>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" funded by the NJM Insurance Group, serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

ANCHOR: The first lady is claiming that gender politics are playing out in the race.

>> You have to answer this back by saying I have the experience to serve in the Senate.

ANCHOR: Also, eliminating abortion costs.

Governor Murphy urges new legislation ending out-of-pocket costs for abortion procedures.

>> People are really suffering in this state and throughout the country and we shouldn't be doing anything that will put more of a burden on individuals.

ANCHOR: Plus the librarian at the center of the state's book band battle speaking out.

>> I've never seen anything as vicious as what I'm going through now should ANCHOR: And protecting the whales.

New plans to protect endangered whales as offshore wind projects continue to heat up.

>> We believe we can protect them and support responsible offshore wind but it puts a burden on the federal government.

ANCHOR: NJ Spotlight News begins right now.

♪ >> From NJ public Studios, this is NJ Spotlight news.

ANCHOR: The first lady is rolling in endorsements, her campaign for U.S. Senate racked up another 100 backers from the party organization, all from Bergen County, edging from local mayors to county leaders and state officials.

But she was accused of leveraging the power of the governor's office.

Her camp claims she is the target of sexism in the Senate race, attacks she wouldn't face if she were a man.

Reporter: The first lady of New Jersey is not a constitutional office, you are the governor's spouse.

But in the hands of Tammy Murphy, first lady has become almost a co-governorship, exactly what the Murphy's intended from day one.

>> Are you the quarterback of team Murphy?

>> You could say that.

We are pretty seamless I would say.

We worked together a long time.

But being the quarterback is fun.

Reporter: She has kept her word with an office across the hall from the governor and environment, education and reproductive health among the issues in her portfolio.

When she declared for U.S. Senate, you started to hear whispers, some louder than others, about nepotism and questions about experience.

The governor, from whose connections the first lady is presumed to be in a fitting, disgusted.

-- discussed it.

The first lady said she might be more acceptable to some if her name was Tommy Murphy.

Nearly everywhere she goes, there is an email appeal, that Tammy answers tougher questions than most men.

It's not that simple, says Jean.

Yes, there is a gender double standard apply, but also yes to your husband being the most powerful Democrat in the state.

>> Unqualified, they say that more about female candidates, so that Israel.

-- is real.

This particular situation is so unique and this is much more about the party line and the problem with the system than her gender.

Reporter: Biases are still everywhere in politics says the Glen Rock mayor, who just endorsed Murphy.

A lot of it has to do with knowing what it is like to experience the subtle and not-so-subtle, like people always asking what her husband thinks about her running for mayor.

>> That's only funny after we've been introduced to a room of people and a safety mayor is here and they inevitably shake my husband's hand.

Reporter: There is another woman in the race and a black woman and for that matter, an Asian guy.

So the rich, white woman will not get a lot of sympathy according to some.

>> We've had some without the experience, we had Bill Bradley who was a basketball player.

They were men and the onus was on them to demonstrate they have the competence to serve in the Senate.

That's how she's ultimately got to answer this, not with you are being unfair, not with you are picking on me.

Not with I am a woman.

You've got to answer back I showing I've got the experience to serve in the Senate.

Reporter: If that fails there's always the counting machines, big donors and high-profile family members to fall back on.

I am David Cruz.

Anchor: The field of U.S. Senate candidates David mentioned got a little more crowded this week after Cape May businessman and real estate owner Curtis Bashaw entered the race as a Republican.

He restored historic Congress Hall and the Virginia Hotel in Cape May.

The 63-year-old served as the executive director of the casino reinvestment committee.

He joins at least three other candidates vying for the GOP nomination.

He would be the state's first openly gay U.S.

Senator if he wins and he joins me now.

Welcome to the show.

You've had some great success in terms of your real estate endeavors, as a businessman.

Why enter the field of the rough-and-tumble world of New Jersey politics?

>> That's a great question and thanks for having me.

