>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUISE IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NET WORK DEDICATED TO POLITICAL NEWS.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INCITE.

ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.COM.

>>> WELCOME TO CHAT BOX.

I'M DAVID CRUISE.

JUST A WARNING, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING BUDGETS AND NUMBERS THAT INCLUDE DOLLAR FIGURES YOU MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE OR DISTURBING.

PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING STATE BUDGET IN MINUTES.

BUT WE BEGIN IN NEWARK AFTER NEWS EMERGED OF A RENEWED CONTRACT PAYING MORE THAN $10 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

CRITICS SAY THE RENEWAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC DEBATE.

THIS IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN UNDER STATE CONTROL BECAUSE OF SHADY BUDGET MANAGEMENT AMONG OTHER THINGS.

HERE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID, FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANTED TO GET THE FACTS RIGHT HERE.

WHEN YOU GOT RENEWED IN 2019, THERE WAS A CLAUSE IN THAT CONTRACT THAT CALLED FOR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF YOUR CONTRACT AFTER A CERTAIN DATE.

WAS THAT MAY OF '22, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO IS IT FIVE YEARS AT 290,000?

>> THE CONTRACT ACTUALLY IN 2019 IS -- WAS $275,000.

THE COLA IS WHAT WOULD CHANGE THAT YEAR BY YEAR.

SO THE 275 WAS FROM 2019, AND THEN THE FIVE-YEAR TERM, WHICH WOULD KICK IN ON JULY 1, 2023.

>> SO SOME PEOPLE ARE UP IN ARMS BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FATE REGULATIONS ARE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR.

WHENEVER THERE'S A CHANGE IN ANY SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED.

AND WHEN WE MOVE FROM THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT OF 2018 THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018 AND BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS IN 2019, ALL OF THE TERMS THAT WERE IN THAT ORIGINAL CONTRACT SHORT OF SALARY AND THE THREE TO FIVE YEARS WERE ALL THE SAME.

THERE WAS A CHANGE FROM THREE TO FIVE AS WELL AS A SALARY, SO THERE HAD TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IN AUGUST OF 2019, A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD.

WE HAD TO ANNOUNCE IT THROUGH MEDIA AS REQUIRED BY THE SUNSHINE LAW, AND WE HAD TO HAVE A HEARING.

SO A PUBLIC HEARING WAS ACTUALLY HELD.

AND THEN A WEEK AFTER THAT PUBLIC HEARING, THE BOARD VOTED THAT 8-0 TO ACTUALLY APPROVE THOSE CHANGES.

SO THERE ISN'T A CHANGE IN MY CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.

MY CONTRACT ENDS JUNE 30, 2023.

THE ISSUE ULTIMATELY BECOMES THAT THE RENEWAL OF THIS FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED IN MAY IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NONRENEWAL.

>> RIGHT.

BUT SO YOUR POINT OF VIEW, THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THIS WAS WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED BACK A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THAT'S -- >> EXACTLY.

SO -- >> BUT YOU KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY LEARNED ABOUT THIS TODAY OR -- NOT TODAY BUT JUST RECENTLY AND IT TOOK PLACE IN MAY AND THAT THEY'RE SAYING NOBODY KNEW THAT THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS AND HOW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE OR INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, A NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS WHO ARE SAYING THEY ARE MAKING INQUIRIES ABOUT, OH, MY GOODNESS, HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN.

FOR SOME OF THE MAIN MEDIA OUTLETS WHO DID AN OPEN REQUEST RECEIVING THIS CONTRACT THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, SO IT'S NOT INFORMATION THAT HADN'T BEEN HEARD BEFORE.

BUT EVERYTHING -- THE PANDEMIC, PREPANDEMIC AND DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAME ELECTRONIC.

WE HAVE ESB, WHICH IS A SYSTEM THAT HOLDS ALL THE BOARD RESOLUTIONS.

SO THERE WAS A HEARING, THERE WAS TESTIMONY.

WE ACTUALLY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE OF PRINT MEDIA IN ATTENDANCE.

SO THE INFORMATION WAS THERE.

AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT -- IN CONVERSATIONS, AND JUST EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM IS SOMETHING WE OBVIOUSLY THINK IS IMPORTANT, KNOW IS IMPORTANT, AND WOULD OBVIOUSLY DO AND WILL BE DOING AS WE GET THROUGH THIS CONTRACT AND AS WE BEGIN THE NEXT ONE.

>> I WANT TO PLAY THIS COMMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEACHERS UNION.

>> WE OURSELVES, WHENEVER WE'VE AGREED ON A CONTRACT, WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE BY OUR MEMBERSHIP.

AND THE BOARD -- THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO APPROVE THAT AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THOSE ACTIONS ARE DONE PUBLICLY, AND ONCE WE'VE AGREED ON A CONTRACT, WHETHER IT BE A THREE OR FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, IT'S PUBLISHED AND AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.

SO THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS WEEK IF THAT'S IF THIS WAS CAMMY ANDERSON, THERE WOULD BE PROTESTS IN FRONT OF 2 CEDAR STREET ALL WEEK LONG.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED NOW.

BUT THERE IS A SENSE YOU HAVE SOME REPAIRING TO DO, NOT ONLY WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT WITH THE UNION AS WELL.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IS ENDEMIC OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION SINCE MY START IS BEING VERY, VERY CLEAR WITH PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IS DEFINITELY ON THE TOP OF PRIORITY, NOT ONLY ON A GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS STANDPOINT, BUT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS OCCURRING UNDER THE DISTRICT, DEFINITELY ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, MAY 15 IS A TRIGGER DATE EVERY YEAR.

ANYONE WHO'S -- WHO DOES NOT HAVE TENURE, A TEACHER, AN STRAITER IN A SCHOOL, A SUPERINTENDENT IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT KNOWS THAT MAY 15 IS IN FACT THE NONRENEWAL DATE, AND IF YOU'RE NOT NOTICED ON THAT DAY THAT YOU ARE NOT BEING RENEWED, THEN YOUR CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY RENEWED.

SO THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE CONCEPT THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HAVING THESE IMPORTANT COMMUNICATIONS, WE WILL DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THIS DIALOGUE AS WELL AS A HOST OF ALL OTHERS AS WE CONTINUE, WHETHER IT'S OUR PARENT TOURS OR JUST LAST MONTH, I MET WITH ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE PARENT ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL 62 SCHOOLS.

SO GETTING INPUT FROM OUR PARENTS, WE HAVE A COUNCIL OF STUDENTS THAT ARE 68 STRONG WHO HAVE PROVIDED INCREDIBLE DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE, LETTING ME KNOW WHAT ARE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, ISSUES THAT ARE PERHAPS NOT BEING REALIZED IN THEIR PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

SO INCORPORATES DISCOURSE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND DEFINITELY IN EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT I DO, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE AWARE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY INCLUDES ME AS THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.

>> SO DO YOU FEEL LIKE MAYBE YOUR OFFICE NEEDS TO STEP UP ITS COMMUNICATIONS GAME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE -- BUT MY ACTING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

SHE'S DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HEAD ON BECAUSE IN MANY RESPECTS WHEN WE ARE CLARIFYING THINGS LATER, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE TIME PERIOD THAT LAPSED WOULD HAVE AT LEAST HELPED PREVENT A REPORTER KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION THIS INITIALLY INCORRECTLY.

SO DEFINITELY AND OBVIOUSLY YOU REACHING OUT WAS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> YES.

SO THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE NOISE MADE ABOUT THIS.

IF THERE WAS NOISE TO BE MADE ABOUT IT WHEN IT HAPPENED BACK THEN IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO HERE'S WHAT I GOT FROM TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING FRIENDS OF YOURS ABOUT YOU.

THEY SAY SOMETIMES YOU CAN BE STUBBORN, AND YOU'RE NOT REAL GOOD WITH CRITICISM.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK THAT BEING HIGHLY CRITICAL OF MYSELF IS DEFINITELY AN ASSET AS WELL AS A CURSE, IN THAT I AM MY HARDEST CRITIC.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED, AS I AM, IN MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL ARE THE ONLY PRIORITY ARE PROVIDED THE BEST OUTCOMES DOES REQUIRE -- AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS -- FOR US TO DO A LOT OF IMPORTANT WORK IN A VERY EXPEDIENT WAY, AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEET EVERYONE'S INTERESTS.

