FROM IN JS, THIS IS A NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES WE ARE ON THE TAIL END OF THE LATEST OMICRON BRAVE AND ADDS THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE COMPLACENT EVEN AS NUMBERS DECLINE.

THE STATE REPORTED JUST OVER 4300 CONFIRMED POSITIVE TESTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED YESTERDAY AND 24 NEW DEATHS.

STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY -- SAYS, HOSPITALIZATIONS LIKELY PEAKED TWO WEEKS AGO.

RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE NOT FREE FROM THE VIRUS, THE GOVERNOR URGING RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN INDOORS AND TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, BECAUSE ONLY HALF OF THE STATES RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER HAVE RECEIVED ONE.

IN RESPONSE, MURPHY ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF TWO NEW VACCINE MEGA SITES.

ONE IN BERGEN COUNTY AND THE OTHER IN PASSAIC COUNTY.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO TALKING ABOUT A NEW ELIGIBLE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR HOMEOWNERS STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.

>>> WELL COVID CASES ARE INDEED FALLING, THE STATE ALSO REPORTED SOME DISTURBING NEWS.

SEVERAL CHILDREN, INCLUDING THREE INFANTS, HAVE DIED OF COVID SINCE DECEMBER.

AND LAST WEEK, SIX KIDS WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A SEVERE COVID COMPLICATION.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET VACCINATED ARE COUNTING THE WEEKS UNTIL A VACCINE IS AVAILABLE.

>> I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET MY DAUGHTER VACCINATED.

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN VACCINATIONS.

>> Reporter: LAUREN ANDERSON'S 4 1/2-YEAR-OLD, ARIEL IS TOO YOUNG FOR SHOTS.

MEANWHILE, ARIELLE RETURNS CLASSES WITH OTHER UNVACCINATED CLASSMATES.

>> I DON'T REALLY WANT TO PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH MY KID.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S BEEN HARD.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR IS, THAT SHE WILL BE THAT ONE IN 1000 OR ONE IN 1 MILLION THAT HAS AN UNDERLYING CONDITION THAT WE JUST DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.

>> Reporter: HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY PARSA KELLY REPORTED FOUR CHILDREN HAVE DIED SINCE CHRISTMAS.

THREE OF THEM, AND SINCE.

OVERALL, THE VIRUS HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF ONE DOZEN NEW JERSEY KIDS.

EIGHT OF THEM UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.

SHE ALSO SAYS HOSPITALS LAST FRIDAY REPORTED SIX CHILDREN ADMITTED WITH A SEVERE COVID COMPLICATION CALLED MIS C. THE MOST, IN A SINGLE DAY.

AND THAT NONE HAD UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

PERCY KELLY ADVISED -- >> I WANT TO REMIND PARENTS TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT INFANTS FROM EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS.

THIS INCLUDES, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE AROUND HERE INFANTS, ARE UP-TO-DATE ON COVID-19 VACCINES.

AND AVOID CROWDED GATHERINGS.

>> Reporter: WE ARE SEEING YOUNGER KIDS COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL SETTING.

AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX MONTHS TO ABOUT 7-8 YEARS.

WE HAVE, OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE CASES OF INFLAMMATORY REPRESENTATION.

>> Reporter: SHE IS ALSO SEEN A 30-40% INCREASE IN MIS C CASES.

ARE PEDIATRIC PRACTICE ALSO NOTED LONG-HAUL COVID MOSTLY AMONGST UNVACCINATED KIDS.

IT'S ESTIMATED ABOUT 5-7% CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE, ACHES, AND PALPITATIONS, AS DR. MEG FISHER.

>> THE MOST CONCERNING IS THE BRAIN FOG.

AWARE YOU CAN'T REALLY CONCENTRATE.

SOME CHILDREN CAN'T READ AT THE SAME LEVEL THEY READ BEFORE.

THEY CAN'T DO MATHEMATICS ANYMORE.

THEIR SPELLING DETERIORATES.

>> Reporter: CLINICS REPORT BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS WITH LONG- HAUL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE AFTER RECEIVING COVID VACCINATIONS AND WITH PARENTS UNDER FIVE HEARD DR. ANTHONY FAUCI PREDICTED THAT THE VACCINE MIGHT BE AVAILABLE BY FEBRUARY, THEY CHEERED.

BUT RESEARCHERS SAY, HE REQUIRES A THIRD DOSE TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR CHILDREN AGE 2-4.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THOSE DATA TO THE FDA, AND APPROVED.

