>> 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.

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

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.

♪ >>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

WHEN THE NEW SESSION OF THE SENATE CONVENES IN JANUARY, IT WILL BE LED BY A NEW SENATE PRESIDENT, THE FIRST ONE IN A DOZEN YEARS.

YOU MAY KNOW HIM FOR HIS BILLS SUCH AS LEGAL MARIJUANA OR FOR HIS WORK PRESIDING OVER MANY ENTERTAINING CONFIRMATION HEARINGS OVER THE YEARS.

SENATOR NICK JOINS US AGAIN ON "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> MY PLEASURE.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> SO, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T ELECT THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

THAT'S A MAJORITY PARTY THING.

BUT THAT'S REAL INSIDE BASEBALL THERE.

HOW DOES ONE RUN FOR SENATE PRESIDENT?

WITH WE'LL GET TO THE WHY IN A SECOND.

>> I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS NOT TO RUN AT ALL.

TRY TO DO GOOD WORK IN THE POSITION THAT YOU'RE IN.

I SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE 22nd DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE HAD MANY DEALINGS WITH MY FELLOW SENATORS, AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A TRUST FACTOR.

WHO DO WE TRUST TO LEAD THIS AUGUST BODY WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE AND POWER OVER THINGS?

THEY NEED TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY CAN TRUST YOU TO NOT JUST DO WHAT YOU WANT BUT MORE SET THE TONE AS TO WHAT THEY WANT.

>> SO, IT SEEMED LIKE THE CONSENSUS CAME TOGETHER PRETTY QUICKLY.

IT'S NOT REALLY YOU GOING ON, HEY, SENATOR SUCH AND SUCH, VOTE FOR ME FOR SENATE PRESIDENT.

THAT'S NOT REALLY HOW THAT WORKS, RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT DOES WORK THAT WAY, ACTUALLY.

THE SENATORS -- THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE THE CONSTITUENCY IN THIS ELECTION.

FIRST, WE HAVE TO HELP THEM GET ELECTED, AND SOME OF US DIDN'T GET ELECTED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, SO WE ARE LIKE THE PEOPLE FROM OUR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS, AND THEN OUR SENATORS, AS A GROUP, GET TOGETHER AND ELECT THE SENATE PRESIDENT, SO YEAH, IT IS A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION.

IT IS DEALING WITH SENATORS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR NEEDS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE GOING TO BE FULFILL AND HAD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIRECT THE CAUCUS THE WAY IN WHICH THEY'D LIKE IT REFLECTED.

>> SO YOU DID SOME OF THAT.

YOU WERE CALLING OUT, SENATOR JONES, YOU KNOW, I WANT YOUR VOTE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH.

OKAY, SO, AS FOR THE WHY SOMEONE WANTS THE JOB, IT PRETTY MUCH MAKES THAT PERSON THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE STATE, RIGHT?

WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY, BUT FOR A LOT OF STUFF.

THAT'S A -- YOU'VE GOT AN OFFICE AND EVERYTHING.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY TELL ME.

I HAVEN'T HAD THE JOB YET.

BUT I KTELL YOU, I MEAN, IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD -- IF YOU'RE IN GOVERNMENT, YOU'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE POSITION TO REFLECT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF NOT JUST YOUR CONSTITUENCIES BUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, SO IT'S A GREAT HONOR.

I'M HOPEFUL AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH ON JANUARY 11th, I'LL HAVE THE HONOR TO DO THAT.

I'VE ADMIRED OUR PAST SET OF PRESIDENTS.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 1947 CONSTITUTION, THERE ARE LESS SENATE PRESIDENTS THAN THERE HAVE BEEN GOVERNORS SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD AND RESET FOR OUR LEGISLATURE.

>> AND WHEN I SAY THAT THAT PERSON, THE SECOND MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE STATE, IT'S BECAUSE THAT POSITION SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING DURING THIS SESSION OR THIS IS GOING TO GET A COMMITTEE HEARING OR WHATEVER, RIGHT?

>> WELL, YES, BUT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN THERE VERY LONG.

A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.

THAT GOES BACK BEYOND OUR -- EITHER OF OUR YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND ALSO A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SO I HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY WHERE WE CAN TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD AND POSITIVE ITEMS AND OBVIOUSLY THE SENATE HAS A STRONG VOICE IN A LOT OF THINGS AND WHERE WE CAN'T AGREE, WE WON'T.

