>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PRIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTOR, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

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

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT 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.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

IT'S THE WANING WEEKS OF THE YEAR AND A PEEK AT 2022 AND OUR PANEL OF HEF WEIGHTS OF STATEHOUSE WATCHERS, COLLEEN ODEH IS SENIOR WRITER AND FRED SNOWFLACK IS COLUMNIST WITH INSIDER N.J. AND CHARLIE STYLE IS THE POLITICAL COLUMNIST FOR THE RECORD USA TODAY NETWORK.

WE'LL GET INTO IT WITH THEM IN JUST A BIT AND WE'LL START WITH THE MAN THAT MANY CREDIT WITH RIDING THE SHIP DURING THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION AND DOING IT AGAIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

HE IS BACK NOW AS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR GOVERNOR MURPHY.

WELCOME TO "REPORTERS' ROUNDTABLE."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> SO YOU WERE FIRED FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND THEN THEY BROUGHT YOU BACK BECAUSE THEY FELT BAD FOR YOU?

>> WELL PUT.

I WENT TO HELP MOLLY AND JACKIE ACHIEVE THE HISTORY THAT WE ACHIEVED IN GETTING THIS GOVERNOR RE-ELECTED IN THE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY ACHIEVED WITH ITS FINAL GOAL.

>> SO WITH WE SPOKE RIGHT BEFORE ELECTION DAY, YOU SAID DON'T BELIEVE THE POLLS THAT HAVE THE GOVERNOR UP BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

YOU SAID IT WAS MORE LIKE 4%.

IT ENDED UP BEING SOMETHING LIKE 3%.

WHAT DID YOU KNOW THAT POLLSTERS EVIDENTLY MISSED.

>> I THINK WE'LL START WITH THE DATA.

SO FIRST GOVERNOR RE-ELECTED AS A DEMOCRAT, AND BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN FIVE DECADES AND MOST OF THOSE TABS FOR ANY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND THAT'S THE SOLID STRENGTH AND SUPPORT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD AS WE WENT INTO ELECTION DAY.

WHAT YOU AND I DISCUSSED IS THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION OUT THERE.

LIFE HAS NOT BEEN NORMAL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE PANDEMIC HAS IMPACTED CLEARLY THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC WELL-BEING OF OUR CONSTITUENCY AND THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND THE COMMON WELL-BEING OF OUR STATE.

OUR KIDS ARE WEARING MASKS AND SCHOOL WAS REMOTE FOR THE CERTAIN PERIOD OF THAT YEAR AND EMPLOYMENT IS NOT NORMAL.

OUR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AREN'T ACCUSTOM, AND I KNEW THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT.

I THINK WE ALL BUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON ELECTION DAY AND THE VICTORY WAS THE GOAL AND VICTORY THIS GOVERNOR ACHIEVED.

>> HAS THERE BEEN IN YOUR MIND, A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE STATE'S ELECTORATE OR WAS IT JUST A BATTLE OF THE ACTIVIST WINGS OF BOTH PARTIES AND REPUBLICANS KIND OF JUST OUTHUSTLED DEMOCRATS?

>> I THINK THE THINGS THAT THIS GOVERNOR DID IN THE FIRST FOUR YEARS REALLY SPOKE TO THE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AND 14 TAX CUTS AND CREDITS FOR WORKING FAMILIES INCLUDING A PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS.

THAT IS HOW YOU ACHIEVE HISTORIC MARKS IN THE VOTER TURNOUT AND IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN TURNOUT FOR THE OPPONENT, YOU CAN ALWAYS STOP BY GIVING THE ASSEMBLYMAN CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY ACHIEVED, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF UNDERLYING RESENTMENT AND UNDERLYING FRUSTRATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE GLOBE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC, AND I THINK THAT SHOWED ITSELF ON ALL OF THE ELECTIONS.

WE SAW A REPUBLICAN SURGE IN VIRGINIA, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS GOVERNOR, THE RECORD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO RUN ON IS THE REASON HE WAS THE LAST MAN STANDING.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED THOSE.

