE IN EVERY POLITICAL AD THIS FALL?

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A FACTOR.

AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, WE WERE REALLY SEEING ISSUES LIKE INFLATION AND GAS PRICES, YOU KNOW, BEING THE CORE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IN THESE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, WHICH YOU DID A REALLY GOOD STORY ON, AND I THINK THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY FALL INTO THE EQUATION.

DEMOCRATS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET VERY ENERGIZED OVER THIS.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN DEMOCRATS FUND-RAISING OVER THE NEWS OF THIS ISSUE, AND SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT WILL LIKELY BE A FACTOR.

THE NEWS COMING OUT A LITTLE BIT SOONER, DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I DON'T REALLY KNOW.

BUT YEAH, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

>> INTERESTING.

FRED, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT, I MEAN, KATHERINE, THANK YOU, REFERRED TO A STORY I DID ON IT THIS WEEK.

THE CDE 7 PRIMARY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS REALLY GOING TO GET A LITTLE TIGHTER, NO?

>> YES, I THINK IT IS, BECAUSE LIKE TOM KEAN IS PORTRAYED, AT LEAST BY HIS OPPONENTS, AS BEING PRO-CHOICE.

I MEAN, THERE'S NUANCES THERE, I DON'T KNOW HOW PRO-CHOICE HE REALLY IS, BUT I DON'T THINK TOM KEAN IS ANYTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE HE HAS THREE OR FOUR OPPONENTS AND THEY'LL JUST SPLIT THE VOTE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING WHEN WE GET TO NOVEMBER.

I MEAN, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO CAMPAIGN ON THIS.

I THINK KATHERINE MENTIONED IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF THE NEWS CAME OUT A LITTLE EARLY, BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT THE NEWS IS GOING TO, IN A WAY, COME OUT AGAIN WHEN THE SUPREME COURT ACTUALLY MAKES ITS DECISION IN, LIKE, LATE JUNE, EARLY JULY, SO THAT WILL PUSH IT CLOSER TO THE MIDTERMS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK FEELINGS ON ABORTION ARE PRETTY STEADY.

PEOPLE DON'T CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO DO IS AT LEAST ENCOURAGE EXCITEMENT IN A SENSE, MAKE SURE PEOPLE VOTE, AND I THINK THIS COULD HELP THEM REV UP THEIR BASE, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A CLICHE, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE.

>> WILL IT GALVANIZE DEMOCRATS, DO YOU THINK, ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

I MEAN, IS IT -- WERE WE EXPECTING DEMOCRATS TO BE ON THE DEFENSIVE ON THE ECONOMY AND SO ON, BUT NOW MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE ON THIS PARTICULAR CULTURAL ISSUE?

>> OH, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT DEFINITELY WILL.

I MEAN, IT'S DEBATABLE HOW SIGNIFICANT IT WILL BE.

I MEAN, AS IT SAYS, IT COULD GALVANIZE DEMOCRATS IN MISSISSIPPI BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, IF IT GALVANIZES DEMOCRATS IN SWING DISTRICTS LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE IN NEW JERSEY, CD 7, CERTAIN EXTENT CD-11 AND IN OTHER SIMILAR STATES, YEAH, I THINK IT DEFINITELY COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> DUSTIN, REPUBLICANS IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY LIBERAL ON ABORTION RIGHTS.

YOU GOT PEOPLE LIKE HOLLY, JACK CIATTARELLI, WHO ARE OPENLY PRO-CHOICE BUT COULD IT BE A PIVOT IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS, HOW CONSERVATIVE THEY MAY HAVE BECOME?

WE KEEP WONDERING.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, MAYBE THIS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER ELEMENT IN THE LARGER FRACTURING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVES WHERE JACK PROBABLY FALLS UNDER THAT AND THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MINORITIES.

I TAKE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OF A VIEW ABOUT ITS IMPACT IN NEW JERSEY AND ELECTIONS.

I THINK BY THE TIME THE ELECTION COMES AROUND IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL BE FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, WHATEVER IT IS, INTO ROE BEING ROLLED BACK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND IF WE'RE STILL PAYING $4.5 OR CLOSE TO IT A GALLON FOR GAS AND $5 A GALLON FOR MILK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE PEOPLE PRIMARILY TO THE POLLS AND THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, THE DECIDING ISSUES IN NOVEMBER.

BUT SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

WE MAY BE IN A RECESSION.

WE MAY BE TURNING THE CORNER.

WHO KNOWS?

>> YEAH.

GOOD POINT.

