.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE BY DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

MJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954 AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

>>> WHO RUN THE WORLD?

YOU KNOW WHAT'S UP.

HEY, EVERYBODY.

IT'S "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL TODAY, LILO STATIN COVERS HEALTH CARE FOR N.J.

SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

COLLEEN IS FOR THE RORLD NORTH JERSEY.COM AND SUSAN LEVIO IS THE STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR N.J. ADVANCE MEDIA.

WE WILL TALK WITH THEM IN A FEW MINUTES BUT WE BEGIN WITH ONE OF THE KEENEST OBSERVERS OF THE DICHOTOMY THAT IS LIFE IN NEW JERSEY REPRESENTING THE 12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN.

CONGRESSWOMAN, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

>> YOU'RE ONE OF TWO WOMEN IN THE STATE DELEGATION.

THAT'S ABOUT 16% OF THE DELEGATION.

WOMEN ARE 50% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THOSE NUMBERS AS WE LOOK AT WOMEN'S POLITICAL POWER IN NEW JERSEY?

>> WHILE WE SEE WOMEN'S POLITICAL POWER, YOU KNOW, RISING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND EVEN STATE LEVEL IN POSITIONS, BOTH APPOINTED AND ELECTED, WE'RE STILL UNDER REPRESENTED.

I MEAN, IN CONGRESS WE'VE GOT 128 WOMEN.

THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN -- ELECTED WOMEN, BUT THAT REPRESENTS LESS THAN 30% OF CONGRESS.

I THINK WE'VE GOT SIMILAR, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT SIMILAR DEFICIENCIES EVEN IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND AROUND OUR COUNTRY IN TERMS OF GOVERNORS AND SENATORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT WOMEN IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE CERTAINLY INCREASED OUR NUMBERS AND, THEREFORE, OUR INFLUENCE IN POLITICS, WHICH IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, WE'RE STILL UNDER BE REPRESENTED.

>> YOU STARTED YOUR ELECTED CAREER IN 1998 IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THE CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MUCH THINGS HAVE CHANGED BE OR NOT CHANGED IN THAT TIME?

>> WELL, WE HAD A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN THE SPEAKER SINCE THEN.

I WAS THE MAJORITY LEADER DURING THAT TIME.

THERE WERE FEWER WOMEN IN POSITIONS, HOWEVER, WE WERE IN SOME STRATEGIC POSITIONS AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE AGENDA.

I KNOW I DID WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH JOE ROBERTS WHEN HE WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

AND SO THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS, THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE VICE CHAIRS, THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE IN LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AS WELL AS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THERE'S A WOMAN WHO'S IN LEADERSHIP IN THE U.S. SENATE.

SO THE CHANGE IS THAT WE ARE FINDING OURSELVES IN MORE DIVERSE POSITIONS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE THE AGENDA, BUT THE SAMENESS IS THAT THERE'S STILL AN UNDER REPRESENTATION.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I LOOK AT PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO IF NOT FOR BLACK WOMEN, WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE PRESIDENT TODAY.

A, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

AND, B, WHAT'S HE BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER ON?

>> SO, IT IS TRUE THAT THE BLACK VOTE WAS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AS IT RELATES TO GETTING BIDEN ELECTED, AND I THINK THAT HE HAS COME THROUGH ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

HE HAS ELEVATED ISSUES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO WOMEN AND TO WOMEN OF COLOR, WHETHER IT IS A WOMAN'S AUTONOMY OVER HER BODY, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL HEALTH CARE, WHETHER IT'S CHILD TAX CREDITS.

A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS THAT HE HAS PROPOSED THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT OUR DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS BELIEVES, WHICH IS TO PUT WOMEN AND PEOPLE AHEAD OF POLITICS AND POWER, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S TRYING TO GET AN EDUCATION, REDUCE STUDENT DEBT, ENSURE THAT THERE'S ACCESS TO YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS AND YOUR HEALTH CARE.

CAPPING THOSE THINGS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS PAY ATTENTION TO WOMEN WHO ARE UNDERPAID AS IT RELATES TO MEN IN OUR SOCIETY.

SO HE, I BELIEVE, HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THE THINGS -- A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> THIS IS NOT HIS FAULT, I KNOW, BUT FROM ABORTION RIGHTS TO A TAX ON VOTING RIGHTS, DO YOU THINK WOMEN ARE FACING A MORE DIFFICULT TIME IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE?

>> THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING TIME.