THANKS FOR DOING THAT AND SAVING ME THE QUESTION OF ASKING YOU TO LIST THEM, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, THERE ARE STILL SOME BIG-TICKET ITEMS OUT THERE, THOUGH, WITH THE COMPLAINT RE REVIEW BOARDS AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, SCHOOL SEGREGATION AND PORT AUTHORITY.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION PREPARED TO GO TO BATTLE OVER IN THE WANING DAYS OF THIS LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK ALL OF THE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED, DAVID, ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS GOVERNOR.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS GOVERNOR ON THE PROMISES HE'S MADE TO NEW JERSEY, HE IS GOING TO FIGHT AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

OF THE NEARLY 50 CAMPAIGN PROMISES HE'S MADE, ALMOST ALL OF THEM AND YOU MENTIONED TWO BIG ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ON AND HOPEFULLY ACHIEVE.

THE SUPREME COURT LOOKS AT ROE V. WADE.

NEW JERSEY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN BOTH CHAMBERS TO ENSURE THAT A WOMAN'S CHOICE AND A WOMAN'S DECISION IS BETWEEN HER AND HER DOCTOR AND NOT BY POLITICIANS.

SO WE WILL FIGHT TO SEE THAT TO ITS CONCLUSION HOPEFULLY IN THE LAME DUCK AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCATES ON 3.0 WHICH ARE COMMON SENSE GUN MEASURES THAT KEEP NEW JERSEY AT THE FOREFRONT OF GUN SAFETY AND THAT AND WE ENTER THE NEW YEAR AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PACK TO MAKE NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES AND TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE AND NEW ECONOMY FOR OUR COMPANIES.

>> I'VE GOT TO ASK ABOUT THE STATE POLICE, SPECIFICALLY THE TROOPERS WHO WORKED IN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE ANNEX.

I WON'T SAY HOW TERRIBLE THEY WERE MADE TO LOOK WITH THE REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

YOUR ACTING SUPERINTENDENT HAD A HARD TIME BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, FAIR OR UNFAIR, BUT ISN'T IT WAY PAST TIME FOR THERE TO BE SOME CLARITY ON THE ROLE AND THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF STATE POLICE IN THAT BUILDING ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE WE ARE IN VERY DIFFERENT TIMES.

>> LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT I THINK THE POLICIES PUT FORWARD BY THE STATE HOUSE LEADERSHIP ON A VACCINE OR TEST EFFORT TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE STATE HOUSE IS COMMON SENSE, AND I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FIGHT THAT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 2nd.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, CLEARLY THERE WERE PROTOCOL FAILURES IN EXECUTING WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE COLONEL OF THE STATE POLICE INDICATED THAT THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP WOULD HAVE.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF SESSION DAYS FOLLOWING DECEMBER 2nd AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> BUT IT'S ALSO -- BUT IT'S ALSO CLEAR, GEORGE, THAT THERE'S A LACK OF CLARITY IN TERMS OF HOW THAT ALL WORKS IF THEY HAD DIRECTIONS TO DO A, THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

WHO GAVE IT TO THEM?

WHO GIVES IT TO THEM IN THERE WAS THE QUESTION OF THE TIME THAT SUE GOT CALLED OUT BY STATE POLICE AT THE DIRECTION OF A LEGISLATOR.

THAT'S STILL NOT CLEAR AND IF YOU GET A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BUM RUSH ONE OF THOSE ROOMS THOSE GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S CALLING THE SHOTS, NO?

>> I THINK LET ME JUST FIRST SAY THAT I WAS INCREDIBLY PLEASED THAT A LIFETIME PUBLIC SERVANT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND A TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN SUPPORT OF OUR COVID RESPONSE AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY EFFORTS WAS JUN UNANIMOUSLY VOTED AND THE PROTOCOLS WERE RATHER SIMPLE AND NOT FOLLOWED ACCORDINGLY ON DECEMBER 2nd.

