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♪ >>> REMEMBERING JIM FLORIO, THE GOVERNOR WHOSE LASTING IMPACT ON OUR STATE YOU MIGHT JUST BE TAKING FOR GRANTED.

I'M DAVID CRUISE, THIS IS REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE.

OUR GROUP TODAY IS A GROUP OF VETERANS.

STACEY CHERMAN IS DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR AT BLOOMBURG.

MATT FREEMAN IS AUTHOR AT POLITICO.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, OUR REPORTER'S ROUND TABLE, THE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR WHYY.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A REMEMBRANCE OF THE LATE FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND GOVERNOR JIM FLORIO WHO DIED THIS WEEK AT 85.

WITH US IS THE MAN FLORIO FACED IN WHAT IS STILL THE CLOSEST RACE IN HISTORY BACK IN 1981.

THOMAS CANE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, GOVERNOR.

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THAT RACE THAT COMES TO MIND RIGHT NOW?

>> OH, YEAH.

I REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS.

JIM, AS PEOPLE USED TO SAY, WE HAD A LESS SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE IN GOVERNOR HISTORY.

I REREAD IT THE OTHER DAY, AND IT WAS.

NO PERSONALITIES, NO NOTHING LIKE THAT.

AND OF COURSE I REMEMBER THAT RECOUNT BECAUSE I STARTED OFF THAT RACE 30 POINTS BEHIND, SO NOBODY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WIN, INCLUDING JIM DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO WIN.

THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE BASIC WILL YOU A TIE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE STATE TROOPERS CAME INTO BOTH OUR HOUSES AND SHOUTED US DURING THE RECOUNT UNTIL I CAME OUT A FEW VOTES ON TOP.

IT WAS ONLY A FEW VOTES ON TOP.

>> IT WAS ONLY 1,700 VOTES.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE DEBATES.

I WATCHED THEM FROM 1981.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAD SEVEN-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS.

THAT'S UNHEARD OF.

>> DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU COULDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ATTENTION SPAN FROM AN AUDIENCE TO LISTEN TO A SEVEN-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS.

>> I'M NOT SURE WE HAD THE ATTENTION SPAN THEN, BUT WE BOTH DID IT.

>> AND THOSE DEBATES WERE POLITE.

HE WAS A GREAT BELIEVER IN GOVERNMENT, FOR INSTANCE.

PROBABLY BIGGER GOVERNMENT.

ALTHOUGH, YOU PROBABLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

HE DID GIVE A SPIRITED DEFENSE OF THE SYSTEM IN ONE OF YOUR DEBATES.

HE SAID EDUCATION, FIGHTING CRIME, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY WERE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK WE ARGUED ABOUT THOSE THREE THINGS.

WE ARGUED ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS.

WE HAD A BIG ARGUMENT ABOUT TAXES.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, AND SOME SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCES.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

WE WERE STRONG RIVALS.

NOT ONLY IN THE ELECTION, WE SERVED ON THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER.

WE WERE BOTH YOUNG DOGS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT, AND WE CLASHED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

I TELL YOU WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT POLITICS.

WE WERE BITTER RIVALS IN MANY CASES, AND ONCE THAT WAS ALL OVER, WE BECAME FRIENDS.

YOU KNOW.

AND THE LAST 30 YEARS OR 35 YEARS OR WHATEVER, JIM AND I HAVE DONE THINGS TOGETHER.

WE'VE SUPPORTED CAUSES TOGETHER WHENEVER WE COULD.

WE'VE TEAMED UP FOR THINGS WE BOTH SUPPORTED, AND HE TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY GOOD FRIEND, AND I'LL MISS HIM.

>> YOU WENT ON TO TWO TERMS AS GOVERNOR.

AT WHAT POINT DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP BEGIN TO EVOLVE?

WAS IT AFTER YOU LEFT OFFICE?

>> AFTER I LEFT OFFICE AND PROBABLY -- I HELPED HIM WITH SOME THINGS WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR.

FOR INSTANCE, HE HAD AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THROUGH.

