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More information online at njrealtor.com and the pseg foundation.

♪ This is "NJ Spotlight" news with briana vannozzi.

The clash over what is causing whale deaths at the Capitol where opponents of offshore wind called for an immediate halt to wind farm development despite rebuttals from scientists that point to ship traffic as the real threats.

The latest battle in the partisan fight over clean energy development.

A debate that also played out in the halls of Congress today with the Republican-led House seeking to overturn Biden's plans for a clean energy transition.

Ted Goldberg reports.

Reporter: People from the group protect our coast protested in Trenton.

>> They have gas, oil, diesel in the turbine.

They can leak into the ocean.

We do not want that.

There is the economic concern, shutting down the economy of the beach because people will not want to go to the beach.

Reporter: There is the thought recent whale strandings can be blamed on wind farms.

Scientists say that as unlikely as do state and federal agencies, but folks here are not so sure.

>> We are seeing a massive die off of the most extraordinary creatures in our oceans, whales and dolphins.

We do not know if there is a correlation, but we want things to slow down.

>> This unusual mortality event is happening since 2016, well before offshore wind development.

Reporter: She works for the New Jersey league of conservation voters and say people are mistaken if they blame offshore wind for the recent deaths of whales.

>> I am a former Marine -- Marine conserver.

It is important to use science and identify policies to help.

Reporter: Protect our coast is affiliated with a think tank funded by oil companies.

>> We know what is best for New Jersey and our coast.

When pro-fossil fuel industries are funding clean energy campaigns, we are concerned.

Reporter: Republican congressmen have stopped this, saying not enough research has been done about whether it is safer whales.

>> Despite the gravity of this, the Bureau of energy management has engaged in a rushed and sloppy project.

Sloppy approval process.

Reporter: Chris Smith was also at that hearing.

Earlier today the House passed a bill to expand American fossil fuel production and it included Smith's amendment to require the Government accountability office to investigate offshore wind projects and reports on marine life, tourism and fishing.

>> This approval process has left unaddressed and unanswered numerous serious questions concerning the potentially harmful environmental impacts on whales, marine life and the ecosystems that allow all Street -- all sea creatures to thrive.

Flex Republicans have put forward a messaging bill that is an insult to every American that is not an oil or gas executive.

The message is, they want the energy your family uses to be dirtier and more expensive.

Reporter: The bill would strip $27 billion for clean energy projects, but night -- not likely make it out of the Senate.

Five Democratic senators including Bob Menendez and Cory Booker wrote to the oceanic administration and asked how they would address whale injuries and deaths from vessel strikes and getting stuck in fishing gear.

They requested response by April 18 and it did not mention offshore wind in their letter.

Ted Goldberg "NJ Spotlight."

Briana: In the state house, arguments heated over the election transparency act.

It passed in the assembly.

A controversial bill that would take independence away from the state campaign finance watchdog by putting the election law enforcement commission under control of the Governor's office, giving Governor Murphy the power to appoint commissioners that investigate campaign finance violations.

It would double campaign contribution limits and scale back on the amount of time accounts can be investigated for violations.

Lawmakers who defended the bill today said it is in need of an overhaul, blaming the agency for failing to act quickly on investigations.

Critics argue it is a move to oust the current executive director who is ensnared in allegations over anti-LGBTQ emails to a colleague.

Speaking of elections, check out Reporters Roundtable tomorrow morning with David Cruz.

He speaks with Mike Erasmus and -- Erasmusson about who is running and who is not in the June primary with the entire legislature on the ballot Friday at 10:00 a.m. on the "NJ Spotlight news" channel.

Police and firefighters could soon have early retirement option.

The so-called burnout bill intended to help with the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with the job by leading public safety workers retire with a reduced pension after 20 years of service regardless of age.

It has a lot of backers, but as Joanna Gagis reports, there is concern over the burden on taxpayers.

>> We have other bills to deal with PTSD and behavioral health issues independently, but this is another tool to help members when they say, I can't do this anymore, I have to get out.

Reporter: The burnout bill approved by the assembly today to allow public safety workers, police, fire and ems, to leave the job after 20 years while still collecting a portion of their pension.

>> When struggling our goal is to get them help.

If this is their out, more power to them.

Reporter: The burnout bill is nothing new in Trenton.

The provision was put in place by Governor Whitman in 2000 and away with under the Chris Christie administration, then brought back by Governor Murphy in 2021 in a temporary bill that sunsets this May.

The bill was passed unanimously with the full support of Public Safety worker unions.

>> The stress levels of this job are extraordinarily high.

Suicides are a very real problem in law enforcement.

Epidemic levels of suicides.

The idea behind this concept is, if you are so burned out the only reason you're staying is to get to your 25th year to collect a full pension, you should be provided with a window to respect the 20 years you put in in a very difficult profession.

Reporter: The purpose was to evaluate if public safety workers would take advantage of it and lead to a mass exodus of first responders leaving the field.

Only around 300 took the early leave and pension, but still, some are opposed.