THERE WERE CLEAR PROTOCOLS AND WHERE YOU ENTER MANY PLACES AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR ITS EMPLOYEES AND THEY HAD TEST MANDATE AND AS I SAID, THOSE PROTOCOLS, I UNDERSTAND, HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED AT LEAST IN THE LAST TWO SESSION DAYS AND I WILL EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BE FOLLOWED GOING FORWARD IN THE VOTING SESSION DAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IN 15 SECONDS, ARE WE GOING TO SEE ANY EXPANSION OF RESTRICTIONS DUE TO THE COVID SITUATION?

>> LOOK, WE WERE SAYING BEFORE WE CAME ON, WE ARE MONITORING THE CASE SURGE VERY CLOSELY WHILE DELTA REMAINS THE PRESSING VARIANT AT THE MOMENT.

WE BELIEVE THE OMICRON WILL OVERTAKE IT AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH WHERE THE CASE NUMBERS ARE GOING.

THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO MINUTE TOR EVERY HOMONITOR ER ON THE HOUR AND HE'S ALWAYS MADE DECISIONS NOT BASED ON POLITICS OR A FORTHCOMING ELECTION, BUT WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

OUR FIRST JOB IS TO SAVE LIVES.

WITHOUT PUBLIC HEALTH WE CAN'T CREATE IT IF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS COMING DOWN AND THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW.

IF WE CAN'T PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN WE WILL NOT REBOUND THE ECONOMY.

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWERIST PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC WELL-BEING.

>> GEORGE IS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF GOVERNOR BILL MURPHY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> TO YOU, COLLEEN AND FRED, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

LET'S BRING THAT PANEL IN, COLLEEN, FRED, CHARLIE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

CHARLIE, CAN THE CHIEF OF STAFF MEAN THAT MUCH TO AN ADMINISTRATION?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

BACK IN 2004, THEY BROUGHT IN JAMIE FOXX AND HE RESTORED ORDER AMID THE CHAOS AND THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES.

HE HELPED PIVOT THIS ADMINISTRATION ONE FROM BANGING ON THE WALL AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH AND WHEEL AND DEAL.

SO YES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HELM, FRED?

I GUESS YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SAY HE'S TERRIBLE, BUT ANY THOUGHTS ON HIM?

>> AS HE MENTIONED AND AS HE SAID, HE WAS DISPATCHED TO THE CAMPAIGN IN THE WANING DAYS AND I GUESS IT'S INTERESTING HOW HE SAID IN CONTRAST TO THE POLLING IT WOULD BE A VERY CLOSE RACE WHICH IS INTERESTING AS WE KNOW MOST OF THE PUBLIC POLLS HAD YOU WINNING EASILY, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS CANDID IN SAYING THAT.

ALSO, I ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND HE MENTIONED IN LAME DUCK LIKE CODIFYING ABORTION RIGHTS LIKE THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN NOW AND BETWEEN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

THAT'S A BIG THING THAT I KNOW THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH AND SO FAR THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING ALONG WITH HIM.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO LAME DUCK AND OTHER STUFR, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE STATE POLICE AT THE STATE HOUSE.

COLLEEN, YOU WERE AT THAT HEARING WITH COLONEL CALLAHAN.

THEY WERE THERE A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THEY DID.

HE STUCK WITH THE INVESTIGATION SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT AT ALL.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THERE WAS EVEN -- THERE'S A LETTER THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WROTE TO THE LEGISLATORS THAT SAYS THAT HE TALKED WITH CALLAHAN AND THEY COULDN'T GET CALLAHAN TO ADMIT THAT HE TALKED TO THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATE PRESIDENT SWEENEY IS NOT A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE AND HE SAT IN ON THAT HEARING AND HE ESSENTIALLY SAID YOU'RE STONEWALLING US.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

STILL, THEY ALL VOTED TO RELEASE HIS NOMINATION AND SENT IT TO THE SENATE.