REPUBLICANS HAD A BIG MAJORITY, AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPEAL IT.

AND I GOT ON THE PHONE.

I WAS RECENTLY IN OFFICE, AND I CALLED THEM AND KNOCKED OFF THE VOTES THAT THEY NEEDED TO OVERRIDE TO MAKE SURE JIM'S BILL WASN'T OVERWRITTEN.

>> SO YOU LOBBIED FOR HIM?

>> I LOBBIED FOR HIM, THEN HE NAMED AN AQUARIUM AFTER ME.

JIM WAS THE ONE WHO NAMED IT.

WE STARTED WORKING TOGETHER WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR AND KEPT ON WORKING TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.

AND WE NEVER AGREED ON EVERYTHING.

THERE WERE STILL SOME VERY STRONG DISAGREEMENTS ON EDUCATION AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.

>> FUNDAMENTALLY, RIGHT, GIVEN TODAY'S TONE OF GOVERNMENT, I'LL GET TO THAT IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU WERE FUNDAMENTALLY RESPECTFUL TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER AND RESPECTED EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS AND THE ABILITY TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ZOP ME, THAT'S THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO WORK.

I JUST THINK IT'S SO WRONG WHEN PEOPLE -- MY MOTHER USED TO SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DISAGREEABLE IF YOU DISAGREE.

AND YOU DON'T.

AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR DEMOCRATS WHO I DIDN'T AGREE WITH ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, BUT WE BECAME FRIENDS, AND WE WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE TOGETHER.

WE USED TO GO OUT TO DINNER AT NIGHT AND WENT TO EACH OTHER'S WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, AND WE WERE FRIENDS.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAD IN ALL MY YEARS WITH THE LEGISLATURE WAS THE INCOME TAX WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND WE USED TO HAVE A REUNION.

TOO MANY PEOPLE DIED NOW, BUT WE USED TO HAVE A REUNION.

EVERY YEAR, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WE GOT TOGETHER AND JOKED AND PLAYED.

THE GOVERNORS CAME, AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT THE OLD DAYS, AND WE WERE FRIENDS.

THAT'S THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE.

>> YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SMALL GOVERNMENT GUY.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE SIZE OF THE STATE BUDGET BACK THEN?

>> IT WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT IS NOW.

NO.

WE HAD -- >> I'LL TELL YOU.

TODAY IT'S 50 BILLION.

BACK IN '81, IT WAS $6 BILLION.

>> REALLY?

WAS IT REALLY?

IT GOES UP A PERCENT 1/2.

IT WAS A TOP RATE.

>> YEAH.

WHAT SHOULD WE REMEMBER ABOUT JIM FLORIO FROM CONGRESS TO THE STATE HOUSE?

WHAT SHOULD HIS LEGACY BE?

>> FIRST, HISS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE DID THE SUPERFUND.

AND NEW JERSEY GOT IT CLEANED UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THE STATE.

SO HE'S ACREDITABLE FOR THAT.

AND I THINK HIS COURAGE.

HE STOOD UP FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN AND DID IT HIS WHOLE LIFE AND SET AN EXAMPLE.

I THINK IT'S NOT A BAD THING FOR SOME OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT TO LOOK AT A GUY LIKE JIM AND SAY, HE MADE AN IMPACT.

HE DIDN'T ALWAYS WIN ELECTIONS, BUT HE ALWAYS STUCK WITH HIS BELIEFS, AND HE HAD RESPECT FROM EVERYBODY FOR DOING THAT.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE TONE OF OUR POLITICS.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERMS.

TOM CANE JR. HAS SAID THE EDITORIAL ARE BIASED.

THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE LIKEWISE BOYCOTTING THE PRESS.

IS THAT PRODUCTIVE, DO YOU THINK?

>> NO, IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE, BUT HE'S GOT GOOD REASONS FOR THAT.

TOM HAS PUT THING IN THE PAPER THAT ARE INACCURATE, UNFAIR, AND HE'S NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO ANSWER THOSE THINGS.

WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN, EVENTUALLY, YOU GIVE UP.

IT'S NOT THE REPORTERS OR THE OTHER EDITORIAL WRITERS, IT'S ONE PERSON.

IT'S TOM MORAN.

IT'S TOO BAD.

>> SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION THIS WEEK WITH JOHN BRAMNICK AND PHIL RIZZO ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REPUBLICAN TODAY.

IN NEW JERSEY, IS IT A PARTY AT WAR OR ODDS WITH ITSELF?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THAT?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN DISAGREEMENTS WITH CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS, AND NOW I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL THEM TRUMP REPUBLICANS AND NON-TRUMP REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THOSE DISAGREEMENTS.

WHETHER THEY LAST BEYOND THE LEADERSHIP OF TRUMP AND WHETHER OR NOT THE -- I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TODAY IS ELECT MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO CONGRESS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL BREAK THE FEVER IN MY MIND AND REALLY GET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BACK TO A PARTY THAT'S CONSERVATIVE BUT REALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> INTERESTING TERM, BREAK THE FEVER, HUH?

>> YEAH.

>> GOVERNOR TOM CANE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOUS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

GOOD TO SEE ZBLU THANKS VERY MUCH, SIR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PANEL, WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

WE HEARD THE FORMER GOVERNOR THERE TALKING ABOUT HIS LEGACY.

STACEY CHERMAN, YOU CAME TO TRENTON JUST AFTER THE FLORIO YEARS.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU ABOUT THE FORMER GOVERNOR?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A SHAME FOR GOVERNOR FLORIO THAT I THINK THE THING PEOPLE REMEMBER MOST IS THE SALES TAX INCREASE WHEN HE DID SO MUCH MORE.

THAT'S THE THING WHEN I MENTION HIS NAME, IT'S THE BIG REVOLT AND THE BIG SALES TAX INCREASE.

IT DID SET THE STAGE FOR HOW DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAME TO BE IN NJ UNANIMOUSLY, HOW THEY ARE WITH TAXES AND THIS ONGOING FIGHT BETWEEN CUTTING TAXES AND RAISING TAXES.

HE DID DO SO MUCH MORE AS THE FORMER GOVERNOR MENTIONED.

HE'S KNOWN FOR HIS ENVIRONMENTAL REFORMS AND HIS GUN REFORMS AS WELL.

>> AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS WELL, REFUNDING OR FINDING A NEW WAY TO FUND SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

>> AND JUST HIS OVERALL LOOK AT GOVERNMENT AND HOW SPENDING IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO HELP NEW JERSEYENS.

>> MATT, I FEEL LIKE YOU WERE KIND OF REDISCOVERING JIM FLORIO THIS WEEK.

WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY FROM LOOKING AT HIS CAREER?

>> I THINK WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TAX REVOLT THE MOST, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T IN NEW JERSEY AT THE TIME, AND I WAS JUST A KID.

BUT EVEN I REMEMBER THAT.

HEARING MY AUNT LIKE CURSE HIM UNDER HER BREATH.

BUT THE THING IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT NOW, BY TODAY'S STANDARDS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY POLITICIANS SINCE HIM, INSTEAD OF CONFRONTING ISSUES, WHETHER THE SOLUTION WAS POPULAR OR NOT, HE CONFRONTED AN ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE CONFRONTED INSTEAD OF PUSHING THE PROBLEM OFF TO FUTURE GOVERNORS.

AND I THINK HIS REPUTATION AND LEGACY HAS AGED REALLY WELL IN THAT RESPECT.

WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE '90s WHEN CHRISTY WHITMAN ENACTED LARGE TAX CUTS THAT WEREN'T EXACTLY PAID FOR WHEN SHE BONDED TO PUT IN FOR THE PENSIONS, WHEN SHE SKIPPED PENSION PAYMENTS, ALL THOSE THINGS CAUGHT UP TO FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR TAKING THE POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR ROUTE AND JUST STICKING WITH IT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE A PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED.

IT'S GOVERNANCE.

