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

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AND BY POLITICO'S "NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK," A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM ♪♪ >>> DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK.

THE GOP'S BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.

THIS IS "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

JOINED EACH WEEK BY BOSS-BUSTING JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING KATHERINE LAIND, MICHAEL SIMONS, THE STATE HOUSE BUREAU CHIEF FOR NEW JERSEY 101.5, AND CHARLES STYLE, THE POLITICAL COLUMNIST FOR THE RECORD "USA TODAY" NETWORKS.

WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT WE START WITH THE POLITICAL COMEBACK STORY OF THE YEAR.

NO, IT'S NOT CHRIS CHRISTIE.

IT IS THE POST-CHRIS CHRISTIE NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SEVEN SEATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, ALMOST THE BIG UPSET IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, AND NOW, PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES WITH DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST MASK MANDATES AND STARTING A HASHTAG, GIVE IT BACK.

THE GOP IS FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT ITSELF AS IT GATHERS FOR A PARTY SUMMIT THIS WEEKEND, AND I MEAN, POLITICAL PARTY SUMMIT, OF COURSE.

IN ATLANTIC CITY.

THAT'S WHERE WE FIND SENATE MINORITY LEADER STEVE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YOUR PARTY IS FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT ITSELF, HUH?

>> YEAH.

AND DAVID, THANK YOU.

WE HAVE MORE SEATS WE GOT TO PICK UP FOR THE MAJORITY, BUT IN THE NEXT ELECTION, WE BELIEVE ALSO IN THIS CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION YEAR, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY NEXT YEAR, THAT WITH THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT WE'RE READY FOR IT, AND WE THINK NEW JERSEY VOTERS ARE READY FOR IT TOO.

>> SO, NOW YOU HAVE A SUMMIT OF REPUBLICANS IN ATLANTIC CITY THIS WEEKEND.

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA?

>> FIRST OF ALL, JUST GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, SO YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THE SAME PAGE, WHAT'S IMPORTANT, AND DAVID, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS GETTING THE RIGHT MESSAGE OUT.

YOU HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE, EACH PARTY, FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE AND OBVIOUSLY ASSEMBLY LEADER JOHN AND MYSELF, TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, BUT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR DECADES.

ONE THING I SAY IS, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD THESE IDEAS FOR TEN YEARS.

YOU GIVE THEM -- REPUBLICANS THE MAJORITY, AND PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT TEN YEARS TO HAVE THE AFFORDABILITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU GOT BEN CARSON AS A SPEAKER, A PANEL OF CONSERVATIVE RADIO HOSTS, PLUS SESSIONS LIKE, WINNING ON ALL FRONTS AND RESTORING LAW AND ORDER.

IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE POST-ELECTION, THE PARTIES ARE HAVING TO CONFRONT THE FACT THAT THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT ARE BATTLING FOR THE SOULS OF THE TWO PARTIES.

WE SEE THAT AMONG DEMOCRATS FOR SURE, BUT YOU GUYS, I MEAN, IN YOUR PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR, THE TWO CONSERVATIVES GOT MORE OF THE VOTE THAN THE GUY WHO WON.

IS THERE A BATTLE IN YOUR PARTY WITH THE RIGHT WING?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO, DAVID.

I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF ISSUES THAT WE ALL AGREE ON, AND WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE REPUBLICANS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF THE DEMOCRATS AGREED ON WAS THE FACT THAT THIS GOVERNOR HAD OVEREXTENDED HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS.

PARENTS WERE FED UP WITH THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT CONTROL WAS TAKING -- WHERE PARENT CONTROL SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE PANDEMIC, WE COULD UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS THAT WAS OCCURRING, BUT THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN FED UP WITH GOVERNMENT TELLING THEM ALL THE TIME WHAT TO DO, AND I THINK THAT RESONATED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE REPUBLICANS, I PUT TOGETHER A LISTING OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR SOME MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF PARENTAL CHOICE, PARENTAL CONTROL, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE HEARING THAT MESSAGE NOW.