>> CHARLIE, THERE ARE DETAILS FOR TROOPERS GENERALLY, BUT AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME, RIGHT?

THOSE FIVE OR SIX ASSEMBLY PEOPLE COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN A CROWD OF A HUNDRED.

>> YEAH.

TOTALLY.

LET'S REEL THE TAPE BACK AND FORGET THE ASSEMBLY.

WE HAD THE STATE HOUSE OVERTAKEN BY THE ANTI-VAX CROWD EARLIER AND OVER THE EXEMPTION BILL AND THAT WAS, TO ME, I NEVER SAW ANYTHING SO CHAOTIC.

>> THEY WERE BANGING ON THE WINDOWS.

>> AND HONKING HORNS.

IT WAS COMPLETE, TOTAL TAKEOVER THE BUILDING AND YOU'RE 100% RIGHT TO ASK ABOUT THE CLARITY BECAUSE I WAS THERE THAT MORNING WHEN YOU SAW LEGISLATORS COMING THROUGH WITHOUT BEING TESTED OR WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOW VAX, THEIR VACCINATION STATUS AND FOUR HOURS LATER THEY'RE AT THE CHAMB CHAMBER DOOR AND YOU HAVE STATE POLICE TELLING THEM THEY COULDN'T GET IN.

ONE OF THEM WAS FROM BERGEN COUNTY.

I SAW AT 10:00 A.M. GETTING AN EASY PASS IN AND BEING FORCED -- CONFRONTED AT THE DOOR IN YOUR PHOTO RIGHT THERE IN THE FILM.

SO THERE WAS CLEARLY NO -- THERE WAS NO CLARITY.

THERE WERE NO CLEAR MARCHING ORDERS.

YOU REALLY GOT A SENSE THAT THE TROOPERS WERE KIND OF FREELANCING IT, AND THE PUBLIC DEFINITELY NEEDS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING GOING FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE.

IT'S REALLY NOT A SMALL THING.

>> DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT I THINK THE STATE POLICE ARE PROBABLY IN A TOUGH POSITION, THAT JOB IS NOT REALLY TO ARREST LAWMAKERS, BUT GETTING BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CLARITY AND YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT EXACT GUIDANCE THEY GOT FROM ABOVE AND AS WAS POINTED OUT, MR. CALLAHAN DID NOT CLARIFY THINGS AS THEY DID THINGS YESTERDAY AND EVERYONE WHO DEALS WITH IT OVER THE YEARS AND THEY ARE BACK UNDER INVESTIGATION.

ON ONE HAND, THAT'S TRUE, IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND AS IT'S POINTING OUT IT IS STONEWALLING BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THEY COULD SAY IF THEY WANTED TO.

CLEARLY, HE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAME DUCK SESSION BUILDS.

WHAT WILL WE SEE COMING OUT OF THIS SESSION.

LET'S START WITH YOU, ANY OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF WILL SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY DO THINK THAT THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT IS THE BIG ISSUE, BUT IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE STOMACH FOR PASSING ALL THAT IS IN THAT FILM.

SO I THINK I WOULD LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT WATERED DOWN AND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T AT LEAST CODIFY THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IN THE STATE BECAUSE IT IS NOT CODIFIED IN LAW RIGHT NOW AND WHILE WE HAVE A SUPREME COURT IN THE STATE THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN VERY -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY PROGRESSIVE AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN IN MATTERS LIKE THIS AND IN WAYS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO UPHOLD LIKE THAT AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITH A FUTURE LEGISLATURE OR GOVERNOR OR COURT.

>> CHARLIE, ANY OTHER BILLS GOING TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY OUT OF THIS?

WHAT DO WE HAVE?

ONE SESSION LEFT IN THIS YEAR.

I'M WITH COLIN ON THAT.

I THINK THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT IS GOING TO BE REALLY A DEFINING PIECE BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES AND THE ADVANTAGE OF LAME DUCK IS ADVANTAGE, AND IT IS A TANGLE.