ADD POLITICS.

BUT YOU COULD CERTAINLY ARGUE IT'S GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I'M NOT ENDORSING ANY SPECIFIC TH THING, BUT IT'S A SOLUTION.

>> MAKING HIS ROUND TABLE DEBUT, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THIS NEW POLL OUT THIS WEEK FROM RUTGERS FINDS PHIL MURRAY'S POPULARITY IS UP.

UP TO 54% APPROVAL RATING.

I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S POPULARITY IN A WHILE.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD NEWS OVER THERE, BUT WHAT'S HE DONE SINCE ELECTION DAY TO DESERVE THESE GOOD NUMBERS?

IS IT COVID?

>> I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX ISSUES AND JIM FLORIO'S DEATH KIND OF ENCAPSULATES THE FACT THAT THIS IS KIND OF THE IDEA.

YOU CAN ALSO KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THESE NUMBERS ARE SOMEWHAT IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU SEE NATIONALLY WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING OUT OF A SITUATION WHERE GAS PRICES SOARED, INFLATION, AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, AND, YOU KNOW, COVID, WE'RE GETTING BACK TO NUMBERS THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SAW DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID.

>> MATT, WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S POPULARITY?

>> I THINK IT'S ALL DUE TO HIS REMARKABLE HAIR GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

[ LAUGHTER ] REALLY, I THINK -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THE POLLS DIDN'T QUITE CATCH THE NATIONAL MOOD THAT WE SAW REFLECTED IN THE GOFR NOR'S RESULTS IN 2021.

SOME OF IT IS JUST THE NATIONAL MOOD HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2021 UNTIL WE SAW THE GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY BARELY WIN ELECTIONS.

AND AT LEAST MAYBE IT'S A LAGGING INDICATOR, IT COULD TURN THE OTHER WAY, BUT I THINK HE'S BENEFITTING FROM PEOPLE FEELING A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT INFLATION, GAS PRICES, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE SORT OF BIGGER POLICY FAILURES, AND PANDEMIC ANXIETY IS WAY DOWN IN LIKE THE HORRIBLE SOCIETAL CLEAVAGE WE SAW, I THINK SOME OF THAT IS STARTING TO DIE.

JUST ONE POLL, SO I WOULD CAUTION READING TOO MUCH INTO IT.

>> STACEY, HAIR MAKE THE MAN OR ARE DEMOCRATS FEELING A LITTLE BETTER?

>> I WAS JUST WRITING DOWN SOCIETAL CLEAVAGE.

WHAT A GREAT SAYING.

I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WORD.

>> THAT'S A GOOD BAND NAME, TOO.

>> THAT WORD CLEAVAGE IS -- >> I THINK IT'S HONESTLY -- I THINK IT'S JUST A RETURN TO NORMAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FINALLY FEELING THAT, RIGHT?

WE'RE BACK TO SCHOOL, I'M BACK IN MY OFFICE, AND PEOPLE ARE FEELING BETTER THAN THEY DID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND I THINK GOVERNOR MURPHY IS BENEFITTING FROM THAT AS WELL.

KNOCKING ON WOOD THAT THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THESE MIDTERMS, BOYCOTTING THE PRESS, TOM CANE WON'T TALK TO THE LEDGER.

MATT, YOU WANT TO CALL BS ON ANY OF THIS?

YOU HEARD SENIOR CANE THERE BASICALLY CALL TOM MORAN A LIAR.

>> IT'S AS MUCH A CAMPAIGN TACTIC AS IT IS HOW TOM CANE FEELS ABOUT TOM MORAN.

I'M NOT SURE SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO BY CALLING HIM A LIAR, BUT TOM MORAN HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT POINTING OUT WHAT CANE IS TRYING TO DO WHICH IS WALK THIS LINE ABOUT NOT CONDEMNING TRUMP AND NOT BEING TOO CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM.

HIS CAMPAIGN PUTS OUT THINGS -- THEY PUT OUT A FLYER SAYING TOM CANE WILL STAND WITH TRUMP.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM HAPPY.