>> WHAT KIND OF PRESIDENT WAS STEVE SWEENEY, JUST STYLISTICALLY, BECAUSE YOU CAN BUILD CONSENSUS OR YOU CAN JUST -- PEOPLE -- YOU CAN JUST TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT KIND OF SENATE PRESIDENT WAS HE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK HE WAS DIFFERENT WHEN HE ENDED THAN WHEN HE BEGAN.

HE HAD A 12-YEAR RUN AND HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING SENATE PRESIDENT AND HE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE IF HE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY RE-ELECTED IN THE THIRD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF THE -- THE JOB THAT HE DID WITH THE MEMBERS.

HE TRIED TO BUILD CONSENSUS BUT ALSO TO GET PEOPLE WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS CORRECT AND WORKING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE SYSTEM.

SO, HE REALLY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING BY THE END.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING SENATE PRESIDENT.

>> YOU SAID HE WAS DIFFERENT AT THE END THAN HE WAS AT THE BEGINNING.

WHAT'S, LIKE, ONE THING THAT REALLY CHANGED ABOUT HIM IN THAT REGARD?

>> WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A TRUST FACTOR.

IT'S WORKING TOGETHER.

IT'S BUILDING TOGETHER.

I MEAN, I WAS THE SENATE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN AND I HAVE BEEN HIS ONLY SENATE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN, SO YOU KNOW, THE POWER IS REALLY VESTED WITH THE PRESIDING OFFICERS, SO THE AMOUNT THAT THE CHAIRPERSONS GET TO DO REALLY IS UP TO WHAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT ALLOWS YOU TO DO, AND OVER TIME, WHEN YOU BUILD TRUST AND HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE OPERATE AND WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF, IT CHANGES AND IT WORKS.

>> SO WILL THERE BE A SCUTARI STYLE?

THAT WILL BE DIFFERENT?

>> ALL I CAN SAY IS, YOU KNOW, I RAN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE SIMILAR WAY I'LL RUN THE SENATE CAUCUS IF POSSIBLE, GIVING PEOPLE A LOT OF LEEWAY.

AND TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND MOVE THE CAUCUS FORWARD.

>> WE KEEP HEARING THAT THE PUBLIC IS TELLING YOU TO MOVE TO THE MIDDLE, MODERATE YOUR POLITICS ON EVERYTHING FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

IS THAT THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HEARD ON ELECTION DAY, AND IS THAT THE MESSAGE THAT YOUR CAUCUS GOT?

>> WELL, I CAN SAY THAT I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF DURING THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, BUT REALLY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, AND SO AM I, ABOUT PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS, ABOUT THE ECONOMY, ABOUT AFFORDABILITY HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THAT'S THE THING WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS MOST ON IS HOW CAN WE MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE BREAD AND BUTTER TYPE OF ISSUES.

JOBS, ECONOMY, AFFORDABILITY.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, AND NUMBER THREE IN PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.

THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO WELL BUT IF WE'RE NOT IN OFFICE, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THEM AND THE FIRST REASON PEOPLE PUT US IN OFFICE IS TO RUN GOOD GOVERNMENT AND CONTROL SPENDING.

>> DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL SEE LESS OF AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN EMPHASIS ON SPENDING CONTROLS, FREEZING GOVERNMENT SPENDING, AFFORDABILITY, THE ECONOMY, JOBS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON.

OTHER THINGS, WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IF THEY'RE GOOD, THEY'RE RIGHT, WE'LL DO THEM AS WELL, BUT THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS THAT I'M HOPEFUL FOR IS WORKING ON AFFORDABILITY AND THE ECONOMY HERE FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> SO, WHAT'D YOU THINK OF THE HIGH JINKS DOWN THE HALL IN THE LOWER CHAMBER LAST WEEK?

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE INSTANCE.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT WON'T OCCUR ANY FURTHER.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT, NOT JUST IN THE CHAMBER, BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IS CONSISTENCY.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE -- WANT TO FEEL THEY'RE ALL BEING TREATED FAIRLY AND THERE'S A CONSISTENT POLICY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE GOT TO GET TO, THAT PEOPLE HAVE A CONSISTENT -- WE SEE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN ONE PLACE, NOT IN ANOTHER, THERE'S VACCINE CHECKS IN ONE PLACE, NOT IN ANOTHER, SO I THINK HAVING A CONSISTENT MESSAGE IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND ACHIEVE AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL DEAL THAT WAY -- THEY'LL BE MORE UNDERSTANDING AS LONG AS WE'RE CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICIES THAT WE PROCURE.

