>> 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.

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

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.

>> HI AND WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M COLLEEN O'DAY IN FOR DAVID CRUZ, WHO IS OFF THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR MURPHY UNVEILED HIS 2022 BUDGET THIS WEEK, WITH NO NEW TAXES BUT LOTS OF SPENDING.

$45 BILLION WORTH.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WHAT HURDLES IT MAY FACE FROM LAWMAKERS IS ASSEMBLYWOMAN ILIANA MARINE, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WELCOME.

YOUR COMMITTEE WILL TAKE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PLAN AND CRAFT A DOCUMENT BASED ON IT.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH AND WANT TO CHANGE OR ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO SEE THAT'S NOT INCLUDED?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE FIRST BUDGET -- AND WE'RE SKIMMING THROUGH THE DETAILS.

UNTIL WE GET A FURTHER BUDGET DOCUMENT, WHICH IS, USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS I CAN'T SAY WHETHER THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I DISAGREE OR I DON'T AGREE WITH.

BUT I WOULD SAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN HERE A LOT OF US WILL BE HAPPY, A LARGER PENSION PAYMENT, SCHOOL FUNDING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN GETTING OUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, SO THERE'S A FEW GOOD THINGS, BUT THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS, AND UNTIL WE REALLY START OUR BUDGET ANALYSIS, WITH THE BUDGET MEMBERS AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS THEIR BUDGETS, ONLY THEN WILL WE HAVE A CLEAR TIME LINE AND ALSO WHAT WE WOULD LIKELY AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY.

>> IN A STATEMENT, YOU ISSUED AFTER THE BUDGET ADDRESS, YOU SAID THE STATE'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK APPEARS MORE PROMISING THAN ANTICIPATED LAST FALL.

DID YOU MEAN THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO BORROW $4 BILLION?

OR WE DIDN'T NEED TO INSTITUTE THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX LAST YEAR?

>> COLLEEN, I THINK WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT APRIL -- SORRY, APRIL AND THE NUMBERS, THE GDP THE NUMBER OF CASES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

WE WERE IN A POSITION TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE WERE GOING TO BE IN A BETTER FISCAL POSITION THAT WE WOULD HAVE MONEY ON HAND TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAKE INVESTMENTS IN AREAS THAT WERE CRITICALLY NEEDED WITH OUR HOSPITALS, WITH HEALTH CARE, WITH PPE, WITH LOANS FOR ALL BUSINESSES WHICH ARE STILL SUFFERING, I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

IT WAS THE DECISION WE HAD AT THE TIME AND IT WAS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO MOVE ON IT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE REALLY FORESAW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN THIS STATE THAT WE'RE IN.

BUT I THINK WHEN WE DO A CLEAR ANALYSIS AND DIG INTO THE NUMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING.

>> THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX BILL LAST YEAR WAS MORE THAN $9,100, THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR A WHILE.

THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THE HOMESTEAD BENEFIT PROGRAM IS DECLINING BECAUSE ITS PARAMETERS HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH INFLATION.

IS IT TIME TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THAT PROGRAM TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE RELIEF, AND WHY NOT JUST PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE HOMESTEAD INSTEAD OF CREATING THE NEW MIDDLE CLASS TAX REBATE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS RECOMMENDED?

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOMESTEAD, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT.

THAT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM, THE SPEAKER'S FIRST YEAR, I BELIEVE.

EITHER THE FIRST YEAR OR SECOND YEAR, WHEN IT WAS CUT, HE MADE IT A PRIORITY, AND I THINK ALL OF US AGREED AS A CAUCUS THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT PROGRAM RUNNING.

I DID NOT TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXACT NUMBERS.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY STILL HAVE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DID NOT MOVE ON CHANGING THE NUMBER OF THE QUALIFICATION, THE INCOME LEVEL, AND THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT, ONCE WE DIVE INTO THE REST OF THE NUMBERS.