EACH DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT, AND OUR -- OBVIOUSLY, THE PARTY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

CORE VALUES WILL BE THE SAME AS FAR AS AGREEING ON THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE PERSONAL FREEDOMS AS OPPOSED TO GOVERNMENT DICTATES, SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY MUCH AGREEABLE TO EVERYBODY.

BUT EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THE KEY THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT WE'VE ALWAYS SAID IS THAT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIAL, IT'S TRUE THAT THEY STAY TRUE TO THEIR CORE PRINCIPLES, AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE -- AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THEIR DISTRICT ELECT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN HERE FROM THE PANEL.

KATHERINE LANDERGAN.

>> HI.

ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY.

IF THERE IS ONE BILL THAT YOU COULD PICK TO MOVE ALONGSIDE THE BUDGET AND ONE THAT YOU THINK DEMOCRATS COULD GET BEHIND, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> WELL, THERE'S -- KATHERINE, AND EVERYBODY, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S BEEN OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

THE REPUBLICANS HAD IN PLACE SOMETHING CALLED THE -- THIS IS GETTING INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE TAX RECEIPTS WHERE ADMINISTRATIONS FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE TAKEN THAT MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES, BUT AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, REPUBLICANS HAD A BILL IN PLACE TO SEND THOSE FUNDS, AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, BACK TO THE MUNICIPALITIES TO USE DIRECTLY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, NOT EXPANDED PROGRAMS.

THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN THAT BILL AND THE SENATE HAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, PASSED IT AT THE SENATE BUDGET LEVEL.

SO, I'M HOPING THAT THAT BILL WILL GO THROUGH, BUT THAT'S A BILL THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPONSORING FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

>> CHARLIE, YOU HAD A QUESTION YOU WANT TO JOIN US WITH?

>> ON THIS ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY, THE REPUBLICANS FOR YEARS, ONE OF THEIR TALKING POINTS IS -- HAS BEEN THAT TRENTON OR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RETURNING MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

IT SHOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, TAKING IT AND OVERSPENDING IT OR WHATEVER THE THEME HAS BEEN.

SO, WITH THAT AS A CONTEXT, DO YOU SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S ANCHOR REBATES AND IF NOT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY SHOULD BE USED FOR?

WE'VE SEEN A LONG PILE-UP OF INFRASTRUCTURE -- GOVERNMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, COMPUTERS, FOR EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY MIGHT BE BETTER SPENT ON?

>> WELL, CHARLIE, FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THE ANCHOR PROGRAM IS JUST A RENAMING OF THE HOMESTEAD, YOU KNOW, THE REBATE PROGRAMS.

THEY PUT IT OUT AS IF IT WAS A BRAND-NEW PROGRAM TYPE THING, BUT IT'S NOT.

THE SENATE REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY PUT OUT A PLAN TO GIVE UP TO $1,000 TAX CREDIT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE -- THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS OVERTAXED, WE HEARD WHEN THE GOVERNOR GAVE HIS BUDGET ADDRESS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE $4.6 BILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED WHEN THEY PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER BACK IN, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR.

SO, THAT'S MONEY THAT COULD GO BACK DIRECTLY TO THE TAXPAYERS, BUT CHARLIE, ONE THING THAT IS NEVER ADDRESSED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR AFFORDABILITY, IS THOSE COST DRIVERS AT THE -- PRETTY MUCH AT THE STATE, THE COUNTY, AND THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT'S CAUSING THE COST OF GOVERNMENT TO GO UP, AND WE COULD DO AS MANY REBATE PROGRAMS AS POSSIBLE, BUT UNLESS YOU START TO REALLY GO AFTER AND WE TRIED, YOU KNOW, I WAS A CO-CHAIR ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS WITH SENATOR SARLOW AND SENATOR SINGLETON WAS THERE, FOR THE PATH TO PROGRESS, AND THOSE WENT AFTER THE REAL COST DRIVERS, AND UNTIL WE START DOING AND GOING AFTER THE COST DRIVERS, THE REBATE PROGRAMS COULD GO UP AND UP AND UP, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE FACT THAT THE COST OF GOVERNMENT IS GOING UP, AND THEREFORE, THE REBATE PROGRAMS HAVE TO GO UP SO YOU HAVE TO COLLECT THAT MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE, SO THE IDEA OF GOING AFTER THE COST DRIVERS, AND I'LL STILL KEEP WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PATH TO PROGRESS.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

>> MIKE SIMONS, QUICK QUESTION?