WE SAW TWO BANKS KIND OF CREATE A CRISIS FOR US OVER THE WEEKEND, AND VERY QUICKLY THERE WAS A RESPONSE TO THAT CRISIS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHILE WE'RE SAVING JOBS AND WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE WHO WERE INNOCENT IN WHAT HAPPENED IN THESE BANKS, IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE MOVE SO QUICKLY TO HELP THEM RECOVER BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD ISSUES LIKE STUDENT DEBT, WE HAD ISSUES LIKE CHILD TAX CREDITS, WE HAVE ISSUES OF ACCESS TO DECENT HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND THOSE ISSUES, THEY IMPACT WOMEN.

BECAUSE AS LONG AS WOMEN MAKE 80% OR 50% OR 35% DEPENDING UPON WHICH COHORT THESE WOMEN REPRESENT ETHNICALLY OR RACIALLY, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE CHALLENGES IN OUR SOCIETY TO A GREATER LEVEL, WHICH REALLY IS REALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE TO A GREAT EXTENT OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN RELY UPON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> YOU RE-INTRODUCED THE HEALTHY MOM ACT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND HOW IT'S TIED TO THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL.

>> WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT BILL IS INCLUDED IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, AND THAT RELATES TO THE EXTENSION OF MEDICAID COVERAGE AT THE POSTPARTUM STAGE FOR A YEAR.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO ENROLL IN THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE PREGNANT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.

BUT THE EXTENSION OF THE MEDICAID COVERAGE DURING POSTPARTUM IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST YEAR OR SO WITH WOMEN, PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR WHO HAVE DELIVERED BABIES AND THEIR BABIES AND THE HEALTHINESS OF THEM AND THE EXTENSION OF THEIR LIVES, PUTTING RESOURCES INTO THOSE ISSUES, THOSE INITIATIVES ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR WELL-BEING.

>> LILO, YOU HAD A QUESTION FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN?

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO SAY IT REALLY GETS TO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DOVETAILS WITH WHAT THE HEALTHY MOMS ACT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS, BUT MY QUESTION WAS REALLY ABOUT THE CDC RELEASED SOME NEW MATERNAL HEALTH RATES YESTERDAY OR EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THIS COUNTRY CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

NOW WE'RE GOING -- IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE SOME TRACTION IN NEW JERSEY AND THE RATES ARE -- SOME OF THE RATES ARE STARTING TO CHANGE A LITTLE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THAT.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT NEWS?

>> THAT'S VERY SAD NEWS.

THAT NEWS MAKES NO SENSE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS SO WEALTHY, AND WE HAVE TO EXAMINE ITS IMPACT AS WELL AS WHY IT HAPPENS.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE DISPARITIES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE WAY WOMEN, PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR, ARE TREATED BY THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

SO WE NEED MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

WE NEED MORE RESOURCES SO THAT HEALTH CARE IS ACCESSIBLE TO WOMEN.

WE NEED THE EXTENSION OF MEDICAID SERVICES AFTER A YEAR -- A YEAR'S WORTH AFTER THE BIRTH OF BABIES, BUT WE DO NEED RESEARCH INTO ALL OF THE CAUSES OF THIS AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE DEFICIENCIES WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND WITH EDUCATION OF OUR PROVIDERS.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT TAMMY MURPHY HAS MADE THIS A PRIORITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FROM THE VERY FIRST MONTH THAT HER HUSBAND WAS ELECTED INTO THE GOVERNORSHIP.

SHE'S BEEN CONSISTENT ON THIS ISSUE.

THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS, IMPORTANT ISSUE AND IT MAKES NO LOGICAL FINANCIAL SENSE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS THIS WEALTHY AND IS SUPPOSEDLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> LASTLY, CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU LOST A FRIEND THIS WEEK, MANY OF US DID.

SENATOR RON RICE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW BIG A LOSS THIS IS?

>> IT'S A BIG LOSS FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

RON RICE, I SERVED WITH HIM IN LEGISLATURE FOR AT LEAST THREE TERMS.

HE WAS A LEADER OF OUR BLACK CAUCUS.

HE WOULD EXAMINE THE BUDGET LINE BY LINE, ISSUE BY ISSUE AND HE WOULD REPORT OUT ON THAT AND MAKE US STAND UP WITH HIM WHILE HE WENT THROUGH AN HOUR LONG ON THE BUDGET.

HE WORKED HARD.

HE WAS CONSISTENT IN HIS BELIEVES.

HE ONLY WANTED TO SERVE THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE MARGINALIZED VOICES.

HE WAS A GREAT MAN, HONEST POLITICIAN WHO CARED ABOUT PEOPLE.