>> YES, I THINK YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT IT, IS IT 2006 PROPERTY TAX AMOUNT AND THE $75,000 IS STILL THE INCOME?

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK STATUTORILY, IT HAS CHANGED, SO WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE STATUTE OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE FUNDING IT AS IS.

>> THERE IS SOME MONEY BUDGETED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, BUT NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FOR AN OVERHAUL, WHICH SOME SAY IS NEEDED.

IS THAT CONCERNING, GIVEN THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WE HEAR WHO CANNOT GET THROUGH ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE TO GET THEIR BENEFITS AND REALLY ARE HURTING THESE DAYS?

>> COLLEEN, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS EVEN WHEN I CAME INTO TRENTON, NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK JUST IN GENERAL, TECHNOLOGY AS A WHOLE FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY HAS REALLY BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

I THINK THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR WE FIND MONEY TO DO PROGRAMS AND TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UNLESS WE REALLY START TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

I HAVE TO SAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WE CAN TRY TO FIX IT.

WE SAW SOME OTHER STATES THAT TRIED TO FIX THEIRS, MADE LARGE INVESTMENTS IN THEIR TECHNOLOGY.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT ALSO NEEDS TO COME AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT THE FEDS ALSO NEED TO FIX THEIR SYSTEM IN ORDER FOR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING STATES TO COLLABORATE.

LISTEN, MY OFFICE DEALS WITH UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS ALL THE TIME.

IT IS STRAINING.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SECRET, AND IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I'M HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WILL BE WORKING ON.

>> NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS RECENTLY FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT THAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN GENERAL HAS BEEN MORE RUSHED AND LESS TRANSPARENT RECENTLY.

I'M WONDERING HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A THOROUGH AND OPEN BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS AS THE PANDEMIC CONDITIONS?

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY -- ON INSTANCES I THINK THERE'S BEEN CERTAIN BILLS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO HURRY UP AND FINISH AND GET THEM THROUGH THE FINISH LINE, I THINK THAT THESE ARE ALSO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATELY MEETING IN PERSON HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT AND I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.

THE WHOLE PROCESS, WE'RE PLANNING ON FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO BE VIA ZOOM, I THINK THAT'S THE SAFEST WAY, DURING OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

SOMETIMES WE WOULD HAVE 50, 60, 70 PEOPLE WAITING IN THE HALLWAYS.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT SAFELY, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE -- AND I THINK WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS COME BEFORE US, THAT'S A DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT IN PERSON OR WHETHER WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT VIA ZOOM.

I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO DEPEND ON EVERYONE'S SAFETY LEVEL.

>> ASSEMBLYWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>>> NOW LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL OF REPORTERS TO BREAK DOWN WHAT THE BUDGET MEANS FOR NEW JERSEY AND LOOK AT SOME OTHER NEWS THAT HAPPENED THIS BEAK.

JOINING US ARE STACEY SHERMAN, MANAGING EDITOR OF "U.S.

BEAU R BUREAUS" FOR BLOOMBERG, MATT FRIEDMAN AND BACK FOR ANOTHER WEEK, IS HE A BUDGET EXPERT, JOHN RITEMEYER, WITH "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

WELCOME, AND LET'S GET TO IT.

JOHN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE A STORY TODAY THAT TALKS A BIT ABOUT WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE WITH BORROWING AND HOW WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN TO THIS BUDGET.

GOVERNOR MURPHY A FEW MONTHS AGO LIKENED THE ECONOMIC CRISIS TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND YOU HAVE THE RECORD PENSION PAYMENT.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

>> A BIG CHANGE IN RHETORIC IN A MATTER OF MONTHS AND A CHANGE IN FORTUNES FOR THE STATE BUDGET.

IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO THERE WERE COMPARISONS TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE STATE ISSUED ALMOST $4 BILLION IN DEBT WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL, ACTUALLY RECEIVED MORE THAN $4 BILLION BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BONDS WERE WORKING AT THE TIME AND THE WAY THE BONDS WERE STRUCTURED.