MY HOPE, IT'S THAT IT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS RUNNING THE RUTGERS PEDIATRIC CHILD WILL MEET WITH PFIZER OFFICIALS TOMORROW.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT A TIMELINE WHEN THIS WE GET PUSHED, AT BEST, PERHAPS TO INTO LATE MARCH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RE-ADJUDICATE THE DATA.

GET THE VACCINE ONTO THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

BY THE TIME THAT HAPPENS, I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT A MARCH DATE.

MAYBE LATE MARCH.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THE NEXT MONTH.

>> AS A CLINICIAN, I WOULD SAY I CAN'T WAIT.

I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER.

>> I'M JUST HAPPY THAT IT'S HERE.

IT'S AROUND THE CORNER.

IT'S COMING.

>> Reporter: THIS YOUNG GIRL WHO ATTENDS DAY CARE IS NOT VACCINATED YET.

BUT HER SIX-YEAR-OLD BROTHER IS.

SHE'S MORE THAN READY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO BE JABBED AND PROTECTED.

>> IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A FLU SHOT.

I MORE THAN CONFIDENT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HER TURN, WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME EXACT REACTION.

>> Reporter: WITH MORE KIDS GETTING SICK, THERE'S A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF URGENCY.

I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN.

NJ.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> THE CENSUS TIE, YOU MOSTLY HEAR ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND HOW THEY MAY AFFECT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THE BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS.

BUT ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, ACROSS MOST OF THE STATES, CITIES AND TOWNS, LOCAL REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS ARE GIVEN MORE MAPS THE ONCE OVER.

IN ORDER TO ENSURE EQUAL POPULATION OF ALL LOCAL VOTING DISTRICTS.

SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE REPORTS ON THE FORCES AT PLAY WHEN A CITY IS CHANGING.

>> Reporter: WE HAVE ALWAYS CALLED WARDS BY NAMES.

RIGHT?

DOWNTOWN, BERGEN, LAFAYETTE.

NOW COMMITS HARDER TO CALL THEM THAT WHEN THE HEIGHT IS NOW DOWN TO THE WATER.

AND BERGEN LAFAYETTE HAS NO MORE LAFAYETTE.

>> Reporter: EAGER UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF JERSEY CITY.

HE'S THE FORMER COUNCILMAN THERE AND HAS BEEN THROUGH DECADES OF WARD UPDATES.

THIS WEEK, HE WAS ONE OF MORE THAN 200 SPECTATORS IN PERSON AND REMOTELY WHO ATTENDED THE USUALLY SPARSELY ATTENDED BOARD TO BOARD COMMISSIONERS MEETING.

THE COMMISSION DOES NOT USE BOARD NAMES IN THIS NEW MAP, THE WARDS ARE LETTERED.

THIS IS THE OLD MAP.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.

NEW, OLD.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK MORE CLOSELY, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE WARD LINES COULD BE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> FOR ME, WHEN I'M LOOKING AT A JURISDICTION, AND I'M SEEING THINGS THAT ARE ZIGZAG CUTS.

ONE JUST HAS TO THINK THAT IT'S A SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT ME, TRYING TO PUNISH VOTERS.

YOU CUT OUT A HISTORIC BLACK DISTRICT AND TO MY RECOLLECTION, I WANT TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS MAY BE THE OLDEST BLACK DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

YOU PERFECT -- PURPOSELY CUT IT OUT, LIKE STRATEGICALLY YOU CUT IT OUT.

THERE'S NO STRAIGHT LINES.

THERE'S NOTHING COMPACT AND CONTINUOUS ABOUT THE MAP.

>> Reporter: COUNCILMAN FRANK GILMORE IS A POLITICAL OPPONENT OF MAYOR STEVE PHILIP WHOSE CHENIER OF STAFF SAYS THAT THEY CUT THE BLACK AND BROWN VOTE HERE BY 12%.

HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

>> I SEE HOW THE BOARD WAS STRETCHED FROM ONE PORTION DOWNTOWN, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE MIDDLE PORTIONS OF THE REBUILD.

BUT THAT'S JUST -- TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BLACK VOTERS INSIDE OF THE -- HOW THEY DID IT WAS FURTHER DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

>> IT'S MORE THAN VOTERS JUST GETTING THE FAVORED DEVELOPERS.

OUT OF WARD F. DEVELOPMENTS LIKE LIBERTY STATE PARK FACE OPPOSITION FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE -- TO TYPE IN YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH.

YOU WOULD SEE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE -- REPRESENTS ONE GROUP OPPOSED TO A DEVELOPMENT NEXT TO MARY LEE PARK.

IN IT WAS A MAJOR ELECTION ISSUE, AND ARGUABLY, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FRANK GILMORE DEFEATED SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE INCUMBENT MAYORS SLATES.