THAT IS A HUGE LOSS.

I'LL TELL YA, ANYBODY THAT HAS HAD THE ABILITY TO SERVE WITH HIM OR TO OBSERVE HIM, HE'S THE NORTH STAR.

HE'S THE MODEL THAT WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING AND ENCOURAGING NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO POLITICS TO EMULATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, DAVID.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> PANEL, LILO, COLLEEN, SUE, GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

LILO, YOU TWEETED ABOUT RON RICE.

YOU SAID, THE MAN WAS OLD SCHOOL AND RIGHT ON TIME.

YEAH?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

THE I WAS A BIG RON RICE FAN.

I MEAN, I KNOW -- I MEAN, SOME OF THE STORIES ARE -- YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT ALWAYS LOVED BY LEADERSHIP IN HIS OWN PARTY OR LEADERSHIP IN GENERAL.

I MEAN, HE WAS A REAL THORN IN THE SIDE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT HE REALLY -- YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY, HE DIDN'T CARE IF YOU HAD MONEY OR NOT.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD -- HE COULD BE STANDING NEXT TO THE BIGGEST DEVELOPER, WEALTHIEST PERSON, IT DIDN'T MATTER ONE BIT TO HIM.

HE WAS THERE FOR A DIFFERENT REASON, FOR THE PEOPLE -- FOR HIS PEOPLE IN NEWARK.

HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO BRING UP RACISM AND THE IMPACTS OF -- YOU KNOW, THAT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

HE WOULD CONSTANTLY REMIND THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THAT.

ANYONE WHO USES NUBIAN REGULAR IN A CONVERSATION, IT'S A LOSS, A REGULAR LOSS.

>> HE USED THAT TO DESCRIBE BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN.

SUSAN, HE DIDN'T ALWAYS GET THE SCIENCE RIGHT?

HE WAS A CONTRARIAN ON LEGAL CANNABIS, BUT ALWAYS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF HOW IT AFFECTED HIS DISTRICT, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGED IN THE STATE, YEAH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE -- BUDGET TIME IS WHEN RON RICE REALLY, YOU KNOW, CAME INTO HIS FULL POTENTIAL BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO GUM UP EVERYTHING.

HE WAS GOING TO SLOW IT ALL DOWN SO HE CAN BE HEARD.

AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO HIM SOME YEARS AGO AROUND BUDGET TIME AND HE SMILED AND SAID, YEAH, EVERYBODY LOVES RICE.

EVERYBODY WANTS RICE.

AND IT'S TRUE.

HE MADE THEM LISTEN.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES HIS STORIES WERE LONG AND MEANDERING, BUT HE'S -- IT ALWAYS CAME BACK TO PEOPLE IN HIS CONSTITUENCY.

HE WAS VERY PASSIONATE AND A GENTLEMAN.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S PICK UP ON SOME OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE CONGRESSWOMAN THERE.

THE COLLEEN, YOU COVER MOSTLY TRANSIT-RELATED STORIES, WHICH IS NOT A BEAT WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF WOMEN, I DON'T THINK.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEWS BUSINESS EVOLVE PERSONALLY?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M STILL USUALLY THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE GAGGLE AT THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT BOARD MEETINGS SO MAYBE WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE WORK TO DO THERE BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S NO SUBJECT MATTER ANYMORE THAT IS OFF LIMITS WHERE I THINK MAYBE IT WAS FOR WOMEN FOR A LONG TIME.

SO IT'S REALLY HEARTENING.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO KIND OF PUSH THROUGH THAT IN MY ROLE.

SO, YEAH.

>> COLLEEN TOTALLY EMBODIES THE CHANGE TO ME.

I TWEETED SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

IT'S LIKE WHEN I STARTED IN TRENTON, SUE PROBABLY REMEMBERS THIS, TOO.

WOMEN COVERED THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN STUFF AND EDUCATION.

LIKE WE COVERED HEALTH AND D.O.E.

BUT THE BOYS COVERED -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE RALPH AND HERB JACKSON ARGUING ABOUT THE BUDGET.

THAT WAS MAN'S WORK.

YOU KNOW, THE FRONT OFFICE WAS MAN'S WORK.

YOU KNOW, TRANSIT WAS MAN'S WORK BECAUSE THERE WERE NUMBERS INVOLVED, YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE -- IT'S REALLY -- IT'S KIND OF FUNNY HOW MUCH -- YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK BACK, IT SEEMED SORT OF OKAY, WHATEVER AT THE TIME BUT IT'S PRETTY BRAZEN NOW THAT I REALIZE HOW STARK THAT WAS.