THAT MONEY IS IN THE SAFE COFFERS, AND THEN ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR IS A LOT OF THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS THAT SAW STEEP LOSSES YEAR OVER YEAR, THE LATEST PROJECTIONS FROM TREASURY ARE ALMOST MATCHING UP AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED OR AT LEAST GOT UNDER WAY IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS PRETTY REMARKABLE, YOU COULD HAVE A REVENUE PROJECTION FROM LAST YEAR AND THEY'RE ALMOST GOING TO HIT THAT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

DOING BETTER ON REVENUES, THERE WERE TAX HIKES ENACTED LAST YEAR AS WELL, LOOKING AT COMING OUT OF THE CURRENT YEAR IN THE BALL PARK OF $6 BILLION IN RESERVES BUT A TREMENDOUS NUMBER AND THE QUESTION FROM THERE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

DO YOU SIT ON IT AS RESERVES FOR THE NEXT DOWNTURN, DO YOU SPEND IT?

LOOKS LIKE MURPHY WILL SPEND DOWN A GOOD PORTION IF LAWMAKERS GO ALONG WITH IT AND YOU COULD ARGUE ON PUBLIC WORKER PENSIONS AND K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS AID, HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING.

THE DEBATE THAT GOES FORWARD, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS LARGESSE.

THE PROBLEM SPENDING DOWN, HOW DO YOU FILL THAT GAP IN THE NEXT BUDGET?

DO WE NEED CUTS OR TO RAISE TAXES?

EVENTUALLY THAT BORROWED MONEY AND THE RELIEF THE STATE HAS RECEIVED GOES AWAY.

>> THIS IS THE GOOD OLD FISCAL CLIFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO WE'RE NOT EVEN TO THE NEXT BUDGET, BUT LET'S GO TO THE NEXT BUDGET AFTER THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE START TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ONE-SHOT REVENUES OR ONE-TIME NON-RECURRING SOURCES OF REVENUE.

MURPHY IS PROPOSING A FULL PENSION CONTRIBUTION, THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER COVERED ONE IN MY WHOLE CAREER BUT I'VE HEARD GOVERNORS FROM OTHER PARTIES BOTH PARTIES MAKE PROMISES ON PENSION FUNDING IN THE PAST, AND NOT BE ABLE TO LIVE UP TO THEM.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PROMISE PAYMENT AND WHAT GETS DEPOSITED INTO THE PENSION FUND AND I'VE SEEN GOVERNORS TRIPPED UP INTO THE PAST.

>> STACEY, WE'RE TAPING THIS FRIDAY MORNING BUT IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THE HOUSE IS GOING TO PASS THE STIMULUS PACKAGE TODAY.

DOES THAT MEAN WE'LL HAVE MORE MONEY COMING TO THE STATE AND IF SO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND THAT?

>> IT LOOKS PRETTY LIKELY THAT THE HOUSE IS GOING TO PASS IT TODAY.

IT'S NOT AS CERTAIN IN THE SENATE.

NEW JERSEY'S GOING TO GET A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT A BREAKDOWN, $350 BILLION FOR STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

I SAW REUTERS ESTIMATE IT WAS, IT WOULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT $1,000 PER PERSON FOR NEW JERSEY WHICH IS LIKE $8 MILLION, $9 MILLION, AM I DOING MY MATH RIGHT?

I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE MATH.

IT WAS A GOOD AMOUNT, SO THAT WILL HELP THE BUDGET SITUATION BUT THE FEDERAL, THAT WILL GO TO OUR SPECIFIC COVID RELIEF ITEM.

>> AND MATT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE MONEY COMING IN FROM LEGAL MARIJUANA SALES, RIGHT?

I MEAN, POT IS FINALLY LEGAL, ISN'T IT?

ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY AND WHEN THIS IS GOING TO START COMING IN?

>> ASSUMING THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR SAID ABOUT SIX MONTHS PLUS OR MINUS.

GIVEN HOW LONG IT TOOK US TO GET THIS LAW IN PLACE, I'M GOING TO GO WITH A PLUS ON THAT ONE.

A LOT OF PLUS.

JUST FROM HAVING WATCHED THIS ALL HAPPEN, SIX MONTHS SEEMS OPTIMISTIC TO ME IN TERMS OF GETTING THIS IN PLACE, AND I ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF, HOW MUCH ARE WE REALLY GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SELLING IT IN SIX MONTHS AND ULTIMATELY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS HERE IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS IN THE BUDGET IT'S NOT THAT MUCH.

AS FAR AS PLANNING FOR THE BUDGET, IT'S HARD TO FAULT THE ADMINISTRATION, THE LEGISLATURE FOR SAYING WE'RE FACING A DIRE FISCAL SITUATION AND NEED TO CONSIDER BORROWING.

BUT I DON'T THINK -- MARIJUANA IS NOT A SAVIOR.

IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK IN THE BUDGET BUT NOT HUGE IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS AND FRANKLY, I'LL BE SURPRISED IF WE GET IT, IF WE START SEEING THAT MONEY REALLY IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY IN THIS BUDGET.

>> I THINK VERY INTERESTING, HOW GOVERNORS PLAY THE WHOLE MARIJUANA THING.

THEY TALK ABOUT IT AS IF IT'S A BIG LIFELINE, WHEN REALLY FOR NEW JERSEY AND OTHER STATES, EVEN WHEN IT'S FULLY AMENDED, WE'RE TALKING A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN, YOU KNOW, A $40 BILLION-SOMETHING BUDGET.

IT'S A GOOD, IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO SAY WE GOT MARIJUANA, IT'S A PANACEA.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

MATT, IS THERE ANY PART OF LEGAL WEED THAT ISN'T MIRED IN CONTROVERSY?

ON THURSDAY, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THREE MORE APPOINTMENTS TO THE CANNABIS REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, HE WAS CRITICIZED BY SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES SAYING THE COMMISSION'S MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT APPROPRIATELY REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE MOST HURT BY THE WAR ON DRUGS.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THERE NOT BE A BLACK MAN ON IT AND NO ONE IS HURT MORE BY MARIJUANA ARRESTS THAN BLACK MEN, YES.

OVERALL, I THINK ALSO A BIG PART OF THE CONTROVERSY RIGHT NOW IS THAT IT REALLY -- I THINK A LOT OF NEW JERSEYIANS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS WILL PLAY BUT A LOT WILL THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS IF A COP FINDS A KID SMOKING WEED, THEY CAN'T TELL THEIR PARENTS.

BUT THAT WAS A COMPROMISE, REALLY LAST-MINUTE THING IN A DESPERATE EFFORT TO WIN SUPPORT FOR THIS CLEANUP BILL SO THE GOVERNOR COULD SIGN THE LEGAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION.

REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING A FIELD DAY WITH IT, BUT I THINK ONE POINT THAT WE MISS IS THAT 67% OF PEOPLE VOTED FOR LEGAL MARIJUANA AND THEN DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING BASICALLY DERAILED THAT FOR MONTHS.

WHAT REPUBLICANS -- IT'S EASY TO SIT BACK AND WATCH DEMOCRATS SCREW THINGS UP.

WHAT IF REPUBLICANS KIND OF CAME TO THE TABLE HERE AND SAID OKAY, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THIS CLEANUP BILL AND THAT WAY IF RON RICE AND TAKE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS WITH THEM, WILL HAVE ANOTHER PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE WHERE WE CAN FIND SOME VOTES.

IF THERE HAD BEEN AN EFFORT, WHO KNOWS IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD THIS CURRENT LAW IN PLACE.