-- >> Proponents say there is an impact.

We have not seen the actuary study the proponents of the bill shared with the legislature.

There was no physical note, nothing by the office of legislative services.

>> their math is wrong.

There has been no negative financial impact because of this.

The actuaries built in an assumption that 2% of eligible members would take advantage of this.

The actual number is 0.3%.

Reporter: 280 police officers and 20 firefighters took the early retirement option, meaning they only receive half of last year's salary as a pension.

About half will lose health care benefits altogether, depending on collective bargaining agreements with municipalities they serve.

>> There is a lot of data and research.

When a firefighter or policeman at 20 years is burnt out, we should not force them to be there another five years.

Not good for anybody.

A lot of data shows there is not any real cost to the state.

>> I get the intent of the bill.

I do not want to sound cold, but we never got the objective numbers from the legislature or executive branch.

That is an issue.

Reporter: The bills passed both houses and look poised for a signature from the governor providing relief to first responders who say they are burnt out.

Briana: A labor strike looms at the state's largest university were demonstrations by Rutgers union members this week reached a tipping point.

Workers say they are running out of patience after negotiations over higher pay Kerry into another month.

Protests spilling into a meeting of the University's top leaders.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the latest.

Reporter: Members of Rutgers unions anger over stalled contracts and disrupted and meaning where the financial officer had expected to discuss Rutgers budget, but the protest quickly shut it down.

Frustrated unions no closer.

>> We have nontenure track faculty and get paid less than half of what they get paid.

We are asking for equal pay for equal work.

>> All we hear is that there is no money.

We firmly disagree.

They give themselves reasons and somehow the rest of us do not have the same opportunity.

Reporter: Three unions representing workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after negotiations dragged on for months.

Tenured teachers want raises, but also living wages and job security for adjunct professors and graduate students.

Rutgers pays her $25,000 for nine months of work.

>> It is very hard.

A lot of us need financial support if we can get it from our families, maybe need to work other jobs.

Others are making really difficult position -- decisions whether to pay rent and buy groceries.

Reporter: The University said, we are committed to working as hard as we can to negotiate contracts with unions that are fair, reasonable and responsible.

We are in intensive negotiating sessions with unions and continue to respond to counter offers in good faith.

The unions have lost trust.

>> The last couple years Rutgers has gained unrestricted reserves by $300 million and have been spending on athletics.

Workers are saying it is time for us to get paid fairly during historic inflation, now is when they cry poor.

Reporter: They are public employees and if they strike, the Rutgers president indicated he could ask a judge for an injunction ordering workers back on the job.

A letter to Rutgers president for more than 75,000 labor, social, justice scholars asks Holloway to rescind the threat to use the power of injunction to punish, fine and arrest workers taking job actions and work with campus unions toward a just and fair contract.

It also invites Holloway to reconsider his chief contract negotiator, who is widely viewed as anti-labor.

Rutgers did not reply, but said we are doing everything we can to avoid a strike and are in intensive negotiating with unions and are making significant progress.

Unions remain adamant.

>> I do not think an injunction would stop these unions from fighting for a fair contract.

Reporter: Their biggest leverage is to strike during the last month of the school year in April.

In New Brunswick, I am Brenda Flanagan, "NJ Spotlight news.

Briana: Key budget work alongside those rallies today at the state house where lawmakers got their first big picture revenue outlook for the newly proposed budget.

Hearing for the first time from the state treasurer and nonpartisan physical efforts -- experts over whether numbers add up.

John Reitmeyer was at the budget committee meeting and joins me now.

First question, does -- do the numbers match?

John: It depends how you feel about $1 billion.

That is the difference between the forecast three received today from the office of legislative services and what we received a month ago from the Murphy administration.

That covers the remaining months of the current fiscal year and the full 12 months of the fiscal year that will begin July 1.

One billion dollars can go a long way in New Jersey.

There is talk of the need for more spending on K-12 schools and social services.

$100 billion difference, only 1% of the total budget pie over two fiscal years.

Briana: $53 billion for the budget we are currently talking about.

What difference is that going to make?

Do you expect this to get lawmakers tripped up as budget negotiations continue?

John: Good question.

Short term, because the state has been building reserves, the gap is $375 million if ols' estimates are more accurate then the administration's.

Looking ahead, the gap would be bigger and this will be revised in May once we get data from April's income tax collection.

The gap is bigger in the new fiscal year, almost $700 million.

A number that will have to be worked on by lawmakers who have a responsibility to drop the annual budget.

It looks like lawmakers are inclined to trust the OLS estimates at this point.

The variance is not that big, big picture.

But we are headed into economic bumping this.

We already see issues with the banking industry.

Lawmakers are looking at this more conservatively.

Briana: How will that change spending?

Until now they have been flushed with cash -- flush with cash, able to pay down debt, meet pension reliabilities, boost reserves.

Should we expect that to go by the wayside?

John: It is too early to tell.

We will get more refined projections in a few weeks.