SUDDENLY, AFTER THE ELECTION, THAT PARCEL OF LAND IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WARD.

WHETHER IT WAS BY DESIGN, OR NOT, TAKING THAT PARCEL OUT IS VERY PROBLEMATIC.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE'S STAYING OUT OF THE WARD MAP SQUABBLE.

NO ONE FROM THE COMMISSION WILL TALK TO US TODAY.

THE TRUTH IS THOUGH, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT 10 YEARS BRING.

THE NEW MAP BRINGS -- INTO LAFAYETTE.

WHICH ACTUALLY BEGAN THIS COMMUNITY MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

THE PARKS BOARD, E, A.K.A.

DOWNTOWN WOULD NOT BE IN WARD D. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL AT SEA LEVEL.

IT'S THE SLOW EVOLUTION THAT CHANGES NEIGHBORHOODS WITH NAMES INTO WARDS MARKED BY LETTERS.

DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> HOBOKEN RESIDENTS WILL GO TO THE POLLS TOMORROW TO VOTE ON A PROPOSAL TO SPEND $241 MILLION TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY, AND TO RECONFIGURE OTHER SCHOOLS.

THE DISTRICT SAYS, THIS PLAN WOULD ADDRESS BOTH ENROLLMENT CHANGES, AND OLD OUTDATED BUILDINGS.

BUT CRITICS SAY THE PROPOSAL NEEDS MORE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC.

THEY POINT OUT, APPROVAL WOULD MEAN TAX IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS.

ONTO THE PLAN, A NEW HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE BUILT AND THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL WOULD TURN INTO A MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD THEN BECOME AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

NEW JERSEY POLICE OFFICERS CAN NOW REVIEW FOOTAGE FROM THEIR BODY CAMERAS AS THEY WRITE THEIR INITIAL POLICE REPORTS UNDER A NEW LAW SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST WEEK.

BUT, CRITICS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE BILL, SAYING IT UNDERMINES NEW JERSEY'S EFFORT FOR BETTER POLICE TRANSPARENCY.

MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS THAT REPORT.

>> Reporter: IT'S TROUBLING, AND IT UNDERMINES NEW JERSEYANS RIGHTS.

REACTING TO A NEW LAW, ALLOWING POLICE OFFICERS TO REVIEW BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES BEFORE COMPLETING THEIR INITIAL REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IT REALLY PROVIDES THE POTENTIAL TO POLLUTE, AND MAKE LESS PRECISE THE REPORTS THAT WE GET FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHICH ARE REALLY CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SCENE.

WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OFFICERS REMEMBER.

WE ARE TRYING, AS AN INDEPENDENT PIECE OF EVIDENCE, FROM BODY WORN CAMERAS.

WE DO KNOW THAT EVERY HUMAN BRINGS THEIR OWN PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, THEIR OWN SUBJECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF AN INCIDENT.

AND SO, IF AN OFFICER IS COMMITTING MISCONDUCT IN HIS SITUATION, WE ALSO NEED THAT EVIDENCE TO MAKE A BEST KIND OF INTERPRETATION OF WHAT HAPPENED.

IT CAN BE AN EXTREMELY INTENSE, AND BUSY, AND STRESSFUL SITUATION.

ROMA GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED THE MEASURE INTO LAW LAST WEEK AFTER ISSUING A CONDITIONAL -- IN NOVEMBER.

THEY AMEND THE BILL TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PROVISIONS.

NOT A REPLACEMENT.

AND THEN WHEN WE GO BACK.

THEY WILL ALSO NOTE THAT IN THE RECORDING THAT THEY ARE USING THE REVIEW AS PART OF THE -- MAKING ANY CHANGES BASED ON WHAT THEY SAW ON THE PHONE.

THAT WAY, WE PRESERVE EVERYTHING.

WHAT WE SEE FROM THE SCIENCE, ESPECIALLY FROM 2014, A LOT OF OFFICERS OF YOU THE POTTAGE PRIOR TO ACTUALLY PUTTING DOWN THE INSTANCE.

AND OF COURSE, IT IS NOT.

THEIR ACTUAL FACTUAL -- CHANGES THE MEMORY OF THE EVENTS.

SO, IF THE GOAL IS TO GET THE MOST FACTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED, IF WE WANT TO SEE HOW OFFICER BEHAVIOR MAY CHANGE BASED ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON, DOES NOT GIVE US A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THAT.

>> Reporter: COMMUNITY ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THAT LAWMAKERS WILL REWRITE THE BODY CAMERA LEGISLATION BACK TO WHAT THEY PASSED IN 2020.

THEY WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO CHALLENGE IT.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> IT'S TIME FOR NEW JERSEY TO ABOLISH THE POSITION OF CONSTABLE.