DO I HAVE WORK TO DO?

I HAVE WORK TO DO EVERY DAY.

IS OUR ORGANIZATION NEEDING TO MOVE FASTER?

I THINK THERE ARE MANY INCREDIBLE INDICATORS SUGGESTING WE ACTUALLY DO THAT.

>> I GOT A VIEWER QUESTION HERE.

WILL YOU REOPEN YOUR CONTRACT SO THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE A SAY?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFTER IS WHAT AM I GOING TO DO IN 2028, I WILL BE ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD WHERE AROUND THE SAME TIME OF THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT.

I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING THAT WOULD TRIGGER A CHANGE WOULD RESULT IN REQUIRED STATUTE OF A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN COMMENTING ON WHATEVER ARE ANY NEGOTIATED ITEMS BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND MYSELF SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WOULD WEIGH IN.

THAT'S A LITTLE FAR OUT FROM RIGHT NOW.

>> SO WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY WAS A REALLY LONG WAY OF SAYING, NO, YOU'RE NOT REOPENING THE CONTRACT FOR ANYBODY TO LOOK AT OR SCRUTINIZE OR WANT TO CHANGE.

>> I THINK THE CONTRACT IS DEFINITELY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT, CRITICIZE, COMMENT ON -- >> ARE YOU WILLING IN THIS PERIOD TO CHANGE IT?

>> I KNOW I ANSWERED, BUT THE CONTRACT THAT WAS RENEWED IN THE NEXT TERM IS SOMETHING THAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE BOARD FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> YOU HAVE A BOARD MEETING COMING UP.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE CRITICIZED THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS MATTER AT A BOARD CAUCUS YOU HAD THIS PAST WEEKEND.

AT A MEETING THIS WEEK, DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS?

>> I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THAT.

OUR BOARD PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN DOING AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE JOB NOT ONLY MADE A STATEMENT AT THE START OF THE MEETING WITH REGARDS TO THIS VERY POINT IN CLARIFYING IT AT THE END WHERE WE DID HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

THE BOARD PRESIDENT AGAIN IN AN EVEN GREATER DETAIL WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF EACH OF THE YEARS, UNANIMOUS VOTES, AND THE APPROPRIATE DECISION-MAKING WITH REGARDS TO RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT.

SO THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED, IT WAS ADDRESSED.

>> SO THE QUESTION WAS YOU PERSONALLY, SIT YOUR OPINION THAT THE BOARD ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS BUT NOT YOU?

>> NO.

THE AGREEMENT IS THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED WERE RAISED TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT, AND SHE DID, AS SHE ALWAYS DOES, ADDRESS THE QUESTION HEAD ON.

>> BUT, SUPERINTENDENT, MY QUESTION IS DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PERSONALLY?

>> WELL, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE UNCLEAR IS DEFINITELY AN RARE AREA THAT, YES, THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE CLEAR TO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

THE WHOLE IDEA THAT I'M IN THE TAIL END OF AN ACTUAL CONTRACT THAT WAS VOTED ON IN 2019 IS WHAT -- THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE RENEWAL AND WHEN IT KICKS IN AND ALL OF THAT IS A GOOD FIVE MONTHS AWAY FROM RIGHT NOW.

SO IN TERMS OF THE CLASSIFICATION, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT WE'LL BE DOING MOVING FORWARD IN THAT CONTRACT, THAT IS ACTUALLY MONTHS AHEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE OTHER QUESTION IS OF REFORMS TO THIS PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW, IS IT CORRECT THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN ATTORNEY THAT USES THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OR ESSENTIALLY YOUR ATTORNEY, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, I HAVE MY OWN ATTORNEY, BUT THAT PERSON IS MY PERSONAL ATTORNEY.

THE DISTRICT HAS A GENERAL DOWN COUNSEL.

SINCE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL BACK AT THE START OF MY ADMINISTRATION, THE BOARD WAS ALWAYS CONTEMPLATING HAVING THEIR OWN ATTORNEY.