>> WE'RE NOW TWO AND A HALF MONTHS INTO THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOUR ASSESSMENT WAS OF HOW MUCH INFLUENCE AND INPUT REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING, PARTICULARLY WITH SENATE PRESIDENT SCUTARI NOW IN CHARGE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF PLACES WITH SENATOR SCUTARI.

LISTEN, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, WE'RE NEVER NECESSARILY GOING TO AGREE ON THINGS, BUT I FOUND THE SENATE PRESIDENT TO BE VERY, YOU KNOW, DELIBERATIVE, VERY COLLEGIAL WITH ME.

WE'VE HAD MANY, MANY DISCUSSIONS.

AS I SAID, I'VE BEEN ON MANY, MANY PANELS, AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, A LOT OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING UP HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN BILLS FOR QUITE A WHILE.

NOW THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY BIPARTISAN BILLS, WHICH IS FINE WITH US.

THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, GETTING THINGS DONE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN JUST A VERY DELIBERATIVE AND VERY RESPECTFUL SO WILL WE ALWAYS AGREE?

NO.

WILL IT BE PROFESSIONAL?

I BELIEVE IT WILL BE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR, LAST ONE.

TELL ME THE YEAR WHEN THE GOP FLIPS THE LEGISLATURE.

>> OH, I LOVE IT TO BE IN 2023.

WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WORK HARD FOR THAT.

>> WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION?

>> 2023.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, SENATOR STEVE OROHO, SENATE MINORITY LEADER, HOST OF SATURDAY EVENING'S RECEPTION, BY THE WAY, ALONG WITH JOHN DEMAYO.

IT ENDS AT P.M.

THE LEADER IS AN EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE GUY.

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON, BEING A GOOD SPORT.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> ALL RIGHT, PANEL, LET'S GET YOU BACK IN HERE, KATHERINE, MIKE, CHARLES.

THE GOP IS AOK AND READY TO FLIP THE ASSEMBLY IN 2023.

YOU HEARD IT.

CHARLES, IS IT A SURGE OR JUST BABY STEPS FOR THIS PARTY?

>> NO, I THINK THEY'RE -- SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, MAYBE?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL THAT BUT THEY DEFINITELY HAD MOMENTUM AND ENERGY ON THEIR SIDE RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK PART OF IT IS THE FATIGUE OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULE OVER THE PAST MUCH OF THE LAST TWO DECADES, REALLY, IF YOU WANT TO -- EVEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHRISTIE AND POWER, THE -- THEY DOMINATE THE LEGISLATURE FOR A LONG TIME.

SO -- AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY ENDED UP, MAYBE THAT MAP, THE LEGISLATIVE MAP, GIVES THEM SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES, SO YEAH, I THINK THE ONE ISSUE THAT OVERHANGS THE PARTY IS THE NATIONAL BRAND IS STILL -- AND I GET -- EVERY TIME I BRING THIS UP, I GET TOLD TO TAKE A HIKE, BUT I THINK THE NATIONAL BRAND IS A PROBLEM, AND AS WE SAW WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CONFIRMATION PROCESS, WE SAW VERY UGLY, XENOPHOBIC, ALMOST RACIST TONE COMING OUT OF THOSE HEARINGS, AND I THINK A LOT OF SUBURBAN VOTERS, A LOT OF YOUNG VOTERS LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD EVER HITCH MYSELF TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

>> MICHAEL, YOU WORK AROUND A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ON THE RADIO.

DOES IT FEEL DIFFERENT ON THE RADIO?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS SO.

I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY -- I MEAN, PART OF WHY LAST YEAR TURNED OUT THE WAY THAT IT DID BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG REPUBLICANS, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH JERSEY, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MAP NECESSARILY MAKES IT LIKELY THAT THE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO FLIP.

