>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

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 NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

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

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ, HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY.

THE SENATE IS DEBATING THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN WITH THE VOTE EXPECTED LATER ON THIS MONTH.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FROM SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ IN THE SECOND HALF OF OUR PROGRAM BUT WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON THE PANDEMIC, THE OMICRON VARIANT.

DECEMBER IS A MONTH OF HOLIDAYS FOR MANY OF US, AND THAT MEANS FAMILY AND OTHER GROUP GATHERINGS.

IT'S ALSO THE MONTH WHERE WE HAVE DISCOVERED OUR FIRST CASE OF THAT VARIANT, SO WHAT'S IT MEAN TO YOU, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AT LARGE?

WE'RE JOINED AGAIN BY THE STATE'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER, JUDY.

COMMISSIONER, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT INTRODUCTION ON OMICRON, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL LEARNING TOGETHER SO I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT WE'LL KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE UP TO DATE.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE FIRST CASE IN THE UNITED STATES WAS IDENTIFIED YESTERDAY IN AN INDIVIDUAL FROM CALIFORNIA.

WE KNOW RECENTLY THAT MINNESOTA HAS REPORTED A CASE, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT MINNESOTA CASE APPARENTLY TRAVELED BACK TO THE STATES AND THEN ATTENDED A CONFERENCE AT THE JAVITS CENTER IN NEW YORK THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER BUT WE KNOW THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THERE, SO OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN NEW JERSEY, WHO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, THAT PERHAPS WERE AT THAT CONFERENCE, SO WE'LL BE COLLABORATING ACTIVELY WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS ANYHOW.

WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT AN ALERT TO NEW JERSEYANS.

IF THEY HAVE TRAVELED TO THAT PROGRAM, TO PLEASE LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL BE DOING OUR REGULAR CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTACT TRACING.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE WERE JUST GETTING TO KNOW THE DELTA VARIANT, AND NOW HERE COMES OMICRON.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN WE SAY THERE'S A NEW VARIANT?

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WELL, VIRUSES MUTATE A LOT, THOUSANDS OF TIMES.

IN MOST CASES, THE MUTATION DOES NOT TAKE HOLD.

REMEMBER, WE WERE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE UK VARIANT AND THEN DELTA CAME ALONG AND IT SEEMED TO BE KIND OF STRONGER AND KIND OF PUSHED THE UK VARIANT OUT OF THE WAY.

RIGHT NOW IN NEW JERSEY, THE DELTA VARIANT IS 100% OF OUR CASES.

OF THE CASES THAT WE SEQUENCE.

SO, WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS IS THAT WHEN YOU DECODE THE GENES OF THE SARS-COV-2 VIRUS, YOU LOOK FOR A CHANGE, AND THAT CHANGE IS THE VARIANT.

AND THEN, IT'S TESTED FOR THINGS LIKE, IS IT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE?

THE TRANSMISSIBILITY, THE SEVERITY.

DOES IT HAVE SO MANY MUTATIONS ON THE SPIKE PROTEIN THAT IT COULD INVADE AND EVADE OUR IMMUNE STATUS?

AND THEN, YOU LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S -- WHETHER VACCINES OR TREATMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST IT.

SO, THE SEQUENCING IS THE CONFIRMATORY STEP.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT IS IT HAS A SPECIFIC -- WHAT I CALL SIGNATURE OR CHARACTERISTIC WHEN YOU DO A PCR TEST.

IT HAS WHAT THEY CALL A -- AN S-GENE TARGET DROPOFF, SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS AT THREE GENES AND ONE DROPS OFF.

AND THAT IS SUSPICIOUS OF OMICRON.

SO, YOU TAKE THAT SPECIMEN AND YOU SEQUENCE IT.

>> AND SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE DELTA VARIANT?

IS THERE NO MORE DELTA VARIANT OR DOES IT -- HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT OMICRON.

IT MAY BE THAT THE DELTA VARIANT PUSHES OMICRON OUT OF THE WAY.