I think the people of New Jersey deserve better.

I'm definitely a political outsider with a business mind.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to have grown a business over 35 years in our state.

When I look at the dysfunction in our government, especially our Congress, if I had a department as dysfunctional or unproductive, I would take it apart and put it back together.

Our country was founded on principles of self-governance and for someone like me in the later stage of his career, I feel a responsibility to step up and be counted.

Anchor: It's interesting because you echo what I recall hearing from a Republican presidential candidate, Former President, as a political outsider, a businessman who will tackle the problems and change them as you would a business.

Where do you stand, where you see yourself on the political spectrum?

You worked under Governor McGreevey.

You call yourself a moderate and you did not support President Trump, but in your campaign announcement, you made it clear that Senator Mike Testa, who is chairing your campaign, was the cochairman for Trump's campaign in 2020 in New Jersey.

>> I think we've been trying to label each other as citizens for too long now and these labels are not fair, they are not accurate and none of us are one size fits all.

I've always been me.

I'm a businessperson, a lifelong Republican, a conservative.

I have a lot of opinions about things but I don't believe it is useful to be constantly dealing in labels.

Anchor: Where do you stand, though, in the party?

You say you are a conservative.

As far as looking at presidential candidates, would you support President Trump if he was the nominee for 2024?

>> I'm running as a Republican and I will support our ticket.

There is a primary and it looks like he will be the nominee.

I will be very focused on our Senate race and working hard for all the people of New Jersey.

Anchor: Let me bring it back home.

In your campaign video, you made it known where you stand as far as the border and immigration.

Where you see yourself differing on the person who currently holds the seat, Senator Menendez, who has been a prominent voice on immigration, how does your stance differ from his?

>> I think our border is a humanitarian travesty right now, a security threat to the country.

I think we have to enforce the laws we have.

As a businessperson and hospitality I have employed hundreds of first generation Americans over the years.

We are a country of immigrants and I believe strongly we need a legal, safe and robust immigration program but I think what's happening at the border right now is a disaster.

Anchor: How do you square yourself against fellow Republican Christine Glassner?

As someone who doesn't have political experience, why not start as a more -- at a more local level and get your bearings that way before jumping into a statewide office?

>> That's a great question.

Running a business for 35 years gives you a lot of experience.

I did two services and public services, I ran the casino reinvestment Authority for two years, got to know the inside of New Jersey politics, investing in economic development around the state.

I was also on the board of Stockton University.

For me, it's a natural step as a citizen, as an outsider, to get involved now when we have folks like Menendez who have embarrassed us with corruption.

Anchor: Curtis, looking forward to following your campaign.

>> Thank you very much.

Anchor: The U.S. Supreme Court will once again tackle the topic of abortion.

Oral arguments in the abortion pill access case are scheduled for March 26.

The decision could put limits on a prescription drug that is used for both abortions and miscarriage care.

The pill was originally approved more than 20 years ago and accounts for more than half of abortions in the U.S. when used in combination with a second drug.

Progressives say they fear more abortion rights will be taken away in the future and Governor Murphy in his estate of the state addressed earlier this month laid out plans to boost New Jersey status as a so-called abortion safe haven, calling on lawmakers to pass a bill that will end out-of-pocket costs for the proceeds are -- procedure, but who will foot the bill?

>> People's health care should not be determine whether they can pay out-of-pocket.

That should be for any health care.

People should have access to the care they need for their health, their lives, their families regardless of why they need care or what kind of care they need, being able to cover it is a quite a bull to being able to access it.

Reporter: This abortion provider is appraising Governor Murphy's announcement in his estate of the state address that his administration will work to eliminate co-pays and costs associated with abortion access in New Jersey.

>> We might have a $5,000 deductible that we have to hit before our coverage coming our health insurance starts to kick in and make things more affordable.

That's worthy cost-sharing comes into play.

-- that is where the cost-sharing comes into play.