I THINK YOU'LL HEAR A LOT IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, THE FACT THAT POLICE WON'T BE ABLE TO NOTIFY PARENTS ON THE FIRST OFFENSE.

I BELIEVE THEY CAN ON THE SECOND.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WITH MARIJUANA AND IT'S A VALID POINT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OVERBLOWN STUFF HOW HARMFUL MARIJUANA IS, BUT CERTAINLY IF A CHILD IS USING IT, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO ARGUE THEIR PARENTS SHOULDN'T KNOW.

>> YES.

STACEY, SO WE'VE GOT LEGAL WEED AND WE'VE GOT THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL.

DO THESE THINGS HELP OR HURT GOVERNOR MURPHY IN THIS ELECTION YEAR?

>> I THINK THIS WAS A WELL THOUGHT OUT BUDGET.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I COVERED ELECTIONS WAY TOO LONG, 30 YEARS.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ELECTION YEAR BUDGETS AND THIS ELECTION YEAR BUDGET IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN IT THAT WILL HELP THE GOVERNOR.

THERE'S NO TAX INCREASES.

THERE'S THE BIG PENSION PAYMENT.

THERE'S RELATIVELY, YOU KNOW, LITTLE CUTS AND A LOT OF SPENDING ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL MAKE A LOT OF INTERESTS HAPPY.

>> AND HOW ABOUT COVID?

WHEN WE FACTOR IN COVID-19 AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY, HOW THE GOVERNOR HAS HANDLED THIS SO FAR.

HE'S NOW BEGUN TO SLOWLY REOPEN THE STATE.

I NOTICE HE MADE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS ON MONDAY, THE DAY BEFORE HE PUT HIS BUDGET IN PLACE, AND THEN NOTED THAT IN THE SPEECH.

BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT REMAIN CLOSED TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, AND OF COURSE VACCINES ARE STILL VERY LIMITED.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS PLAYS OUT?

>> I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING THE ECONOMY BACK AND THAT BEGINS WITH VACCINES AND IT BEGINS WITH GETTING SCHOOLS BACK.

I HEARD THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT WOMEN AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN A LESSER PART OF THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HOME WITH THEIR KIDS AND THE KEY TO THE ECONOMY IS GETTING THE SCHOOLS BACK OPEN AND GETTING WOMEN BACK IN THE WORKFORCE OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND I THINK THAT IS GETTING THAT DONE AND SIGNIFICANTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION WILL BE KEY FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY.

>> JOHN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND THE INCREASE THIS YEAR, A RECORD HIGH.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR DID GET TO MORE THAN $2 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR COVID RELIEF AND MANY BUSINESS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS SAYS THAT HASN'T HELPED THEM AND SLOW COME OUT AND THOSE GUYS VOTE, TOO.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE FOR HOW THAT HELPS GOVERNOR MURPHY AND HIS ELECTION CHANCES.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD FORMIDABLE APPROVAL RATINGS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS DUE TO HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID RESPONSE.

ONCE THAT PERSON STARTS TO APPEAR ON TV COMMERCIALS, ON THE STAGE WITH YOU AT DEBATES, A WHOLE NEW SET OF ISSUES COME FORWARD.

THAT'S WHERE WE TAKE A LOT OF FLACK ON THINGS LIKE MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE HANDLING OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN SOMEBODY IS GOING NEGATIVE AGAINST THIS GOVERNOR, WHETHER THAT BRINGS HIM DOWN OR NOT.

PROPERTY TAXES, THE STATE DOES NOT LEVY BUT THE STATE DOES A LOT THAT INFLUENCES PROPERTY TAXES SO EDUCATION AID, MUNICIPAL AID, THE DIRECT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROGRAMS YOU TALKED TO THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN ABOUT, THOSE GO INTO THE MIX BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS ANOTHER TRUMP CARD COMING BECAUSE IN A FEW MONTHS, THERE'S THAT DIRECT REBATE PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED WITH THE NEW BUDGET SENDING PEOPLE CHECKS UP TO $500 BEFORE THEY GO VOTE FOR A GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THAT ALL IN THE BACKDROP.