>> I GUESS YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THE JOB OFFICIALLY BEFORE YOU START MEETING WITH THE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR TO TALK ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER ON AGENDAS, YEAH?

>> NO DOUBT.

YOU KNOW, THE -- THAT'S NOT MY JOB YET.

I DON'T HAVE ANY DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY YET BUT I'VE HAD SOME INITIAL DISCUSSIONS JUST ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY MAGNANIMOUS IN SHARING INFORMATION WITH ME SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND A GOOD TRANSITION PERIOD.

>> SENATOR NICK SCUTARI, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIG BIG.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND DON'T BE A STRANGER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS.

>> LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL NOW, THREE PRODIGIOUS TALENTS FROM THE STATE HOUSE PRESS CORPS, DANIEL MUNOZ, A REPORTER WITH NJ BIZ, MICHAEL SIMONS, THE STATE HOUSE BUREAU CHIEF FOR NJ 101.5 AND MIKE CATALINI COVERS THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

GENTS, WE JUST HEARD FROM THE INCOMING SENATE PRESIDENT THERE.

MIKE CATALINI, SAME AS THE OUTGOING SENATE PRESIDENT?

>> ONE THING THAT'S THE SAME THAT THE SPEAKER SAID AFTER THE ELECTION WAS A FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT'S -- I THINK A LITTLE BIT AT ODDS WITH WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS.

I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR IN HIS SPEECH AT THE SAME EVENT TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AS WELL, BUT ALSO TALKED ABOUT PLOWING ON WITH HIS PROGRESSIVE AGENDA, AND I THINK THE FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT STEVE SWEENEY PUSHED FOR IN MY TIME COVERING THE STATE HOUSE, SO I SEE SOME OVERLAP THERE.

>> MICHAEL SIMONS, CAN WE EXPECT ANYTHING MUCH DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF TONE, IN TERMS OF HOW HE'LL DEAL WITH THE LOWER HOUSE AND THE FRONT OFFICE?

>> YEAH, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT UNFOLD.

I MEAN, STEVE SWEENEY SORT OF BECAME MORE PROGRESSIVE, I GUESS, AS HIS TIME WENT ALONG IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT CERTAINLY WAS AMONG THE MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS THERE, AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT IF YOU WERE TO LINE UP ALL THE LAWMAKERS ON AN IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM THAT SWEENEY AND SCUTARI WOULD LINE UP RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT CHANGES GOING FORWARD AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN SENATOR SCUTARI AS SENATE PRESIDENT, SO YOU KNOW, EARLY ON FROM THE, LIKE, THE INTERVIEW THAT HE HAD JUST DONE, THERE WAS A LOT OF THE SAME MESSAGING, BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT UNFOLDS, HOW HE DEALS WITH REPUBLICANS WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY THE MINORITY PARTY STILL, BUT THEY KIND OF HAD A CERTAIN LEVEL OF KINSHIP WITH STEVE SWEENEY.

>> SPEAKING OF SWEENEY, WHAT ABOUT THE CURRENT SENATE PRESIDENT?

IS THERE ANY MORE CLARITY IN TERMS OF WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO NEXT, DANIEL?

>> I GUESS IN LAME DUCK HE'S PUSHING FOR SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE THIS CASINO TAX BREAK BILLS.

AFTERWARDS, IF HE'S TALKED ABOUT MAYBE THE STEVEN SWEENEY INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY.

I THINK THAT'S SORT OF SOMETHING HE'S HINTED AT.

HE'S BEEN A BIT VAGUE ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO GOING FORWARD, WHETHER HE'LL RUN AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD.

DURING THE NEXT SENATE RE-ELECTION.

>> MICHAEL SIMONS, A LOT OF GUYS WOULD JUST FADE AWAY, BUT THIS GUY THOUGHT IT, AND MAYBE HE STILL THINKS THAT HE WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD GOVERNOR.

IS HE KIND OF UNENCUMBERED FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, ENOUGH TO BENEFIT FROM HIS EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO FREE ENOUGH FROM CONTROVERSIAL VOTES?

>> YEAH, THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE A POLITICAL BENEFIT TO IT.

HE'S FREE TO TRAVEL THE STATE FROM NORTH CENTRAL TO SOUTH AND NOBODY NECESSARILY QUESTIONED THAT.

I MEAN, I THINK IT SEEMED PRETTY APPARENT THAT HE WAS INTENDING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2025.