Reporter: This woman says having this coverage would've had a huge impact when she found out she found out she was pregnant during a dark time of her life.

>> I was in the throes of opiate addiction.

I couldn't keep myself safe.

I was lucky my partner paid for half and I had to find a support person for the other half.

It is a vulnerable place to be, a scary place to be.

Reporter: Years later Erickson became a lawyer and submitted her story in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

She now volunteers to help other women in need of abortions and has seen firsthand -- >> Not everyone has a support system that can help with the cost or trustworthy and safe.

There are a number of people who seek abortions because they are in abusive relationships or other safety concerns.

Reporter: Starting last January, the state requires that all insurance benefit plans include abortion coverage.

New Jersey is one of 10 other states with such requirements but the only that still allows for co-pays.

>> Maine earlier this month actually began to do this already.

No out-of-pocket costs, no deductibles.

Reporter: Abortion access advocates say it would remove barriers for the most economically disadvantaged but opponents say it could leave the rest of us picking up the cost.

New Jersey right to life worries -- >> It will cause premiums to go up and New Jersey is welcoming people from other states, there's a question about whether we are paying for them as well.

Reporter: We reached out to several Republican legislatures -- legislators for comment and got no response.

>> People are really suffering in this state and throughout the country so we shouldn't be doing anything that will put more of a burden on individuals.

There are a number of abortion funds we are aware of that abortion groups have created to pay for people's abortions that can't afford them and they are flush with cash.

Reporter: No legislation has been drafted yet, but she says they should remove co-pays for waiver and delivery.

Anchor: As the rhetoric around book bans heats up again in the state, lawmakers are trying to rein in the harassment and vitriol that has come with it.

Two state senators are proposing a bill to set guidelines around when and how oaks can be challenged.

Along with protections for librarians who have been the target of lawsuits, heat and even violence.

Martha knows that all too well.

She's been on the front lines of the battle as a librarian at a regional school district.

She fought multiple attempts to ban books from the high school library and was subjected to threats, hate mail and efforts to remove her from her job.

Now she fears a repeat after a November board member turned contentious when parents spoke out about a graphic novel on library shelves.

It's called "let's talk about it."

Book ban is on the docket for the board meeting tonight and Martha joined me to talk about how this has affected her life.

It's so good to talk to you.

I wonder first what your reaction was to the outpouring of the public support, so much so that we now have to follow this next meeting that was rescheduled because of it.

>> It was overwhelming, to say the least but not surprising.

We have been dealing with the issue of attacks on books and me as a librarian since 2021 and we have similar enthusiasm for the right to read and support for the library and at that time.

Anchor: There have been other books called into question.

Obviously this has spurred conversations nationally because while the incident you have faced has caused a lot of, I will say threats and other repercussions for your personal life, this is playing out really everywhere.

How has that affected how you are approaching this and how you are continuing to fight for some of these books to be allowed not just in libraries but other public spaces?

>> First I'd like to take exception to the premise of the question -- that it's sparking conversations.

If only.

If parents have a concern about a book, address it at the school level.

Instead what we are seeing our outbursts at board meetings and personal attacks on librarians.

In terms of what I am doing, through the experiences I've had the last couple of years, I've learned quite a bit about how to reach out to my community, build a network, use the infrastructure of the library community and the First Amendment community to get protections for our students, our library and even myself.

Anchor: How has it changed how you are going about your job on a daily basis, and just your personal life?

>> In terms of my job, it is pretty much the same.

Librarians are by their nature rule followers so I've always conformed to the policies for materials and I continue to read reviews and choose the best materials for our students that my budget will allow.

In terms of my personal life, when these things erupt, and I can say I've never seen anything quite as vicious as what I'm going through now, it turns my personal life upside down.

My life outside work is devoted solely to this, to marshaling resources, to gaining support and to protecting your right to read in my personal safety.