LIKE IT DID WHEN SEVERAL OTHER VARIANTS, EPSILON, MU, HAD TRIED TO COME IN.

DELTA BASICALLY SLAPPED IT DOWN.

IT MAY MEAN THAT THE OMICRON IS SO STRONG THAT IT TAKES OVER LIKE THE DELTA VARIANT TOOK OVER FOR THE UK VARIANT, THAT IT TAKES OVER THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT VIRUSES ARE TRANSMITTED BY DROPLET INFECTION.

PHYSICAL SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASKING, WASHING YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, GETTING TEST -- IF YOU'RE SICK, STAYING HOME AND GETTING TESTED, STILL WORKS.

AND OF COURSE, VACCINE.

VACCINATION.

>> RIGHT.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SAYING IT'S A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, BUT NOT PANIC.

THE FACT IS, THOUGH, THAT, AS YOU SAID, WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS VARIANT OTHER THAN THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT'S FROM SOUTH AFRICA, RIGHT?

WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE VARIANT.

>> CERTAINLY THE TRANSMISSIBILITY AND THE SEVERITY.

IS IT MORE EASILY TRANSMITTED?

SO WE'LL HAVE MANY, MANY MORE CASES.

AND IS IT SEVERE ENOUGH TO RESULT IN HOSPITALIZATION, SEVERE DISEASE, AND DEATH?

THAT SECOND PART IS WHAT WE LOOK AT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY.

BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE HIGH TRANSMISSIBILITY, MILD SYMPTOMS, AND SO FAR, THE REPORTS ARE MILD SYMPTOMS, SO YOU COULD HAVE HIGH TRANSMISSIBILITY, LOTS OF CASES, MILD SYMPTOMS, WHERE YOU ISOLATE, YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOU SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE, BUT YOU'RE NOT ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

WE WOULD REALLY BE LOOKING VERY CRITICALLY AT HOSPITALIZATIONS.

>> PEOPLE ARE POINTING OUT THAT WE ALWAYS EXPECTED THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE VARIANTS, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD PERCEIVE THIS VARIANT AND THE PANDEMIC IN GENERAL?

ARE WE GOING TO JUST SEE VARIANTS THAT OVERTAKE PREVIOUS VARIANTS, ET CETERA?

>> WELL, WE COULD VERY WELL SEE THAT.

THIS PARTICULAR VARIANT, THE CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF MUTATIONS ON THE SPIKE PROTEIN.

BECAUSE ONE OF THEM CAN BREAKTHROUGH OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT.

SO, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE VARIANTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> HOW LONG BEFORE WE GET SOME OF THIS INTEL ON THIS?

I GUESS, IF GROUND ZERO IS SOUTH AFRICA, THAT'S WHERE IT'S BEEN THERE LONGEST.

HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE SCIENTISTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE AS LONG AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CDC HAS LOOKED BACK AND REVIEWED SPECIMENS FROM OCTOBER 1st TO THE PRESENT TIME.

THEY LOOKED AT 200,000 SPECIMENS, AND THEY LOOKED FIRST FOR THAT CHARACTERISTIC SIGNATURE OF THE S-GENE DROP AND THEY FOUND ABOUT 240, AND THEY TOOK ALL OF THOSE SPECIMENS AND TESTED THEM FOR THE VARIANT, AND NONE OF THEM WERE POSITIVE.

SO, THAT'S 200,000 THAT THEY'VE DONE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE AS LONG.

I THINK OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE IN A DELTA SURGE.

WE HAVE REPORTED TODAY MORE THAN 4,500 CASES.

IT'S OUR HIGHEST CASE COUNT SINCE LAST APRIL.

IT IS A DELTA SURGE POST-THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

SO, WE KNEW THAT DELTA VARIANT WAS HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE, AND WE ARE NOW TRACKING A SURGE THAT HAS GIVEN US SOME CONCERN.

I CAN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ENOUGH, IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED, GET VACCINATED.

IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN BOOSTED, GET BOOSTED.

THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL KIT.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITION IS DEALING WITH THE PRESENT VARIANT, THE NUMBERS IN NEW JERSEY ARE ALL TRENDING REALLY BADLY FOR THAT.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER THAT IS GIVING YOU THE MOST CONCERN?

>> THE ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT VERY SPECIFICALLY ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

SO, HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP.

HOSPITALIZATIONS TODAY ARE OVER 1,000.

BUT JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, WHEN WE SAW THIS SURGE LAST YEAR, THAT STARTED THE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER, OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS WENT UP TO 3,000.

THEN THEY WENT UP TO 6,000.

SO, WE'RE SHY OF THAT.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS VACCINATIONS.

>> YEAH.

>> LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE VACCINES.

THIS YEAR, WE HAVE VACCINES, AND WE REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES AGAINST SEVERE HOSPITALIZATIONS -- SEVERE DISEASE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IS WORKING.

>> CONCERNS ALSO ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND SCHOOLS.

IS THE STATE PREPARING FOR WHAT WITH OMICRON?

>> WELL, WITH OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, I THINK TODAY WE'RE REPORTING ABOUT 125 OUTBREAKS.

AGAIN, THAT'S DOWN FROM OVER 500, SIX MONTHS AGO.

EVERY OUTBREAK IN LONG-TERM CARE BECAUSE OF THAT VULNERABLE POPULATION IS CONCERNING.

MANY OF THE OUTBREAKS ARE ONE AND TWO RESIDENTS, NOT THE 15 AND 20 THAT WE SAW PRIOR TO VACCINATIONS.

EVERY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IS PARTNERED WITH A VACCINATING PHARMACY, AND WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY VACCINATING AS MANY RESIDENTS AS WE CAN, AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING STRONGLY VACCINATION BOOSTERS FOR EVERY HEALTHCARE WORKER.

SO, BOOSTERS ARE INCREASING, AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL BE THE KEY TO KEEP, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER MITIGATION, MASKING, ET CETERA, TO KEEP ANY VARIANT FROM OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> AS WE HEAD INTO DECEMBER, SO MANY DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS DURING THIS MONTH.

REAL QUICKLY, CAN YOU JUST TELL PEOPLE, LOOK, THESE ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY GATHERING?

>> IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED?

START YOUR SERIES.

GET VACCINATED.

IF YOU ARE NOT BOOSTED, WE KNOW THAT IMMUNITY WANES OVER TIME.

THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN.

GET YOUR BOOSTER NOW.

IN TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR PREDOMINANT IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKING AS AGGRESSIVELY AS IT CAN, AND YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS, AND WE WILL NOT CONTINUE THE SURGE INTO JANUARY.

SO, VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE.

BOOSTER, BOOSTER, BOOSTER.

MASKING IS THE BEST, AGAIN, PROTECTION AGAINST WHAT WE CALL SOURCE CONTROL.

AND IT'S RESPECTFUL.

IT'S PROTECTING YOU FROM ME.

I OWE YOU THAT.

I OWE YOU AS A FRIEND, A LOVED ONE.

I OWE YOU THAT AS A STRANGER.

MASKING, PRIMARY SERIES VACCINATION, AND BOOSTERS.

>> ALL RIGHT, HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY PERSICHILLI, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU, AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU, DAVID.

>> WE'RE IN THE FINAL MONTH OF THE YEAR, AND MOST OBSERVERS EXPECT THE SENATE TO VOTE ON THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN, BUT UNLIKE IN THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS HAVE ZERO VOTES TO SPARE IN THE SENATE, WHICH IS MAKING FOR TENSE NEGOTIATIONS.

JOINING US NOW WITH AN UPDATE IS NEW JERSEY SENIOR SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, DAVID.

>> SO, IS IT CONTRACT TO SAY THAT NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS ARE REALLY AMONG DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

NO REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO CAST A VOTE TO ENHANCE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND GIVE WORKING FAMILIES A BREAK.