IN A WAY, I THINK IT WOULD BE A LITTLE UNUSUAL IF HE DOES RUN FOR SENATE IN 2023.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS INTENTIONS ARE, BUT IF HE RAN AND WON, WOULD HE -- WOULD THERE BE AN EXPECTATION THAT HE WOULD BECOME SENATE PRESIDENT AGAIN?

OR SORT OF BE SORT OF A RANK AND FILE SENATOR?

SO IT WOULD BE INTERESTING AND A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, WE HEARD A MORE, I GUESS, ROBUST IS THE WORD, ROBUST CRITICISM FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK ON THE ASS ASSEMBLY ANTICS OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

LET'S HEAR WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD TO SAY ABOUT REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

>> BUT THE BIG STORY FROM LAST WEEK IS NOT ABOUT SECURITY.

IT'S ABOUT THE IDIOCY OF THESE RING LEADERS WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR FELLOW MEMBERS' HEALTH AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE FELLOW MEMBERS AT RISK.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT FREEDOM OR CIVIL RIGHTS.

IT'S ABOUT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO VO LILGSLY RUN THE RISK OF INFECTING INNOCENT, LAW-ABIDING FOLKS WHO HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

IT IS OUTRAGEOUS, ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.

INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

UNFORGIVABLE.

THAT'S THE STORY FROM LAST WEEK.

>> SO, MIKE CATALINI, IT WAS ABOUT SECURITY, RIGHT?

STATE POLICE, THEY ENDED UP LOOKING REALLY IMPOTENT.

WHAT WAS THE SET-UP LIKE OUT THERE THIS WEEK, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, VERY DIFFERENT.

THERE WERE ORANGE BARRIERS INTO THE ENTRANCE WHERE THE WELCOME CENTER IS, WHERE THE PRESS WORKS AND WHERE, WHEN STUDENTS WERE COMING TO THE BUILDING, THEY WERE GATHERING.

USUALLY THERE'S ONE STATE HOUSE GUARD THERE.

THIS WEEK, I SAW AT LEAST FOUR STATE TROOPERS THERE.

THE NATIONAL GUARD AND A TEAM FROM OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WERE THERE TO SET UP A TENT FOR TESTING.

SIGNS SAYING THIS ENTRANCE WAS FOR LEGISLATORS ONLY, THIS ENTRANCE IS FOR STAFF AND LEGISLATORS ONLY.

VISITORS HAVE TO GO AROUND TO THE ANNEX.

MUCH TIGHTER SECURITY AT THE BUILDING AND REALLY WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME, THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS WERE OBVIOUSLY HEAD LINE-GRABBING AND VERY STRONG, BUT WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME ABOUT THE INTERACTION THIS WEEK WAS SORT OF FAILURE TO ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENED ON LAST THURSDAY.

WHY DID STATE POLICE BLOCK LAWMAKERS FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES OR SO WHO WEREN'T SHOWING PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE TEST AS REQUIRED, AND THEN TO DECIDE TO LET THEM GO IN THE BUILDING.

THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN ANSWERED.

STATE POLICE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY AND THE GOVERNOR SAID THE SAME THING THIS WEEK, AND I THINK THAT STANDS OUT AS SORT OF A GLARING CONFUSION AND SOMETHING THAT REALLY BEGS TO BE EXPLAINED.

>> DANIEL, IS THERE LASTING ANIMOSITY FROM THE -- FROM THIS SHOWDOWN AT THE CHAMBERS?

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG GAME THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE -- ARE GOING TO PLAY.

I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE OMICRON VARIANT PANS OUT AND HOW THIS TRANSITIONS FROM A PANDEMIC TO AN ENDEMIC.

THERE'S CERTAINLY POLITICAL CALCULATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICAN-LEANING DISTRICTS AND COUNTIES TEND TO HAVE LOWER VACCINATION RATES, SO I IMAGINE THAT AT SOME POINT, FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RECONCILE SOME OF THEIR DIFFERENCES EITHER WITH THIS OR IN OTHER MATTERS OF POLITICS.

BUDGET IS COMING UP PRETTY SOON, LOT OF OTHER BIG BILLS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOME WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> MICHAEL SIMONS, IS THERE A POLICY IN PLACE NOW?

>> THERE'S, LIKE, THREE POLICIES IN PLACE NOW.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I -- >> YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE'S THE ONE THAT THE STATE CAPITOL JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMISSION HAD, THEN ONES THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ISSUED, AND THEN WHATEVER THE STATE POLICE HAVE, AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE NECESSARILY SEEN A FULL VERSION OF WHATEVER THE STATE POLICE ARE ENFORCING, SO THAT'S PART OF THE CONFUSION.