THE GOVERNOR WAS OUT LOUDLY PROCLAIMING HIS SUPPORT FOR ABORTION RIGHTS, WHICH YOU WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT.

HERE HE IS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI THIS WEEK.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> IF WOMEN COME FROM OUT OF STATE TO NEW JERSEY, BASED ON THIS AWFUL, AWFUL STEP THAT THE SUPREME COURT APPEARS TO BE READY TO TAKE, THEY ARE WELCOME IN NEW JERSEY.

FULL STOP.

>> KATHERINE, THAT SOUNDS POSITIVE, BUT AS DR. MUCHERSON MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS TO THE STATE'S HEALTH SYSTEM, NO?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT REALLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN AT THIS POINT.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S, AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN IMPORTANT TALKING POINT FOR THE GOVERNOR, AND I THINK I'LL BE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH OF THAT MOVEMENT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID IN THAT INTERVIEW THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING IS, YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO KIND OF GO A STEP FURTHER.

HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET INSURANCE TO COVER ABORTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO GET DONE.

>> DUSTIN, YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CAPACITY, OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION SERVICES.

DO YOU HAVE MAYBE NOT AS MUCH FAITH IN OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE THAT?

>> A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, LINDY WASH BURN, JUST WROTE ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAKING PILGRIMAGES TO NEW JERSEY FOR ABORTIONS, AND THE LAST YEAR OF DATA, THERE WAS 1,300 OUT-OF-STATE ABORTIONS ACCORDING TO HER STORY AND THAT'S EXPECTED TO GROW BY HOW MUCH?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

IF YOU'RE COMING UP TO NEW JERSEY, YOU'RE COMING UP INTO THE NORTHEAST, SO IF WE'RE MAXED OUT OR YOU CAN'T GET THAT SERVICE HERE, YOU CAN GO TO NEW YORK OR CONNECTICUT, SO YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPTIONS ONCE YOU GET TO THIS TERRITORY.

BUT I SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN HANDLE AND TO KATHERINE'S POINT, EXPANDING ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY IS A PRIORITY FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY, BUT IT'S ALSO A MAJOR CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT LAST YEAR SUDDENLY WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF DOING IT THIS YEAR AFTER THEY GOT WHIPPED AT THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER.

SO, THAT'S WHERE THE CHALLENGE LIES, I THINK, FOR MURPHY TO TRY TO EXPAND ACCESS AND COVERAGE BUT THEN ALSO INCREASING THE CAPACITY IN CASE WE DO SEE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTIONS.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO THIS ISSUE AGAIN.

LET'S MOVE ON RIGHT NOW TO OTHER NEWS.

FRED, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU COVER SOME OF THE MORE LOCAL POLITICS.

THERE ARE A FEW MUNICIPAL RACES THAT ARE SHAPING UP TO BE INTERESTING COMING UP THIS WEEK.

WHAT LOCAL RACES ARE YOU WATCHER?

>> PATERSON IS AN INTERESTING RACE.

THE MAYOR HAS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR OPPONENTS.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL NEW JERSEY STORY.

SOME MAY RECALL THAT PREVIOUS MAYOR JOSE TORRES HAS A CRIMINAL CONVICTION ON HIS RECORD, WHICH PROHIBITS HIM FROM RUNNING, BUT HE APPARENTLY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

HE TRIED TO FILE HIS PETITION, AND HE TRIED TO RUN ANYWAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE COURT SAID HE COULDN'T RUN, SO THAT MAKES AN INTERESTING SIDELINE TO THE RACE.

BUT ANDRE HAS THREE OR FOUR OPPONENTS AND THERE'S NO RUNOFF IN PATERSON, SO HE'S IN A GOOD POSITION TO WIN SINCE YOU HAVE ONE GUY WHO'S THE MAYOR, GOT THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE SORT OF LIKE CHALLENGING HIM, SO THE OPPOSITION VOTE IS GOING TO BE SPLIT.

>> WHERE ELSE ARE YOU WATCHING?

>> HUDSON COUNTY IS ALWAYS FUN, AND THE MAYOR THERE, JIMMY DAVIS, IS SORT OF LIKE HE'S BEING CHALLENGED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING RACE BECAUSE HUDSON COUNTY POLITICS IS DIFFERENT AND THERE'S SO MANY ALLIANCES LIKE YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO LIVE IN BAYONE AND BE INVOLVED IN BAYONE POLITICS TO UNDERSTAND ALL THE ALLIANCES, BUT FROM WHAT I READ, FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND FROM WHAT I SEE, HE HAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING AND THEN THERE'S A RUNOFF THERE SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN, YOU HAD ANOTHER PIECE THIS WEEK ON A STORY YOU'VE BEEN CRUSHING FOR TWO YEARS NOW, THE SCHOOL'S DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

IT'S A STORY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING ABOUT AN AGENCY THAT KEEPS ON PAYING.