THERE'S NO CON SENSE, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND INTERESTING AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, BUT THERE ARE BIG COSTS THAT WOULD BE BORNE BY INSURERS ON THIS SO THAT'S ANOTHER FACET OF THIS AND I REALLY FIND TO BE INTERESTING.

I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY KNOW WHERE THE ANTI-ABORTION CROWD AND THE ABORTION ADVOCATES ARE AND WHO THE LOBBYISTS ARE, AND I THINK THE INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THOSE HIDDEN HANDS ON THIS.

>> THE NEXT -- THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO HAVE A BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIBE, I THINK.

WEINBERG RETIRING AND SENATOR RUIZ IS THE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS SEEMINGLY READY TO BE MORE CONFRONTATIONAL.

COLLEEN, I THINK RUIZ IS LIKE A SLIPPER HERE.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE INFLUENCE THAN PEOPLE THINK.

THE LAW CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

I REALLY THINK I THINK THE PROGRESSIVE CONSCIENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE CENDANT AT.

SHE'S DONE SO MUCH ON SO MANY ISSUES, OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS WHICH EVERY JOURNALIST IS INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND CHAMPIONING THAT COMMITTEE THAT HAS LOOKED AT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

SO MANY THINGS AND TERESA IS CERTAINLY SOMEONE WHO, I THINK, COULD STEP IN THERE.

SHE'S ALSO A PROGRESSIVE.

SHE'S BRILLIANT.

SHE'S A GREAT SPEAKER.

I THINK SHE'S A GOOD MOTIVATOR.

SO IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE SHE DOES HAVE.

>> CHARLIE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE SCATARI REGIME?

>> THAT'S A REALLY REQUGOOD QUESTION.

I'M TRYING TO WRAP MY HANDS AROUND IT.

AFTER A DECADE OF STEVE SWEENEY THAT YOU CAN EXPECT A CERTAIN RHYTHM, A CERTAIN UNCERTAINTY WITH STEVE SWEENEY BECAUSE DON'T YOU REMEMBER, HE DID CHANGE HIS POSITION ON CERTAIN ISSUES, BUT THERE WAS DISAPPOINTMENT AND THERE WAS GRUDGING RESPECT FROM THE REPUBLICANS SO SCATARI SEEMED TO BE UNDER SWEENEY'S WING TO A DEGREE, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME FORCE OF THE POWER OF THIS AND THE SOUTH JERSEY MACHINERY BEHIND HIM AND IT WAS A BIG BACKSTOP AND THAT WAS A BIG QUESTION MARK.

ONE THING WE WANT TO SAY ABOUT LORETTA.

EVERYTHING COLLEEN SAID WAS TRUE AND SHE SHOWED A REMARKABLE SKILL AT BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE MACHINE ASK THE POWER BROKERS WHO WERE NOT IDEOLOGICAL ALIGNED AND SWEENEY BROUGHT HER INTO THE LEADERSHIP AND SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER WITHIN THAT.

SO THAT IS A REMARKABLE FEAT AND SKILL, AND I'M NOT SO SURE IT WILL BE EASILY DUPLICATED.

>> FRED, WHAT ABOUT THESE REPUBLICANS?

WILL THEY JUST CAUSE TROUBLE, STOMP THEIR FEET, PULL THEIR HAIR AND YELL?

>> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT PROBABLY MORE IN THE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, REPUBLICANS ONLY GAINED ONE SEAT IN THE SENATE AND THEY GAINED SIX IN THE ASSEMBLY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE QUESTION IS ARE THEY JUST GOING TO YELL AND SCREAM AND DO STUNTS LIKE THEY DID ON DECEMBER 2nd OR WILL THEY COOPERATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND GET THINGS DONE ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICANS AND THE ASSEMBLY PEOPLE WILL TRY TO GET THINGS DONE AND WILL THEY JUST STAMP THEIR FEET?