IT WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH, AND THEY WERE FINALIZING HOW TO PROCEED.

AND THEN, DURING THE COURSE OF THE START OF THIS YEAR, IN PARTICULAR AT THE NJS CONFERENCE, THERE WERE SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THE BOARD'S OWN ATTORNEY AND THE DISTRICT WITH THEIRS.

OBVIOUSLY WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT, JUST UNDERSTANDING IT MORE, SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH THE BOARD OF EDUC EDUCATIONERS ARE.

IT'S MORE COINCIDENCE THAN A DIRECT CORRELATION WHERE THEIR MAKING THIS DECISION.

>> BUT AN IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE DECISION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE BOARD 100%.

IT'S A MUTUAL LEARNING PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN GROWING.

THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE A METICULOUS FOCUS IS A REASON WHY THEY ARE A MASTER BOARD.

THEY HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THIS DECISION IS ONE THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN THE PROCESS TO GET UNDERWAY, AND WE ACTUALLY STARTED THAT ON MONDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEWARK SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE BUDGET SEASON, AND THAT MEANS BATTLES OVER BILLIONS, 50 BILLION AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT'S REASON ENOUGH TO DEDICATE A SEGMENT TO THIS.

SENATOR MIKE -- IS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

SENATOR, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK ON THE SHOW, DAVID.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO GIVE HIS BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT MONTH.

I GATHER YOU'RE GEARING UP FOR ANOTHER SERIOUS BATTLE WITH HIM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST WANT THE WHOLE PROCESS AND I WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE IN DEALING WITH $50.6 BILLION BUDGET-WISE.

THE 9 MILLION NEW JERSEYENS DESERVE TO HAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION BE ACCOUNTABLE.

IT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT DECEPTIVE TO SAY IT'S ONLY $50.6 BILLION.

THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL $24 BILLION THAT CAME IN LAST YEAR.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $75 BILLION BUDGET.

THINK ABOUT THIS.

THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE NEVER GOT DIRECTLY QUESTION THE TREASURER ON THESE ISSUES.

WE NEVER GOT TO ACTUALLY EXAMINE THE TREASURER HERSELF.

AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THIS GOP BUDGET PLAN, NOT THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD WANT TO TAKE ANY LOOK AT IT.

TELL ME ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DIFFERENT IN THE GOP PLAN OF THE STATE BUDGET.

>> WELL, I THINK IT ALL STARTS WITH BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

THIS IS A TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE TIGHTENING OUR BELTS IN THE STATE RATHER THAN HAVING AN EVER-INCREASING BUDGET.

ALSO MAKING BUSINESSES MUCH MORE FRIENDLY.

CUTTING EBT, CUTTING REGULATIONS IN THE STATE, WHICH ARE UNNECESSARY.

AND SOMETHING -- MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PORK.

THINK ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, AND IN THE RELEASES I'VE DONE.

THIS CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS GIVEN RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, A $300 MILLION HANDOUT TO RUTGERS UNIVERSITY IN THE FORM OF AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, WHICH INCLUDES $100 MILLION TO RENEW THE BASKETBALL FACILITY AND START TO WORK ON AN INDOOR FOOTBALL PRACTICE FACILITY.

I LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITIES DOWN STOCKTON UNIVERSITY, THEY COULD DO SO MUCH WITH $300 MILLION.

IT SHOULD BE A PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY CAN APPLY FOR, AND IT SHOULD BE MORE MERIT BASED RATHER THAN GOING TO FUND AGO LE -- ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.

>> IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO HAVING HANDOUTS BUT HAVING TO SAY WHO IT'S HANDED OUT TO AND WHO PROPOSED IT?

>> I THINK THE PROCESS NEEDS TORE MORE FAIR AND OPEN AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THE PROCESS.

I'M INVOLVED WITH POLITICS, ESPECIALLY POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY.

AND PORK SPENDING HAS BEEN BIPARTISAN OVER THE YEARS.

IT'S GETTING LARGER AND LARGER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES ANSWERS TO.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEPT IN THE DARK.