I MEAN, THE FOURTH DISTRICT IN SOUTH JERSEY CHANGED QUITE A BIT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, A LOT OF THE CHANGES WERE MARGINAL, SO THERE WILL BE SOME COMPETITIVE RACES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ENOUGH TO FLIP THE LEGISLATURE IN 2023.

BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE THEN?

>> KATHERINE, MY INBOX IS FLOODED WITH GOP NEWS LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

IS IT JUST BETTER PR?

I MEAN, THE DEMOCRATS STILL CONTROL ALL THE BIG CHAIRS RIGHT NOW.

>> DEFINITELY GOOD PR.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY AGGRESSIVE ON THAT FRONT.

NO, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT CHARLIE AND MIKE SAID, IT'S REALLY UNLIKELY TO SEE A FLIP, BUT THE ENERGY IS THERE.

THE MOMENTUM IS THERE.

I MEAN, DEMOCRATS DID NOT SEE THIS LAST ELECTION COMING.

NONE OF THE INTERNAL POLLING PICKED IT UP.

I THINK IT WAS JUST A HUGE SHOCK, AND SO YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING HERE.

>> CHARLIE, IN HONOR OF ST. PETER'S BASKETBALL'S NCAA RUN, YOU GET THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION QUESTION.

>> OH MY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE WATERFRONT COMMISSION ACTUALLY IS, RATHER JUST TELL US IF YOU CAN WHY THE PUBLIC MIGHT WANT TO CARE ABOUT NEW JERSEY SO ARDENTLY WANTING TO LEAVE THE COMMISSION.

>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'VE REALLY ARTICULATED IT VERY WELL.

I MEAN, IT WAS SET UP IN THE EARLY 1950s TO SORT OF MINIMIZE OR KEEP THE MOB AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT, KEEP THE JOHNNY FRIENDLIES FROM, YOU KNOW -- AND THE MOB RUNNING THAT PLACE.

IT'S -- BUT WE'VE HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM THE UNIONS THAT IT'S BEEN NOTHING MORE THAN A KIND OF MEDDLESOME BUREAUCRACY THAT DOESN'T REALLY DO WHAT IT SET OUT TO DO AND IT'S ONLY REINFORCED OLD STEREOTYPES.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, NEW YORK WANTS TO STAY.

NEW JERSEY WANTS TO MAINTAIN.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN OPERATION.

BUT NO ONE'S REALLY -- WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY KIND OF INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AS TO WHETHER IT REALLY WORKS OR WHETHER STATE POLICE, WHICH NEW JERSEY WANTS TO FILL THE VOID, REALLY THAT -- WHETHER THAT IS REALLY THE WAY TO GO.

I HAVE NO -- NO ONE REALLY HAS ANY IDEA.

IT'S -- WE'RE OPERATING IN A VACUUM.

>> YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, CHARLIE, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS PANEL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

>> THIS MURDER FOR HIRE CASE, THE SEAN CADDLE CASE, IT GETS CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSIER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD RAY ON WITH US LAST WEEK, BUT IT HAS CAUSED HIM CONSTERNATION.

DOES THIS THING HAVE LEGS, AS THEY SAY?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY.

YES, IT COULD HAVE LEGS.

BECAUSE THERE'S JUST -- WE JUST -- WE'RE JUST STILL, AGAIN, OPERATING IN A VACUUM.

YOU DON'T KNOW, REALLY, WHAT THE MOTIVE WAS BEHIND THE HIRING OF THESE TWO ASSASSINS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S COOPERATING, SEAN CADDLE IS COOPERATING THE FEDS WITH.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WHOLE CASE COULD JUST WRAP UP AND WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

THE FEDS MAY NEVER SHOW THEIR CARDS ON THIS.

SO IT IS REALLY -- WE'RE OPERATING IN STRANGER THAN FICTION TERRITORY HERE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

>> I'M FROM HUDSON COUNTY AND OF COURSE HUDSON COUNTY PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS.