AS WE WERE TALKING, THE THING IS FROM A PURELY POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW, SOME REPUBLICANS LIKE JAY WEATHER WAS ON FOX NEWS AND SO WERE SOME OF THE OTHERS.

IN A WAY THEY WERE TREATED AS HEROES STANDING UP TO QUOTE, UNQUOTE, TYRANNY.

IN A WAY THERE'S PROBABLY MORE POLITICAL BENEFIT FROM ACTING THAT WAY THAN THERE IS IN JUST COOPERATING ON BILLS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT PAY ATTENTION TO ANYWAY.

>> I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I WANT TO GET EACH OF YOU TO GIVE ME VERY QUICKLY, ONE STORY THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO COMING UP IN '22?

CHARLIE, LET'S START WITH YOU REAL QUICK.

>> I THINK THE FATE OF CONGRESSMAN TOM MALINOWSKI AFTER REDISTRICTING WILL BE REALLY FASCINATING AS WELL AS THE SWING DISTRICTS IN THE MIDTERMS BEFORE SWING DISTRICTS.

I AGREE.

2022 WILL BE THE PROGRESSION AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND ANOTHER MONTH OR SO AND THE REDISTRICTING AND IT'S PART OF THE GAME PLAN IS SET AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THAT WILL BE THE BIG STORY OF 2022.

>> COLLEEN, THE YEAR END NUMBER'S 2022.

GO!

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THOSE GUY, BUT I'LL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THE NEW SENATE LOOKS LIKE UNDER NICK SCATARI.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FINALLY TONIGHT, SOME GENUINE CHRISTMAS CHEER AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAYS.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW COLLEEN ODAY AS THE DAY THE DIVA AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST AND SHE IS A WOMAN OF MANY TALENTS, AND ONE OF THOSE GOES ON FULL DISPLAY THIS TIME OF YEAR AND A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE.

COLLEEN, I LOVE THIS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS?

>> I SEE IT MADE IT ON.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN LIVING HERE.

IT STARTED WITH ONE LITTLE HOUSE AND IT'S GROWN TO ABOUT 75 NOW.

IT'S -- WHAT I MISSED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND I DIDN'T WANT PEM TO COME SEE IT BECAUSE OF COVID.

I'M GLAD PEOPLE CAN SEE IT HERE.

>> HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS EXCEPT I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL ADULT SONS WHO JUST LIKE BEING ADULTS AND ARE HUGE HELPERS AND MY SON'S FIANCE AND SO WE GET IT DONE IN A WEEKEND.

IT STARTS -- ACTUALLY WE STARTED T THANKSGIVING NIGHT AFTER DINNER AND FINISHED ON SUNDAY.

>> THAT IS A FANTASTIC TRADITION.

WHAT DO YOU BUY?

LIKE SOMETHING EVERY YEAR?

>> I DO.

I DO.

THIS YEAR I BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM AND IT'S VERY SMALL AND I BUY SOMETHING NEW EVERY YEAR.

IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY.

I KNOW THAT, BUT WOO E LOVE IT.

>> THERE'S A BOWLING ALLEY.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THERE WAS A BOWLING ALLEY.

>> HOW MUCH -- WHAT'S YOUR ELECTRIC BILL LIKE?

>> J.C. POWER LOVERSS ME AT THI TIME OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR THE ROUNDTABLE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY.

WE ARE OFF FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND BACK AT IT AGAIN IN JANUARY.

WE'VE HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME BRINGING YOU THE SHOW THIS YEAR.

THE JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN TOP RATE AND THE GUESTS HAVE ADDED A LOT TO THE SHOW.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

YOU CAN KEEP THE UGLY TO YOURSELF.

THEY PLENTY OF THAT OUT THERE ALREADY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, FOR ALL OF US OUT HERE, THANKS FOR COMING BACK WEEK AFTER WEEK, HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL HOLIDAY AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE BY DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS AND THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT N.J. REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH AND LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER AND BY MJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO EXECUTIVES 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.

♪ ♪