LIKE, THERE'S A COURT HEARING MONDAY IN THE CHALLENGE TO THE STATE CAPITOL JOINT MANAGEMENT COMMISSION RULES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE -- WIND UP BEING BROAD ENOUGH THAT WHATEVER GETS DECIDED THERE WILL ALSO APPLY TO WHAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER ARE DOING, SO IT'S REALLY -- IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT AUTHORITIES ARE BEING -- ARE DRIVING THE STATE POLICE CURRENT ENFORCEMENT.

>> SO, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, EVEN, WHAT TO EXPECT ON MONDAY WHEN THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE SAYS THAT COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE GOING TO BE BACK IN-PERSON, RIGHT?

WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA.

>> NO, I MEAN, THE SENATE WAS HOLDING IN-PERSON HEARINGS THIS WEEK, AND THAT WAS SORT OF WITHOUT INCIDENT.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF NOT WHERE THE FESTIVITIES WERE THE WEEK BEFORE, SO MONDAY IS LIMITED COMMITTEE HEARINGS, BUT THEN THURSDAY, THERE IS ANOTHER VOTING SESSION.

>> WHAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE WHEN THE HOUSE IS GAVELLED IN FOR THE NEXT SESSION?

WHAT'S COMING UP?

ANYTHING BIG?

>> THE LAME DUCK SORT OF GOT OFF TO A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW START BECAUSE OF THE SURPRISE FROM THE ELECTION RESULTS, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW, EVEN AT THIS POINT, MIDWAY THROUGH THE LAME DUCK SESSION, IF IT'S ENTIRELY CLEAR OF EVERYTHING THEY PLAN TO DO NOW.

AND THEN AS FOR NEXT SESSION, AS THE INCOMING SENATE PRESIDENT SAID EARLIER, THEY -- THEY'RE JUST KIND OF GETTING STARTED ON HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN TOO DEEP INTO IT.

BACK IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, BEFORE THE MESSAGE THAT GOT SENT IN THE ELECTION, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD SAID THAT HE WASN'T INTENDING TO PURSUE ANY ADDITIONAL TAX INCREASES IN THE SECOND TERM, SO THAT PART OF A SORT OF A STANDOFF, IF IT WOULD BE THE CASE, ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE NECESSARY -- THEY'RE NOT ON DIFFERENT PAGES THERE.

THEY MIGHT BE IN TERMS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT SPENDING LEVELS GOING FORWARD AND THAT WILL DEPEND ON REVENUES, SO IT'S ALL UP IN THE AIR.

>> WE HEARD SENATOR SCUTARI MAKE THE POINT THAT POCKETBOOK ISSUES, AFFORDABILITY, THAT THOSE WERE GOING TO BE TOP PRIORITIES.

WHAT'S THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT OR CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS AND SOME OF THE OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES THAT THE SENATE PARTICULARLY WAS DEALING WITH BEFORE THE ELECTION.

DANIEL?

>> I THINK TO SOME EXTENT, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ISSUES THAT, BECAUSE OF THE LOSSES THE DEMOCRATS SUFFERED, THERE MIGHT NOT BE AS MUCH OF AN APPETITE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE MORE POLARIZING POLITICAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES LIKE EXPANDING ABORTION ACCESS BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE MORE, I GUESS, FODDER FOR REPUBLICANS TO SORT OF ACT ON THAT AND CHIP AWAY AT THE NARROW MAJORITY THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE.

SO, I THINK THERE'S NOT MUCH OF AN APPETITE IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THOSE SORTS OF MORE PROGRESSIVE ISSUES AT THIS MOMENT.

>> MEANWHILE, ON THE COVID FRONT, DANIEL, YOU HAD A PIECE ON HOW THE VACCINE MEGA SITES ARE BACK.

DOES THAT MEAN DEMAND IS UP, OR ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR JABS?

>> I THINK THEY'RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR JABS, BOTH THE BOOSTERS AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE, AS YOUNG AS, I THINK, 5, CAN GET THE PFIZER VACCINE SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABLE TO GET THE SHOTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, REMOVE ANY BARRIERS.