I USED TO COVER THE POLICE BEAT IN NORTH HUDSON SO I'VE SEEN SOME ODD STORIES.

I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU RECALL THE WEIRDEST STORY YOU EVER COVERED.

KATHERINE?

>> THE WEIRDEST STORY, PROBABLY, NEW JERSEY POLITICS, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT REALLY A STRANGE STORY ITSELF, BUT MORE THE RESPONSE.

SO, I WAS -- GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY OR ELECTED AT THE TIME, HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO THEN GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE ASKING FOR HIM TO FREEZE SPENDING.

THIS WAS KIND OF A WONKY ISSUE.

AND GOVERNOR CHRISTIE ACTUALLY SPENT -- INSTEAD OF JUST RESPONDING FOR COMMENT, HE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY OF HIS SUNDAY WRITING A RESPONSE JUST FOR MY ARTICLE.

IT WAS VERY STRANGE AND SURREAL.

SO THAT WAS A VERY TYPICAL CHRISTIE MOVE.

>> RIGHT.

MICHAEL SIMONS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, LITERALLY, WHOLE BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT HOW CRAZY NEW JERSEY POLITICS IS.

WHAT WENT -- WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT SORT OF STRANGE STORIES, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR McGRIEVY RESIGNING, IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO TOP A GOVERNOR BEING LEFT FROM OFFICE.

PART OF WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT IS THAT WAS MY FIRST DAY AS NEWS EDITOR FOR GANETTE NEWSPAPERS AT THE STATE HOUSE WHERE BOB ENGEL WASN'T THERE.

WE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE MORNING, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW PERSONNEL COMMISSIONER, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT GOT ANNOUNCED THAT DAY.

>> CHARLIE, I DIDN'T GET ONE FROM YOU.

>> WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S THAT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT BEING A STRANGER THAN FICTION.

BRIDGEGATE TO ME, I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST, AND IT JUST GOT WEIRDER.

BUT I THINK ONE OF -- GOING BACK TO THE STREET MONEY SCANDAL OF CHRISTY WITMAN GETTING ELECTED IN 1993 ONLY TO HAVE ED ROLLINS BRAG AT A BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING THAT THEY PAID STREET WORKERS TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE.

WE SPENT WEEKS RUNNING AROUND, CHASING THAT STORY, INCLUDING GETTING STREET WORKERS IN MY CAR AND TRYING TO RIDE AROUND THE CITY OF TRENTON LOOKING FOR THESE POLLING PLACES WHERE THEY -- AND PEOPLE TRYING TO ROUND UP PEOPLE THAT ALLEGEDLY DID THIS, AND THE GUY DIDN'T PRODUCE IT, AND HE ENDED UP ASKING ME FOR $25.

SO THAT WAS WEIRD.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE DONE INTERVIEWS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME FOR MONEY AT THE END AND I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.

ANYWAY, IT IS BUDGET SEASON.

WE'VE HAD THE FIRST TWO PUBLIC SESSIONS, VIRTUAL THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE BEEN.

WITH SO MUCH MONEY FLOATING AROUND THE STATE HOUSE, IS THERE NO CHANCE THAT WE'LL HAVE A GOVERNMENT LOCKOUT, KATHERINE?

>> I WOULD -- I WOULD BE SHOCKED.

YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH MONEY RIGHT NOW THAT'S FLOATING AROUND.

YEAH, WE SAW IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS THIS WEEK THEY ARE VERY MUCH LIKE THE ONES WE'VE SEEN IN PAST YEARS WHERE FOLKS COME AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEIR ASK ON BEHALF OF THEIR GROUP OR CAUSE, BUT THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE IS MONEY AND THIS IS USUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT YEAH, IN TERMS OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, I'D BE SHOCKED.

YEAH.

>> MICHAEL SIMONS, COME ON.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL.

THEY'RE GOING HAVE TO ARGUE OVER SOMETHING, RIGHT?

>> OH, THEY'LL FIND THINGS TO ARGUE ABOUT, BUT NO ONE SHOULD HOPE FOR A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN -- >> WE ARE LITERALLY TALKING -- RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LITERALLY TALKING TO THE SUMMER LOCKOUT CHEF RIGHT HERE, MICHAEL SIMONS.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> HANDLES THE BARBECUE.