BUT I THINK IT'S AS MUCH A CAMPAIGN THING AS JUICING UP REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATS DON'T TEND TO LOVE THE PRESS EITHER.

IT'S SORT OF A CAMPAIGN TACTIC.

DEGRUT MAKES LESS SENSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY, MOST CANDIDATES LIKE THAT WOULD JUMP AT THE CHANCE FOR ANY FREE MEDIA, SO IF HE WANTED TO GIVE THAT UP, THE PROBLEM IS LIKE, NO ONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE TO BEGIN WITH, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY RELY ON FACEBOOK TO EXCLUSIVELY INTRODUCE YOU TO PEOPLE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE SEE US AS LESS RELEVANT.

THERE'S SOME REASONS FOR THAT.

I THINK THE PRESS NEEDS TO RE-EXAMINE ITS ROLE IN ALL OF THIS IN HOW WE APPROACH REPORTING ON POLITICS AND REPORTING WHEN CANDIDATES TELL LIES, NOT OUT OF FEAR OF APPEARING BIASED NOT TO CALL A LIE WHAT IT IS.

IT'S TOUGH SOMETIMES TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

BUT I THINK THE PRESS NEEDS TO CHANGE TOO, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF IT, AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT EVENTUALLY WHAT THE PRESS EVEN LOOKS LIKE.

IN SOME WAYS, THEY SEE THE PRESS AS OBSOLETE, AND THEY'LL TRY TO GO OVER OUR HEADS.

I THINK TOM CANE HAS THE MONEY TO DO THAT WHILE DEGRUT DOES NOT.

>> WHO DO YOU GET THE COLD SHOULDER FROM THE MOST?

DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.

BEFORE WE CAME ON TODAY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND ACTUALLY, I HAVEN'T KEPT COUNT, BUT I WILL SAY, I KIND OF WANT TO ECHO WHAT MATT HAS SAID.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT TOM CANE IS DOING IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HEAR FROM SOME REPUBLICANS RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE FAKE NEWS ERA.

I USED TO BE A REPORTER IN MAINE, AND I REMEMBER THEN-GOVERNOR LEPAGE ESSENTIALLY NOT REALLY TALKING TO THE PRESS OUTSIDE OF A RADIO SHOW HE WOULD DO WITH ONE OF THE FOX AFFILIATES THERE, AND ONE OF HIS STAFFERS SAID WE DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE.

WE HAVE THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE PEOPLE TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.

WITH THAT SAID, I'VE ONLY BEEN COVERING POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY FOR A YEAR, AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THIS ARENA IS A WORLD OF PERFECTLY CRAFTED STATEMENTS FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD AND PRESS RELEASES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN AT PRESS CONFERENCES WITH DEMOCRATS, OR I'VE REACHED OUT TO DEMOCRATS ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS, AND YOU GET THE COLD SHOULDER OR THEY SAY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THINGS OFF TOPIC AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE, AND THEN THEY WALK OUT WHEN YOU START TO ASK THE QUESTION.

SO I REALLY DON'T SEE THIS AS A REPUBLICAN ISSUE.

IT'S JUST, AS YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED, DEMOCRATS MAY SOMETIMES BE A LITTLE BIT NICER ABOUT IT.

>> I WANT TO PLAY THIS PIECE OF SOUND FROM PHIL RIZZO.

HE WAS ON CHAT BOX THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT HOW HE THINKS EDITORS SHOULD HANDLE PRESS RELEASES FROM CAMPAIGNS.

LET'S LISTEN TO THAT.

IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT WHEN YOU SEND AWE PRESS RELEASE TO THE PRESS THAT THEY SHOULD RUN IT WITHOUT ANY EDITING OR ANY FACT CHECKING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY CAN COMMENT ON THE PRESS RELEASE, BUT THE PRESS RELEASE SHOULD BE PUT OUT FROM A CAMPAIGN IN ITS ENTIRETY.

IF THEY WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS SHREDDING IT AND REFUTING IT, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS.