I KNOW THERE WAS A HUGE BACKLOG DURING THE SPRING, SO I THINK THAT AS THIS TURNS INTO AN ENDEMIC WHERE THIS IS SORT OF AROUND WITH US IN ONE SHAPE OR FORM OF THE NEAR FUTURE, THAT THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EASY AS POSSIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE AND THE BOOSTER.

>> MEANWHILE, REDISTRICTING, IT'S IMPORTANT BUSINESS BEING CONDUCTED RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S ALWAYS CONFUSING TO ME.

MIKE CATALINI, CAN YOU BRING SOME CLARITY AS TO WHAT IS LIKELY TO COME OUT OF THESE MEETINGS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GET NEW DISTRICTS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

THE CURRENT MAP AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WAS SORT OF DESIGNED, I THINK, TO GIVE DEMOCRATS A SLIGHT EDGE AND OVER THE DECADE THEY'VE PICKED UP ALMOST ALL OF THE SEATS BEFORE JEFF ANDREWS' PARTY CHANGE.

SO THIS NEW MAP, I THINK, WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ADVANTAGE, YOU'D EXPECT TO SEE DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO HOLD ON TO SOME SEATS, MAYBE CERTAIN SEATS, PEOPLE WHO PICKED UP REPUBLICAN SEATS IN 2018 SAFER, THAT WOULD BE AN EXPECTATION, PEOPLE LIKE ANDY KIM, MIKEY SHERRILL AND JOSH GOTTHEIBER, WHOSE DISTRICT GOES INTO SUSSEX COUNTY.

I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT WHERE TOM IS FACING ETHICS PROBES AND QUESTIONS RELATED TO, I BELIEVE, FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

THE LEGISLATURE, I'M MORE IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

I THINK THERE'S A -- NATIONALLY, THERE'S THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT REPUBLICANS, STEVE SWEENEY CALLED IT A RED WAVE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF GAINING SOME MOMENTUM, PICKED UP SIX SEELTS IN THE ASSEMBLY, SO IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT RETAINING POWER, CONTROL, THEN THAT'S -- THAT, I'M SURE, IS A FACTOR IN YOUR MAP MAKING AS WELL.

>> WHEN DO WE EXPECT TO SEE THESE LINES OFFICIALLY DRAWN AND RELEASED?

>> JANUARY 18th, I THINK, IS THE DEADLINE.

BUT I HAD HEARD THERE'S AN EFFORT TO GET THEM DONE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, BUT ACTUALLY, I'M REPORTING ON THAT NOW.

SO, MAYBE I CAN LET YOU KNOW AFTER THE "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

>> NICE WAY TO TEASE YOUR PIECE, CATALINI.

VERY WELL DONE.

FINALLY, TODAY, THE BUZZER BEATER HEARD ROUND THE COLLEGE BASKETBALL WORLD.

TWO OF OUR PANELISTS HERE ARE FROM RUTGERS.

UNRANKED RUTGERS TAKING ON NUMBER ONE PURDUE.

RON HARPER JR. WITH THE BALL, THREE SECONDS TO PLAY.

IT WENT LIKE THIS.

>> THREE SECONDS, NO TIME-OUTS.

HARPER.

FOR THE WIN!

AT THE BUZZER!

>> YOU GOT TO LOVE IT.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME RUTGERS HAS EVER BEATEN A NUMBER ONE IN ANYTHING.

THAT YOUNG MAN OWNS NEW JERSEY FOR THE WEEK, RON HARPER JR., 30 POINTS, 10 BOARDS FOR HARPER.

I'LL GIVE THE RUTGERS GUYS HERE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HOW GREAT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS ARE.

DANIEL?

>> I REMEMBER SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING IN 2014.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

I THINK IT WAS INDIANA FOOTBALL.

THEY BEAT THEM, RUTGERS WON, SO ALL THE FANS RUSHED OUT ON TO THE FIELD AFTER THAT, SO IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF THAT.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD MEMORIES.

>> SIMONS?

>> THERE IT IS.

GREAT FOR THE TEAM, GREAT FOR THE FANS.

IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO AT LEAST ONCE BE ABLE TO RUSH THE COURT OR RUSH THE FOOTBALL FIELD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, GOOD FOR EVERYONE, AND THEN RUTGERS-SETON HALL THIS SUNDAY SO ANOTHER BIG GAME.

>> THAT'S ALL THE "ROUNDTABLE" WE HAVE THIS WEEK.

DANIEL, MIKE, AND MICHAEL, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO Y'ALL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

ALSO THANKS TO SENATOR NICK SCUTARI.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE "CHAT BOX," BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND NBC SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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