THAT'S THE INCLUSION OF A SCATHING REPORT RELEASED BY THE STATE -- OF INVESTIGATION.

THE REPORT, WHICH CAME OUT LATE LAST YEAR FINDS CONSTABLES ARE OUTDATED RELICS THAT DON'T HAVE A PLACE IN MODERN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE COMMISSION FOUND THAT IN SOME CASES, CONSTABLES TAKE QUESTIONABLE AND EVEN UNLAWFUL ACTIONS THAT CAN ENDANGER THE PUBLIC.

TO FIND OUT MORE, I SPOKE WITH THE COMMISSIONS FROM CASSERLY HENNESSY RILEY.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A CONSTABLE?

WHY DO WE HAVE THEM IN NEW JERSEY?

WHY DO THEY DIFFER FROM SWORN POLICE OFFICERS?

>> SO, CONSTABLES ARE POLITICALLY, MUNICIPALLY APPOINTED CIVILIANS.

AND THE PRACTICE OF APPOINTING CONSTABLES DATES BACK TO THE COLONIAL ERROR, AT A TIME WHERE ORGANIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS DID NOT EXIST.

CONSTABLES WERE THE PRIMARY FORM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BACK IN THOSE TIMES.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEIR POSITION HAS STILL EXISTED EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A VERY HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED, HIGHLY ORGANIZED POLICING SYSTEMS.

YET, WE STILL HAVE CONSTABLES.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IN NEW JERSEY, IS THAT WE FOUND THAT THESE CONSTABLES, WHO REALLY HAVE UNCLEAR AUTHORITY, HAVE NO TRAINING, AND NO OVERSIGHT, SOME OF THESE CONSTABLES BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE AUTHORIZED TO UPHOLD LAWS.

AND ENFORCE THEM, JUST LIKE SWORN POLICE OFFICERS WOULD.

THE PROBLEM IS, REALLY, THEIR AUTHORITY IS UNCLEAR, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY DO?

IN WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS, IT REALLY VARIES FROM TOWN TO TOWN.

IN SOME TOWNS, THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT AND A CEREMONIAL TYPE POSITION.

IN SOME PLACES, THEY DO HAVE LOW-LEVEL POLICING DUTIES, LIKE WRITING LETTERS AND SUCH.

THE PROBLEM THOUGH, IS THIS SMALL GROUP OF CONSTABLES WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY JUST AS POWERFUL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY DRESS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE -- THE UNINFORMED PUBLIC, YOU WOULD SEE ONE OF THESE CONSTABLES AND THINK THAT HE WAS A SWORN POLICE OFFICER.

>> Reporter: FOR THESE PARTICULAR CONSTABLES, THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU JUST GAVE COME AS A DANGEROUS TO HAVE THEM ON THE STREETS?

>> WE WERE TOLD BY SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THEY HAVE A REAL CONCERN THAT AT BEST, THE PUBLIC WOULD CONFUSE A CONSTABLE WITH A SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND AT WORST, THEY COULD BE A REAL DANGER BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CONSTABLES HAVE INSERTED THEMSELVES INTO DEVELOPING POLICE SITUATIONS.

INCLUDING ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS, HAVE TRIED TO PULL OVER VEHICLES.

SO YES, I MEAN, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THESE HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER, NOT ONLY TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

>> Reporter: WHAT DOES THE REPORT RECOMMENDED IN TERMS OF WHAT TO DO WITH CONSTABLES?

>> THE COMMISSIONS REPORT RECOMMENDED ABOLISHING THE POSITION.

IT'S OUR BELIEF THAT GIVEN THE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED, AND WELL TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, THERE'S REALLY NO REAL NEED FOR CONSTABLES ANYMORE.

SO, WE RECOMMENDED THAT JUST GETTING RID OF THE POSITION IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND FOR SHARING THE INFORMATION IN YOUR REPORT.

>>> AND TONIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS, A BREAKDOWN OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S HANDLING AND HIGH TAXES IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT DURING LAST FALL'S GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN, OPPONENTS FOR GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY WERE DISMISSIVE OF RETURNS ON HIGH TAXES.

HOWEVER, DURING HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS, MURPHY HIGHLIGHTED MORE THAN ONE DOZEN INDIVIDUAL TAX CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN ENACTED SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IN EARLY 2018.

WE ASKED BUDGET AND FINANCE WRITER, JOHN WRIGHT MEYER TO DO SOME FACT CHECKING ON TAX CUTS COMING AND HE JOINS ME NOW.

JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

THE GOVERNOR HAS CLAIMED TO GET -- LOWERED TAXES BY MILLIONS.