Anchor: Martha Hickson is a librarian at the Voorhees regional school district who has faced a rash of scrutiny over particular books.

Thank you so much for coming on the show.

>> Thank you for your interest.

Anchor: In our spotlight on business report tonight, an about-face from Governor Murphy on raising tolls.

Today he said he will prove that New Jersey Turnpike -- he will approve the New Jersey Turnpike budget, three months after he vetoed the same toll increase when Democrats raise concerns about announcing higher tolls ahead of the 2023 legislative elections at the time Murphy said he wasn't satisfied with the justification of the hikes.

Today a spokesperson for the governor said he changed his position after more careful consideration.

And noted the increases will help fund New Jersey transit, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars and Turnpike revenue each year.

New Jersey transit just announced a plan for a 15% fare hike across the board, which could go into effect as soon as the summer, and according to a spokesman, the new rates go into effect March 1.

On Wall Street, the stock rally took a breather today.

Here is how the markets closed.

♪ ♪ Finally tonight, there is yet another example that endangered whales and offshore wind and coexist, if development is done cautiously and correctly.

Experts at two federal agencies are looking at ways to protect North Atlantic right whales in the same areas being eyed by the offshore wind industry.

Our Senior correspondent reports they will only have one chance to get it right.

Reporter: It is Calving season for North Atlantic right whales.

They are smack in the zone dotted by planned and operating offshore wind projects and crisscrossed by ships.

It is a fraud intersection, but one they think is manageable with the new federal strategy.

>> We think we can protect the whales and support offshore wind but it puts a burden on the federal government to make sure the balance happens.

Reporter: Burning Man advocates welcomed of final joint federal strategy to save the whales and develop offshore wind where the two might collide.

It stresses teamwork, research, strict monitoring and mitigation.

That includes avoiding leasing in areas where major impacts the north Atlantic right whales might occur, establish noise limits during construction and providing guidance to developers on conducting robust sound fields so that impacts are not being exceeded.

That's good as far as it goes, experts warn.

>> The one place the strategy doctrine falls short is specifics and requirements for the projects going forward.

This leaves a fair amount of interpretation for future actions.

>> It is still going to be really important to track how they are implement and regulations.

This is just a strategy, not a regulation.

Reporter: Upon its claim -- there is a claim that offshore wind kills whales, but most die from boats and net entanglements.

Climate change and warming ocean waters have driven whales closer to shore, driving them into busy shipping lanes.

>> They are showing up in new areas and protections were not in place in those areas.

We saw a staggering number of deaths.

Reporter: It's why federal regulators want to enact more restraints on ships that break speed limits in areas where whales congregate.

Congressman Frank Pallone has pushed NOAA and the Coast Guard to ramp up enforcement.

He's waiting for a reply but he's encouraged by the new strategy.

>> They have acknowledged you can do all of us, save endangered species at the same time you reduce climate change and build renewable resources that can power residences and businesses without burning fossil fuels.

Reporter: Jersey is moving fast to meet clean energy standards.

The Board of Public utilities just awarded two new offshore wind projects to be located at least 40 miles off the coast line and it has more projects to award to qualifying bidders.

They all have two comply with the endangered species and Marine protection acts.

>> Those are really the teeth and the things with which the developers will continue to comply, and this document is an opportunity for an additional layer of collaboration from the agency's peer Reporter: -- agencies.

Reporter: The new strategy takes effect immediately.

Anchor: That does it for us tonight.

Don't forget to download our podcast so you can listen anytime.

For the entire team, thank you for being with us.

Have a great evening and we will see you back here tomorrow night.

>> New Jersey education Association, making public school great for every child.

And RWJ Barnabas health, let's be healthy together.

>> Look at these kids.

What do you see?

I see myself.

I became an ASL teacher to give my students what I wanted when I came to this country.

The opportunity to learn, to dream, to achieve, a chance to be known and to be an American.

My name is Julia and I am proud to be an NJEA member.

♪ ♪