CERTAINLY THE SPORTS FRANCHISES ARE HAPPY TO SEE WHEN IT'S LIFTED BECAUSE SOME OF US WHO LIKE SPORTS MAY ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO SEE A GAME SOMEDAY.

>> MATT, TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME ELECTION IMPLICATION HERE, NEW JERSEY LOST A REPUBLICAN INSTITUTION LAST SATURDAY WITH THE DEATH OF SENATOR GERALD CARDINALLI IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR 42 YEARS.

WHAT IS HIS LEGACY?

>> DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE.

QUESTIONING.

IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BILLS THAT OFTEN SEEMED NOT EVEN POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL NOW.

GERRY CARDINALLI HAD SOMETHING TO SAY AND OFTEN THOUGHTFUL.

HE WAS A SMART GUY AND WELL RESPECTED EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE FOR NEW JERSEY AND A DISTRICT THAT IS REPUBLICAN LEANING BUT NOT AS CONSERVATIVE AS HE IS.

HE WAS ALSO I THOUGHT VERY PRINCIPLED IN A LOT OF WAYS, IN THE MARIJUANA DEBATE, HE WAS VERY ANTI-MARIJUANA, AND A LOT OF ATTITUDES ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE, KIND OF ROOTED IN OLD STUFF BUT ONCE 67% OF NEW JERSEYIANS SAID AS LONG AS THEY'VE DONE THIS, WHY SHOULDN'T THEY BE ABLE TO GROW IT AND INTRODUCED A BILL MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN ANYTHING ANY DEMOCRATS THAT I KNOW OF HAD PUT FORWARD AND A LOT OF NEW JERSEYIANS TO GROW UP TO SOMETHING LIKE SIX PLANTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE OF THAT BILL IS NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH HIM HAVING DIED.

IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A BIG CHANGE, THE SENATE, AND WITH THE SENATE USUALLY GOES THE ASSEMBLY.

THERE IS AT LEAST FIVE SEATS ARE GOING TO BE REPRESENTED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME 2022, AND I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A BIG TURNOVER SINCE I COVERED POLITICS IN 2007, THAT WAS THE BIGGEST TURNOVER PRIOR TO THIS ONE THAT I CAN REMEMBER.

>> YOU JUST READ MY SCRIPT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT BUT I FEEL WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

YOU HAD A GREAT STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT ONE OF THOSE BATTLES, FOR SENATOR WEINBERG'S SEAT IN THE ASSEMBLY.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT OTHER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS.

WE'LL HAVE A SHAKEUP THIS YEAR, RIGHT, REAL QUICKLY?

>> BIG TIME.

CARDINALLI PRIOR TO HIS DEATH WOULD BE CHALLENGED BY ASSEMBLYWOMAN AND BROWN IN SOUTH JERSEY NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND A COUPLE OTHER SENATORS WHO WON'T BE RETURNING.

IT'S A BIG SHAKEUP, DIFFERENT MAJORITY LEADER AND MINORITY LEADER.

TOM CAIN IS LEAVING PROBABLY TO RUN FOR CONGRESS AGAIN.

THAT'S NOT JUST TURNOVER ON PEOPLE BUT TURNOVER IN LEADERSHIP.

>> WELL THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US A LOT TO WRITE ABOUT AND TALK ABOUT ON FUTURE EPISODES FOR THE COMING YEAR, THIS ELECTION.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR "ROUNDTABLE" TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARINE AND OUR GREAT PANEL OF JOURNALISTS, MATT FRIEDMAN, STACEY SHERMAN AND JOHN WRIGHTMEYER.

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, INCLUDING MORE "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

DAVID CRUZ WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

I'M COLLEEN O'DAY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> 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.

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

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.