>> GOOD ONE TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, EVEN IN THE HEARINGS THIS WEEK, THERE WERE STILL ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY, SO KIND OF, NO MATTER HOW BIG THE BUDGET GETS, THERE ARE ALWAYS ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT YOU COULD ALLOT MONEY TOWARDS, SO THERE WILL STILL BE THINGS TO DEBATE ABOUT, EVEN IN GOOD TIMES, BUT AS KATHERINE SAID, I DON'T THINK ANYONE THINKS THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO A SHUTDOWN SORT OF SCENARIO.

>> LET'S FINISH WITH THE SUPREME COURT NOMINEE HEARINGS IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

HERE'S SENATOR CORY BOOKER DOING HIS BEST CORY BOOKER AND BRINGING THE ROOM TO TEARS.

>> YOU DID NOT GET THERE BECAUSE OF SOME LEFT-WING AGENDA.

YOU DIDN'T GET HERE BECAUSE OF SOME DARK MONEY GROUPS.

YOU GOT HERE HOW EVERY BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA WHO'S GOTTEN ANYWHERE HAS DONE, BY BEING LIKE GINGER ROGERS SAID.

I DID EVERYTHING FRED ASTAIRE DID, BUT BACKWARDS IN HEELS.

AND SO I'M JUST SITTING HERE, SAYING, NOBODY'S STEALING MY JOY.

NOBODY'S GOING TO MAKE ME ANGRY.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY "I AM SPARTACUS" MOMENT YOU WILL GET SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHEN CORY BOOKER CAN REALLY NAIL THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF A MOMENT.

DID HE NAIL IT THERE?

>> YES, HE DID.

AND IT WAS LONG OVERDUE.

AGAIN, IT WAS AN ATROCIOUS ATTACK ON A VERY QUALIFIED, MORE THAN QUALIFIED WOMAN FOR THE SUPREME COURT, AND IT REALLY, I THINK, AS I SAID EARLIER, I THINK IT WAS A COLOSSAL MISTAKE AND EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

>> KATHERINE, DID YOU WATCH SOME OF THIS, AND WHAT'D YOU THINK OF BOOKER'S PRESENTATION?

WATCHING KIND OF BITS AND PIECES, AND YEAH, I MEAN, IT WAS VERY MUCH, AS YOU SAID, KIND OF AUTHENTIC BOOKER.

I THINK HE REALLY -- AND HE'S A VERY EARNEST GUY AND I THINK IT WAS JUST AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR HIM AS A BLACK SENATOR, SEEING A BLACK WOMAN IN FRONT OF HIM, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND SO IT JUST FELT LIKE A VERY RAW MOMENT.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, ST. PETER'S UNIVERSITY HAS HAD A GREAT RUN.

MICHAEL SIMONS, LASTING IMPACT OF THIS NCAA BID?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW KNOW WHERE ST. PETER'S UNIVERSITY IS.

SO, THEY GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION AND PUBLICITY, AND GOOD FOR THEM, AND GO PEACOCKS.

>> CHARLIE, WRAP IT UP FOR US.

ASSEMBLYMAN PARKER SPACE RETIRING.

GOOD RIDDANCE OR WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, PAL?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE COPY, BUT I THINK FOR THE BODY POLITIC, REALLY, FRANKLY, GOOD RIDDANCE, WHO NEEDS THAT?

>> THE KIND OF WING OF THE PARTY THAT HE KIND OF REPRESENTED IS ASCENDANT, NO?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ASCENDANT.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOISY AND FLAMBOYANT AND WE'LL SEE.

IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY.

BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR THE PARTY GOING FORWARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE, MIKE, KATHERINE, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

THAT IS "ROUNDTABLE" FOR THE WEEK.

OUR THANKS ALSO TO SENATOR STEVE OROHO.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER,@DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR IMPORTANT LIVESTREAMS AND MORE "CHAT BOX," "BUSINESS BEAT," AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, 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