NO REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO CAST A VOTE TO HELP REDUCE THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

NO REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO CAST A VOTE TO MAKE CHILD CARE MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND SO, THIS IS JUST A NEGOTIATION AMONG DEMOCRATS ABOUT THE FINER POINTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PROGRAM.

>> SO, WE READ ABOUT SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUR IDEA FOR RESTORING THE S.A.L.T.

DEDUCTION AND THAT OF BERNIE SANDERS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE?

>> SURE.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NO CONCERN THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME RELIEF FROM THE S.A.L.T.

PROHIBITIONS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT IN.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO DEDUCTING THEIR STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES IF THIS BILL PASSES, SO THE QUESTION IS HOW?

AND WHAT OUR ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN SENATOR SANDERS AND I WAS, IS THAT WE WOULD MAKE A REVENUE NEUTRAL, MEANING, IT WOULD COST NOTHING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO RESTORE THE STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION.

WE SUBMITTED IT TO THE JOINT TAX COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE INDEPENDENT SCORER.

THEY CAME BACK WITH A STATEMENT THAT SAID, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT WOULD BE $550,000.

FOR A MARRIED COUPLE, IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO $900,000 SOME-ODD.

THAT WOULDN'T COST ANYTHING.

THAT WOULD ALLOW DEDUCTIBILITY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, FULL DEDUCTIBILITY, BUT THOSE ABOVE THOSE AMOUNTS WOULD NOT HAVE THE FULL DEDUCTIBILITY OF THE STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTY TAX.

AND SO, I THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD AGREEMENT.

HE HAS SINCE WANTED TO CREATE REVENUE, MEANING, IT WON'T BE REVENUE NEUTRAL.

HE WANTS TO USE REVENUE THROUGH THE S.A.L.T.

PROVISIONS IN ORDER TO DO OTHER THINGS AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I SUPPORT.

>> SO, HOUSE DEMOCRATS APPROVED SOMETHING LIKE $80,000 IN S.A.L.T.

WRITEOFFS THROUGH 2030, I THINK.

BUT THAT'S NOT CLOSE TO WHAT IS GOING TO END UP IN THAT BILL, IS IT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE'LL SEE.

BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES IS, FIRST OF ALL, IT CONTINUES TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGE OF SAYING THAT THOSE WHO ARE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES GET TAX BREAKS BECAUSE THEIR PROVISION ALLOWS MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES TO TAKE DEDUCTIONS.

SECONDLY, THEY REINSTATE THE S.A.L.T.

CAP A FEW YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHICH WE DON'T DO UNDER OUR PROPOSAL AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS CREATE A FUTURE S.A.L.T.

CAP FOR NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS.

SO, THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE OF THE HOUSE PROCESS VERSUS OURS.

>> SO, SCHOOLS AND HOUSING AUTHORITIES, CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT, YOU MENTIONED DAY CARES, ALL OF THESE THINGS STAND TO GAIN FROM THIS BILL, AND I KNOW YOU ALWAYS WARN US AGAINST WATCHING THE SAUSAGE GET MADE, BUT WATCHING THE SAUSAGE GET MADE IS KIND OF OUR BREAD AND BUTTER, NOT TO STRETCH A METAPHOR TOO MUCH, BUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER STICKING POINTS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON?

>> WELL, LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT START OFF BY SAYING, LOOK, LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.

THIS WOULD BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN HELPING AMERICAN FAMILIES AND NEW JERSEY FAMILIES SEE LOWER COSTS, LOWER COSTS FOR CHILD CARE, LOWER COSTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, LOWER COSTS FOR SENIOR CARE, EXPANSION OF HEALTHCARE, AND THE CUT ON THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHICH IS TAX CUTS FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES THAT WOULD LIFT MILLIONS OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

SO, THE QUESTION IS, FOR DEMOCRATS, HOW FAR DO YOU GO ON ANY OF THOSE?

WHAT'S THE REFINEMENTS OF IT?