TELL US ABOUT THAT STORY.

>> YEAH.

QUICK BACKGROUND IS WHEN WE HAD THIS PATRONAGE SCANDAL AT THE AUTHORITY, GOVERNOR MURPHY, ONCE HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS IMPROPER AND UNETHICAL HIRING THERE, FIRED FIRED 30 PEOPLE ONE DAY BUT A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO WERE LONG-TIME VETERANS OF THE AUTHORITY WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT SCANDAL, THEY GOT SWEPT UP IN IT AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY SUED, BECAUSE THEY SAID, BASICALLY, WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED WITH THESE PEOPLE.

WHY ARE YOU FIRING US?

WE DID NOTHING WRONG.

SO, WHAT I HAD JUST REPORTED WAS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S SETTLING FOR $350,000 WITH ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AND THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PAID SO FAR UP TO $900,000 IN SETTLEMENTS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SCANDAL, AND IT'S JUST TWO SETTLEMENTS AND THERE ARE STILL TWO OTHER LAWSUITS HANGING OUT THERE.

SO, ON THIS TRAJECTORY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE SURPASSING A MILLION DOLLARS TO SHELL OUT FOR WHAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A REALLY, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, JUST KIND OF BONE-HEADED MOVE AT THE AUTHORITY.

AND THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.

IT WAS SO BLATANT AND EGREGIOUS, THE WAY THAT PEOPLE WERE LET GO AND THEN HIRED WITHOUT ANY QUALIFICATIONS OR VETTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO, IT'S BEEN A COSTLY -- FINANCIALLY COSTLY AND IMAGE-WISE COSTLY SCANDAL FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> KATHERINE, CONTINUED GRILLING OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THIS WEEK AT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

IT WAS MVC COMMISSIONER SUE FULTON AND LABOR COMMISSIONER ROBERT.

YOU'VE COVERED THE LABOR COMMISSION AND PARTICULARLY, BUT THESE TWO AGENCIES HAVE BEEN BATTERED BY BOTH SIDE, PRETTY FAIRLY, RIGHT?

>> LAWMAKERS ARE VERY ANGRY AT, YOU KNOW, THE MVC AND AT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE -- THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE OFTEN INTERACTING WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON IS GETTING YOUR LICENSE, FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, AND SO THOSE BASIC SERVICES DON'T WORK, THAT IS HARMFUL FOR THE WHOLE IMAGE OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT I THINK LAWMAKERS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING QUOTES WAS FROM ASSEMBLYMAN WHO WAS TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONER AND SAID, IT DOESN'T BOTHER -- SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING MY OFFICE TO COMPLAIN.

WHAT REALLY OFFENDS ME IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M LEAVING CALLS FOR YOUR STAFF AND YOU'RE NOT CALLING ME BACK.

THAT WAS PRETTY BRUTAL.

>> PANEL, I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO NOTE THE PASSING OF JOE ALBRIGHT, THE LONG-SERVING COLUMNIST FOR MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER, THE JERSEY JOURNAL.

HE WAS A FIXTURE IN AND AROUND THE STATE HOUSE AND PRESS ROW.

YOU KNEW JOE WAS IN THE OFFICE WHEN YOU HEARD THE CLICK-CLACKING OF HIS TYPEWRITER, A REMINDER OF HOW WE USED TO TRANSMIT OUR NEWS BACK WHEN INK AND RIBBON AND WHITEOUT WERE THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE.

OLD NEWSPAPERMEN, THEY NEVER DIE, THEY JUST GET REASSIGNED TO A DIFFERENT BEAT.

JOE ALBRIGHT WAS 93.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR "ROUNDTABLE" THIS WEEK.

THANKS AGAIN TO PROFESSOR KIMBERLY MUTCHERSON AND TO OUR PANEL HERE, KATHERINE, DUSTIN, FRED.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHERE YOU WILL FIND LIVE STREAMS FROM AROUND THE STATE AND AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE CONTENT.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

FROM EVERYONE OVER HERE, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

>> 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.

RWJBARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWEN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE," THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S "NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK," A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM - Captions by VITAC --