There is a big surplus being built or projected for the next fiscal year.

There is also a reduction in corporate taxes.

There is a planned expansion of a child tax credit.

That all affects revenue stream.

The numbers will move, we just do not know in what direction.

The latest updates will come after the April income tax collections are tallied up.

Lawmakers face the difficult task of writing it.

Briana: $1 billion is somewhat of a drop in the bucket.

John Reitmeyer from the state, thank you.

Turning to Wall Street, here is how markets closed today.

♪ >> Support for the business report provided by New Jersey American water.

We keep life flowing.

Online at newjerseywateram.com.

Briana: This weekend Raven Santana highlights the states nonprofits and why those organizations may suffer to meet rising demand for their services.

Watch it on the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. ♪ Briana: A first in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

The FDA approved an over-the-counter version of the opioid overdose antidote, Narcan.

Health advocates have pushed for the nasal spray to be more widely available and without prescription as a means to save lives and stem the rising rates of drug fatalities in the nation, which killed more than 100,000 Americans last year, nearly 3000 in New Jersey alone.

The White House drug czar said schools and businesses will be encouraged to purchase the over-the-counter spray which will be available late summer.

New Jersey already has a program allowing people to obtain Naloxone free and anonymously at purchase debating pharmacies.

According to the state, more than 400 pharmacies have agreed to participate and roughly 12,000 Naloxone kits have been distributed.

Parents still struggling to get their hands on baby formula more than a year after the shortage began.

All those Facebook groups and websites created to help ease prices and connect parents with formula they need are still operating and federal regulators are warning lawmakers the nationwide crisis could easily recur.

Melissa Rose Cooper reports.

Reporter: A year after a nationwide shortage of baby formula's struggling to feed their children, many families are having issues finding what they need.

>> People are still struggling.

It has gotten better for some things, but Enfamil A.R., for example, it is impossible to find.

It is absolutely impossible to find.

A lot of people say, please if you see it, let me know.

Does anybody have a sample can?

Nobody is even getting samples anymore.

It dropped off the face of the earth.

Everyone is struggling.

Reporter: Stephanie Esposito understands the struggle.

Last May she created a formula find her on Facebook to connect families looking for formula after she was having problems getting it for her baby.

With 5200 members, she said she never thought a shortage would still be an issue.

>> Some people have left of the group and are coming back because they need either the toddler version of the formula and they can't find that.

They are saying, I was a former member, but now need this.

Or, their child was almost a year at the point I started and now they are pregnant again.

They are like, I need to look for formula now because it is so hard to find.

Now we have repeat people joining telling their family members.

It is constant.

I always have at least 10 people a day requesting to come in.

Reporter: The shortage came to light last year after one of the biggest baby formula manufacturers, Abbott Laboratories, issued a recall and shut down its facility.

Since then, production has gone back up, but the supply is not meeting the demand.

>> We are getting the trickle down effect, we are getting the product into pharmacies, but demand is so high we cannot keep up.

Reporter: It is causing some stores to limit the amount of formula customers can buy.

One shop that multiple wholesale stores to get enough for her twins.

Right now she has three weeks of supply, but worries about running out.

>> As adults food is readily available.

For babies, we cannot just switch to a different formula.

Their stomachs are so sensitive.

It is nerve-racking being sure we have enough.

>> That is the only nutrition newborns have.

At four months or six months they do not eat anything but formula.

This gives them all the nutrition, minerals, calories, they need to grow.

If you do not have the formula, it is starving them.

It is critical we have adequate supply of formula in the country.

Reporter: The FDA warns another severe shortage could happen if production of baby formula is not expanded.

Parents struggling to find formula are encouraged to reach out to their pediatrician and connect with groups like formulafindernj for help.

Briana: Finally, the city of Paterson could use a bright spot now.

Today in Trenton, they got it.

Full honors and tears for Eastside high school's winning basketball teams.

Players and coaches for both the east side mighty ghosts were honored.

A banner year for both.

The boys team won the first championship in nearly a decade while the ladies scored their second consecutive countywide championship.

Applauded for determination, teamwork and skill.

A real source of pride.

That is all we have.

A reminder, you can listen to "NJ Spotlight News" any time via podcast.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

For the entire "NJ Spotlight News" team, thank you, see you tomorrow.

♪ >> Members of the New Jersey education Association, making public schools ready for every child.

Wj Barnabas health.

And Orsted, committed to a sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

>> Orsted will provide a renewable, offshore wind energy, jobs, educational, supply and economic opportunities for the Garden State.

Orsted, committed to the creation of a new, long-term, sustainable, clean energy future for New Jersey.

Online at us.orsted.com.

>> We want to remember women that took that first step.

>> The girls like hearing the story about Rosa Parks, the fact she was not moving out of her seat.

Girls like to hear that because they say she is a strong woman.

>> I think of Celia cruz, a woman exiled from her country.

Despite her hardships she developed skills and broke carriers.

They are blown away by women like that.

♪ ♪