AGAIN, WHAT IS THE NHARM IN ALLOWING THIS TO BE MORE TRAN PA TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WE, THE COLLECTIVE WE IN NEW JERSEY, DON'T SEE THE BUDGET AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT AND ANALYZE IT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A SHAME, DAVID.

I CAN TELL YOU LAST YEAR, THE LARGEST BUDGET IN NEW JERSEY WAS $14 MILLION.

HERE WE ARE, WE WERE HANDED THE BUDGET HOURS BEFORE GOING TO THE COMMITTEE.

HOW IS THAT PROPER?

HOW IS THAT OKAY?

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO EXAMINE THE BUDGET AND HAVE A LENGTHY PERIOD OF QUESTIONING WITH THE TREASURER HERSELF.

THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A ONE PARTY IN NEW JERSEY THAT EXERCISE THEIR POWER FROM THE COVID-19 ERA AND CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER EVEN POST-COVID.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT NEEDS TO END.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY IN TREASURY THAT IS COVID MONEY.

WE SAW SOME OF IT SPENT ON -- THIS WEEK, WE HEARD ABOUT THESE NINE SUVs THAT WERE PAID FOR WITH COVID MONEY.

I'M SURE THAT REPUBLICANS WERE UP IN ARMS OVER THAT.

>> I DID A RELEASE ON THAT TODAY AS WELL, DAVID.

I TRY TO KEEP SWINGING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT ME, DAVID.

HERE ARE NINE SUVs USED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION WHILE CERTAINLY SO MANY OF OUR BUSINESSES, 1/3 OF ALL OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAD TO SHUT THEIR DOORS PERMANENTLY.

AND HERE WE ARE, WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION SAYING IN THEIR MASTER PLAN WE SHOULD ALL BE DRIVING ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY 2050, AND THEY PURCHASE NINE SUVs TO TAKE GOVERNORS AND OTHER ELECTED STRAITERS AROUND -- AND I'M SURE THESE WEREN'T ELECTRIC VEHICLES, DAVID.

THESE SOUNDS LIKE RULES FOR THEE AND NOT FOR ME.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS WHILE I GOT YOU HERE.

THE CITY OF TRENTON GETTING OUT OF THE STATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A TREND?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TREND.

IT HAS TO BE.

HOW CAN THE STATE BENEFITS PLAN HAVE 0% RATE INCREASES FOR A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD WHILE THE TRO PRIVATE SECTOR HAD AN INCREASE EACH YEAR?

WE KNOW THE CITY OF TRENTON IS NOT EXACTLY THE LANDMARK OF HOW GOVERNMENT OPERATES, BUT EVERYONE IN TRENTON UNDERSTANDS THEY HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM AND SEARCH INTO THE PRIVATE MARKET FOR A MUCH BETTER THAN THAT'S MORE PREDICTABLE AND CONSISTENT.

>> POINTS FOR AN ARTFUL REFERENCE TO STATE OF AFFAIRS IN TRENTON.

HERE'S MY LAST ONE FOR YOU.

AS I'M READING THIS WEEK CATCHING UP ON NEWS, I KEEP HEARING MIKE TESLA FOR SENATOR.

IS THAT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER?

>> I'M NOT CONSIDERING IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I'M SIMPLY FOCUSED ON THE ELECTION IN 2023 WITH MYSELF AND ASSEMBLYMAN ANTOINE.

I WOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER IT, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

IT'S CERTAINLY A DREAM OF MINE TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

IT'S ABOUT TIMING AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE RACE THAT IS IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, DAVID, IS THIS YEAR, 2023 FOR MYSELF AND THE ASSEMBLYMEN.

>> CERTAINLY AN INTERESTING YEAR AHEAD OF US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

BUDGET SEASON IS UPON US.

WE'LL BE TALKING MORE SOON.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, DAVID.

TAKE CARE.

>> AND THAT'S CHAT BOX FOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AT DAVID CRUISE NJ AND GET FIRST LOOKS AT CHAT BOX AND REPORTERS ROUND TABLE, PLUS FRESH CONTENT EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHAT BOX IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INCITE.

ONLINE AT INSIDER NJ.COM.