WHO GETS ACCESS TO THOSE BENEFITS?

BUT THE BIG PICTURE IS STILL THERE AND HAS VIRTUAL UNITY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CREATING A NEW GENERATION OF HIGH-PAYING JOBS, AND DEAL WITH A CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH WE SAW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SUPER STORM SANDY AND IRMA.

SO, THAT'S THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON.

AND THEN HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT?

THIS IS FULLY PAID FOR UNDER THE PRESENT PROPOSAL, MEANING, IT DOES NOT ADD TO THE DEBT, WON'T ADD TO INFLATION, BUT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO PAY FOR IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HIGHER RATES ON CORPORATIONS, WHO GOT A BIG TAX CUT UNDER THE TRUMP TAX BILL.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE TOP 1% PAY MORE.

OTHERS WANT OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE TAX CODE TO BE INVOLVED, AND SO IT'S THAT TYPE OF NEGOTIATION, BUT WHAT NO ONE'S LOST SIGHT OF IS THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER COSTS, IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, IMPROVE HEALTHCARE, DEAL WITH GLOBAL WARMING, AND CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF HIGH-PAYING JOBS.

>> SO, WE'RE READING MORE ABOUT S.A.L.T.

DEDUCTIONS THAN WE ARE ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AND THAT'S NEVER GOOD FOR IMMIGRATION.

WHAT CAN WE REALISTICALLY EXPECT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM OUT OF THIS BILL, OR FRANKLY, FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, AS WE SPEAK, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, WHO IS THE ARBITER OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN THE SENATE IN TERMS OF, IS IT IN THE RULES, IS IT NOT IN THE RULES, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH ONLY DEMOCRATS, AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, ARE IN THE MIDST OF BECAUSE WE WILL GET NO REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR ANY OF THE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE RULES.

IMMIGRATION IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN TERMS OF REFORM WITHIN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL, BUT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL HAS VERY SPECIFIC RULES AS TO WHAT CAN BE PURSUED IN THAT PROCESS, WHAT CAN NOT.

SO FAR, WE'VE LOST TWO ROUNDS OF OUR PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION PROPOSALS.

WE MADE A THIRD CASE THIS WEEK.

SHE IS IN THE MIDST OF CONSIDERING IT.

I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT ONLY BECAUSE WE SAW HER TWO OPINIONS, WE TAILORED THIS ONE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HER TWO OPINIONS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL GET IT, AND WHAT WILL THAT DO?

IT WOULD GIVE ABOUT 8 MILLION PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY WHO ARE PRESENTLY UNDOCUMENTED, WHO CAN COME FORWARD, MAKE THEMSELVES WELL WITH THE LAW, GO THROUGH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, PAY TAXES, THE ABILITY TO HAVE A TEMPORARY STATUS FOR FIVE YEARS, RENEWABLE FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A WORK PERMIT.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL.

MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT SEEN FAMILY IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES ORIGINALLY.

AND THEY WOULD BE SHIELDED FROM DEPORTATION AS A RESULT OF COMING FORTH AND GETTING THAT TEMPORARY REGISTRATION.

THOSE ARE THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF WHAT THEY GET.

NOW, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ORIGINALLY WANTED.

WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT HAD A MORE STEADY PATHWAY, BUT IT IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WITH NO REPUBLICAN VOTES.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NEEDING TO BE WITHIN THE RULES AND THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN IS GOING TO RULE ON, CAN YOU REALLY BRIEFLY EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS WITHIN THE RULES?

>> SO, THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE GOING, SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE VIEWERS MAY HAVE HEARD CALLED RECONCILIATION.

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHEN A COUPLE HAD A FIGHT AND GOT TOGETHER AGAIN, THEY RECONCILE.

BUT RECONCILIATION IS RECONCILING DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE BUDGET, AND IT HAS SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE SENATE RULES AS TO WHAT YOU CAN INCLUDE IN RECONCILIATION, WHICH ALLOWS US TO PASS SOMETHING ON A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE, VERSUS THE NORMAL 60 VOTES THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE SENATE RULES.