IT'S THEIR PAPER, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T REWRITE MY PRESS RELEASE.

>> STACEY, THAT'S LIKE THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT EDITORS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, NO?

>> AS A LONG-TIME EDITOR, YES, THAT'S EXACTLY OPPOSITE.

I'M YOUR SEASONED JOURNALIST FOR 30 YEARS, AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, AND OUR JOB IS NOT TO JUST SPIT OUT PRESS RELEASES.

OUR JOB IS TO TELL THE WHOLE STORY AND TO TELL THE READER WHAT THE POLITICIAN IS NOT TELLING THE READER.

SO I WILL NEVER JUST PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR JOB AS A JOURNALIST IS.

>> MATT, YOU RUN PRESS RELEASES UNEDITED ALL THE TIME, DON'T YOU?

>> NO.

THERE ARE WEBSITES WHO DO, BUT I DO NOT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOUR PRESS RELEASE HAS FALSE INFORMATION IN IT THAT I KNOW IS FALSE, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO RUN THAT.

THE THING IS IT'S SO FUNNY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CRITICIZE THE MEDIA THE MOST WANT TO MEDIA TO REGURGITATE THEIR INFORMATION AND YOU CAN COMMENT ON IT.

THAT'S NOW HOW THIS WORKS TORE FIRST AMENDMENT WORKS.

THIS IS THE WORST THING THAT'S HAPPENED IN POLITICS.

PHIL RIZZO IS A RESULT OF IT.

HE'S NOT THE CAUSE.

FOX NEWS, THANKS TO -- IT WAS ENCAPSULATED BY TRUMPISM IS THAT YOUR OPPONENT ISN'T YOUR OPPONENT ANYMORE, THEY'RE YOUR ENEMY.

THEY'RE NOT AMERICAN ANYMORE, THEY'RE ANTI-AMERICAN.

THEY'RE TRYING TO HURT YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THIS IS A PROBLEM ON BOTH SIDES, IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT, AND THAT'S A FACT.

YOU CAN COME AFTER ME FOR SAYING THAT.

IT EXISTS ON THE LEFT, BUT IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT.

>> TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT, QUINTESSENTIAL JERSEY NEWS AND NOTES.

MATT, YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR US?

>> YEAH.

I JUST WROTE A STORY YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW MATT GENJENKINS HAD A LOGO THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAWA GOOSE.

SO IT'S KIND OF IN A WAY SMART POLITICS TO TRY TO ASSOCIATE YOUR CAMPAIGN WITH THE MOST BELOVED CONVENIENT STORE I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> WAWA GOOSE IS ALSO A PRETTY GOOD BAND NAME.

STACEY, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> WAWA COFFEE IS MY FAVORITE.

I LOVE IT.

A STORY THAT CAME ACROSS BLOOMBURG'S BUSINESS WIRE THIS WEEK AND GOT A LOT OF HITS WAS ABOUT THIS DELI IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, AND THEY SOMEHOW GOT THE ATTENTION OF WALL STREET BECAUSE THEY GOT A BUNCH OF INVESTORS AND HAD A VALUATION OF $100 MILLION, SO NOW THEY'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION.

ONLY IN JERSEY.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEIR BIG VALUATION, BUT THEY MADE A NICE CHICKEN PARM.

MY ONLY IN JERSEY IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ALBUM.

HONESTLY, I WANT TO BE OVER BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A PROLIFIC MARKETER THESE DAYS.

HAVING SAID THAT, I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR IT.

AND THAT'S REPORTERS ROUND TABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

STACEY, MATT, TENISON, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

THANKS ALSO TO GOVERNOR TOM CANE.

BY THE WAY, THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JIM FLORIO.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT ROUND TABLE AND BE SURE TO DESCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR CONTENT EVERY DAY.

FROM THE ENTIRE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> MAJOR FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ON LINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND SERVING THE NEW JERSEY NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

REPORTING TO AN EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO NEW JERSEY'S PLAY BOOK.

ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.