WHAT EXACTLY HAS HE DONE?

>> SO, HE HAS DONE TAX BREAKS FOR COLLEGE TUITION.

FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS.

FOR SENIOR HOMEOWNERS WHO NEED -- ON THEIR TAX PROPERTIES.

SO MURPHY MURPHY'S TAX CUTS OF THE MORE TARGETED TO SPECIFIC GROUPS.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF THE SAVINGS COMING FROM.

THEY HAVE ALSO, IN JUST LAST YEAR, SO TAXPAYERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF SOME OF THESE CUTS UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY DO THEIR TAXES.

THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: I GUESS THAT APPROACH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY REPUBLICANS SAY THAT MURPHY IS NOT THE TAX CUTTER THAT HE HAS CLAIMED TO BE.

IT'S BEEN SORT OF IN MOST OF THE TARGETED APPROACH, THIS IS TARGETED TOWARDS MEETING MILLIONAIRES, SO REPUBLICANS WENT TO SEE MORE TAXES FOR BUSINESSES.

THEY HAVE BEEN HIT WITH THE BALANCE OF THE TRUST FUND.

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION GOING FORWARD.

HOW DO YOU RETAIN SPENDING WHEN YOU INCREASE EXPENDITURES?

LIKE I SAID, THIS CURRENT BUDGET, THEY HAD TO DIP INTO RESERVES.

WE MAY SEE REVENUES PICK UP.

BUT IF THEY DON'T, THAT CREATES WHAT ARE KNOWN AS STRUCTURAL BUDGET GAPS.

YOU HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES.

SO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE HOW HE NAVIGATES WHAT CAN BE A TRICKY SITUATION.

>> Reporter: AFFORDABILITY IS NOW THE BIG BUZZWORD IN TRENTON.

IS THERE A BALANCE OF AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE WITH A CLEAR TAX PICTURE?

>> I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS THE INTENTION.

WITH MURPHY, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU SIT IN THE INCOME BRACKET AND STRUCTURE.

HE HAS PUT SOME RELIEF TOWARDS LOWER INCOME NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

SENIORS, AND EVEN MIDDLE INCOME PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT DEFINITELY, ACROSS-THE-BOARD TAX BECAUSE, EVEN UPPER-MIDDLE- CLASS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM MURPHY YET.

>> Reporter: ALL RIGHT, JOHN, THANKS.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>>> ON WALL STREET, STOCKS RECOVERED FROM STEEP LOSSES AND ROSE HIGHER.

>>> THE US SUPREME COURT HAS AGREED TO HEAR A CASE CHALLENGING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

THE COURT SAYS IT WILL TAKE UP LAWSUITS CLAIMING THAT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ASIAN- AMERICAN STUDENTS.

BOTH LAWSUITS WERE FILED BY STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS.

IN THE CASE OF HARVARD, THE GROUP CLAIMS THAT THE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL OPPOSES A RACIAL PENALTY ON ASIAN-AMERICAN APPLICANTS.

BY SCORING THEM LOWER IN SOME CATEGORIES THAN OTHER APPLICANTS.

AND, THE HARVARD AWARDS MASSIVE PREFERENCES TO BLACK AND HISPANIC APPLICANTS.

HARVARD DENIES THAT IT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST ASIAN- AMERICAN APPLICANTS.

LOWER COURTS HAVE REJECTED THE CHALLENGE, CITING MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF HIGH COURT RULINGS THAT ALLOW SCHOOLS TO CONSIDER RACE IN ADMISSIONS DECISIONS.

BUT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES MUST DO SO IN AN NARROWLY TAILORED WAY, TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS SANCTIONED BY THE COURT IN 1978 TO CONSIDER RACE AS PART OF THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS.

THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO HEAR ARGUMENTS THIS FALL.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK US OUT ON OUR SOCIAL PLATFORMS, WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE VERY LATEST NEWS THAT IS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW!

>>> AND JM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND BY THE TSA G FOUNDATION.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE OUR SKILLED LABOR.

AND OUR HOMEGROWN CHAMPIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR STATE A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME.

MGM, WE HAVE NEW JERSEY COVERED.

>> IF YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR, RJ W BARNABAS HEALTH HAS SEVERAL WAYS TO DO SO.

YOU CAN USE OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK A VIRTUAL VISIT WITH AND RW J BARNABAS HEALTH MEDICAL PROVIDER OR SPECIALIST.

EVEN AS A NEW PATIENT.

YOU'VE TAKEN EVERY PRECAUTION AND SO HAVE WE.

SO DON'T DELAY YOUR CARE ANY LONGER.

RW J BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

♪