AND BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US ONLY TO DO IT WITH A MAJORITY VOTE, THERE ARE SPECIAL RULES AS TO WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE INCLUDED.

SO, IT'S THE PARLIAMENTARIAN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THOSE STATED RULES THAT MAKES DECISIONS.

IS THIS INBOUND OR OUT OF BOUND?

IS THIS FAIR OR FOUL?

>> I HAVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE RUN OUT OF TIME HERE, ON THE SUPREME COURT TAKING UP THAT MISSISSIPPI ABORTION CASE AND THE REAL THREAT THAT THE COURT IS GOING TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

ARE WE GOING TO END UP AS A COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN GET ABORTION SERVICES IN THIS STATE BUT NOT IN THIS STATE?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO ROE VS. WADE AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

I BELIEVE THE TOUGHEST CHOICE FOR A WOMAN IS TO MAKE THAT CHOICE WITH THE CONTEXT OF HER FAMILY, HER LOVED ONES, AND HER FAITH, BUT THAT IS FOR HER TO MAKE.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE TELLING WOMEN WHAT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CAN AND CANNOT BE.

AND SO, IT IS ALARMING TO ME TO SEE THE WAY IN WHICH THE SUPREME COURT QUESTIONING WENT, AND WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE COURT DECIDES, BUT IT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE POINT IN TIME, AND I THINK IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COURT FOR THE COURT TO OVERTURN FIRST ROE VS. WADE AND ANOTHER SUBSEQUENT CASE CALLED THE CASEY CASE THAT REAFFIRMED THE DECISION OF ROE VS. WADE AND NOW WITH NOTHING HAVING BEEN CHANGED IN TERMS OF SCIENCE OR THE LAW, TO SAY, NO, WE'VE CHANGED OUR MINDS, IS TO SAY THAT THE PRECEDENCE OF THE COURT, WHICH IS THE BASIS UNDER WHICH THE RULE OF LAW APPLIES, THAT WE CAN DEPEND UPON, OKAY, THIS IS THE STANDARD UNDER WHICH WE LIVE IN, CAN BE CHANGED SIMPLY WHEN THERE IS A DIFFERENT SET OF JUSTICES AND A, IN THIS CASE, A MORE CONSERVATIVE VIEW, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT ONLY A TERRIBLE CHALLENGE TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN, IT IS A TERRIBLE THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE COURT.

>> WOULD YOU -- WHAT REFORM EFFORTS WOULD YOU TAKE AT THE COURT?

SOME HAVE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THE COURT.

AS A WAY TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE FOR ANY FUTURE CHALLENGES TO WHAT MAY BE A LAW THAT RESTRICTS ABORTION SERVICES.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M IN SUPPORT OF IS CHANGING THE RULES ON HOW WE DEAL WITH SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

LOOK, LET'S REMEMBER WHY WE'RE WHERE WE'RE AT.

BARACK OBAMA HAD AN OPENING FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE HAD A MAJORITY AT THAT TIME.

THEY DID NOT ALLOW A HEARING AND A VOTE ON THAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO IS NOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEN, THEY STOLE THAT SEAT BY NOT ALLOWING A VOTE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN APPOINTMENT BY A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, AND THEY STOLE IT BY KEEPING IT OPEN AND THEN THEY HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE IT.

AND THEN, THEY RUSHED THROUGH THE OTHER NOMINATIONS IN AN ACCELERATED PROCESS THAT IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING THAT HAD EVER BEEN CONSIDERED FOR A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHERE 60 VOTES WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY.

AND SO, THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY WITH THE COURT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS -- AND IF THERE IS A SUPREME COURT OPENING, WE NEED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO HAVE HIS NOMINEE CONSIDERED EXPEDITIOUSLY AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

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

THANKS TO JUDY PERSICHILLI AND BOB MENENDEZ.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE "CHAT BOX," NJ BUSINESS BEAT WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

FOR THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

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 NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

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

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.