BUT ANYWAY, SORRY.

>> SUSAN, THIS PANEL IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, BUT IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO.

I MEAN, IT'S STILL KIND OF RARE TO SEE AN ALL FEMALE PANEL OF PUNDITS.

I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE PUNDITS AS AN INSULT.

MORE WOMEN IN THE NEWSROOM.

HAS THE GENDER OF THE BOSSES REALLY CHANGED A LOT?

>> NOT REALLY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TURNOVER IN THE NEWS BUSINESS, BUT I COULD PROBABLY COUNT ON A COUPLE OF FINGERS THE WOMEN I HAVE WORKED FOR AND THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THEM.

I THINK THE NEWSROOMS THEMSELVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN I THINK ABOUT 50-50 WOMEN IN TERMS OF REPORTERS, BUT THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT'S REALLY HARD.

I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO INTO EDITING OR THEY GO PART TIME.

IT'S -- IT'S VERY HARD BECAUSE THE SCHEDULE IS NOT YOUR OWN.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN EDITORS WORK WITH PEOPLE MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN GET HOME ON TIME FOR THEIR FAMILIES, BUT IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS TO BE IN.

THE.

>> YEAH.

LILA, WE'RE THREE YEARS NOW FROM COVID.

IN FACT, I THINK THIS WEEK IS THE ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST COVID CASE IN NEW JERSEY.

CASES ARE WAY DOWN NOW.

DEATHS, THANKFULLY, ALSO, BUT THE PANDEMIC -- THE THINGS THAT THE PANDEMIC EXPOSED REMAIN.

I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN ALL OVER THIS STORY SINCE WEEK ONE.

NOW THE HEALTH EMERGENCY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

FEDERAL DOLLARS -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- ARE GOING TO DRY UP.

GIVE US A STATUS REPORT.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I THINK OUR FIRST CASE WAS MARCH 4th, BUT HOWEVER YOU COUNT IT, YEAH, WE'RE A LONG, LONG WAY FROM THAT.

I MEAN, I -- I WAS SPEAKING TO DR. BREZNIT, THE FORMER STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST YESTERDAY, WE WERE SORT OF LAUGHING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW ABOUT COVID?

WELL, YEAH, GET YOUR BOOSTER IF YOU HAVEN'T YET.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK.

BUT I THINK WE ARE MOVING ON TO A NEW PHASE.

I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THAT THE STORY, IF YOU WILL -- I MEAN, COVID IS STILL AN ISSUE.

THERE'S STILL A VERY DANGEROUS VIRUS OUT THERE THAT IS -- THAT FOR SOME PEOPLE IS A SERIOUS RISK.

IT'S JUST NOT -- THERE'S NOT AS MUCH DISEASE AND IT'S NOT AS MUCH A RISK TO AS MANY PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PHASE WHERE ALL OF THESE CHANGES THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE AND THESE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THAT DIALED BACK CHILD POVERTY IN UNBELIEVABLE WAYS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS ARE NOW ABOUT TO EVAPORATE COME SORT OF EARLY APRIL.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR MEDICAID THEY'RE GOING TO START BEING MUCH MORE STRICT ABOUT THE SIGNUP.

PEOPLE ARE -- UP TO 300,000 PEOPLE COULD LOSE -- NOT QUITE, BUT LOSE THEIR MEDICAID IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUGE CUTS TO SNAP, FOOD STAMP BENEFITS EVEN THOUGH THE STATE HAS TAKEN REALLY IMPORTANT STEPS TO FILL IN SOME OF THOSE GAPS.

BUT I THINK THE TAKE AWAY IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS STRUGGLING MORE, AND IT TENDS TO BE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

IT'S BLACK.

IT'S BROWN PEOPLE.

THEY ARE GOING TO SEE OTHER HARDSHIPS, AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE IMPACT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY OVER EVEN AFTER THE HEALTH EMERGENCY ENDS.

>> YEAH.

AND, SUE, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, YOU'VE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK ON THIS SINCE DAY ONE, BUT THAT IS STILL OUT THERE AND SOMETHING TO STILL BE RECKONED WITH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO AFTER GOVERNOR MURPHY WAS REPEATEDLY ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE AN ACCOUNTING OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NURSING HOMES AND THE VETERANS HOMES PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THOSE ARE NURSING HOMES THAT THE STATE OPERATES, THE GOVERNOR FINALLY A FEW MONTHS AGO SAID, YES, THERE WILL BE.

THERE WILL BE AN OUTSIDE EVALUATOR DOING THIS AND IT WILL BE DONE IN A YEAR.

SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE WAITING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS GOING TO LINGER WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME THAT THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED WAS THE STAFFING CRISIS.

THESE ARE NOT GREAT PAYING JOBS.

THIS IS HARD WORK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING SICK, BECAUSE THE WORK WAS SO HARD AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS EVEN THOUGH NEW JERSEY TOOK A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND PASSED A LAW THAT REQUIRES THERE BE MINIMUM STAFFING RATIOS FOR THE CNAs, CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS, STAFFING IS STILL A PROBLEM.

TED SHERMAN AND I HAVE A STORY OUT TODAY TALKING ABOUT ASSAULTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, RESIDENT ON RESIDENT.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEMENTIA.

AND WHAT THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF IS A STAFFING CRISIS.

IF YOU HAD MORE PEOPLE KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THESE VERY SERIOUS ASSAULTS.

ONE WOMAN HAD RECENTLY DIED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOCUS ON LONG-TERM CARE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> COLLEEN, YOUR BEAT HAS BEEN HOT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WHEN WE HAD YOU AND LARRY HIGGS ON TWITTER WAS POPPING.

NOW IT'S MICRO FUNDING, GATEWAY FUNDING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES COMING OUT OF TRANSIT THE LAST FEW WEEKS?

>> WHERE TO START?

I THINK TO TIE IT ALL IN WITH SOME OF THE THEMES THAT WE JUST HEARD, WITH FEDERAL RELIEF, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO RUN OUT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

YOU KNOW, GOING INTO THIS BUDGET SEASON AS WELL.

THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE, AND CERTAINLY THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND PROBABLY ACROSS THE NATION ARE NOT UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ARE ALSO FACING A FISCAL CRISIS IN THE COMING YEARS.

SO ABSENT ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENT, DEDICATED MULTI-PRONGED FUNDING SCHEME THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A SERIOUS, YOU KNOW, CRISIS THERE AS FAR AS GETTING THEIR BUDGET BALANCED AND BEING ABLE TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, DRASTIC FARE HIKES, SERVICE CUTS, LAYOFFS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT IS A THEME THAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS PRACTICALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT, AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS FOR IT ALL TO HIT AT ONCE.

SO A LOT TO LOOK AT THERE.

>> TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT.

HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JIRTSY.

COLLEEN, WHY DON'T YOU START US OFF.

>> YEAH.

THE ONE THAT JUST VERY QUICKLY AND EASILY STUCK OUT TO ME WAS THAT A MAN NAMED KEVIN CORBITT WHO IS NOT THE CEO OF THE AGENCY ALLEGEDLY BROKE INTO A BUS GARAGE AND STARTED TO START A FIRE AND STOLE SOME ITEMS, INCLUDING A RECEIPT ROLL AND SOME UNIFORMS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHO WAS PROBABLY MAYBE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, BUT CERTAINLY THE NAME, YOU KNOW, COINCIDENCE IS HARD TO OVERLOOK.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE THERE.

THEY COULD BE TWINS.

>> WELL, YEAH.

THE SHAVING MAYBE COULD HAVE HELPED THE CASE A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE.

>> LILO, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> YES.

SO I'M A CAT LOVER, SO IT CAUGHT MY EYE WHEN GLOUCESTER COUNTY PUT OUT A RELEASE THERE WAS A RABID CAT IN PITTMAN AND THERE WAS A RABID RACCOON.

I THOUGHT, OKAY.

A MERE 24 HOURS LATER WE GOT A RELEASE THE RABID CAT WAS FROM CAMDEN.

IT MADE ME LAUGH BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A NEW JERSEY LIKE -- THERE WAS NO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE CAT WAS OR WHO MIGHT BE IN DANGER OR GOD FORBID WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAT.

I'M THINKING OF THE CAT.

IT REMINDED ME OF A COUNCIL MEETING I ONCE COVERED IN RUTHERFORD WHERE SOMEONE ASKED, IS THE SUPER FUND SITE IN OUR TOWN.

NO, IT'S IN EAST RUTHERFORD.

SHE SAT DOWN.

AS IF YOU'RE NOT IN DANGER ACROSS THE LINE.

IT'S SUCH A HOME RULE.

DON'T WORRY ON THE CAT, IT'S ONLY FROM CAMDEN.

YOU'RE FINE IN GLOUCESTER, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

>> SUE, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> YEAH, TIMELY ONE.

THAT THE GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL, TIM STOLERIES FILM PROJECT "SAINT JOSEPH" IS DEBUTING.

IT IS ABOUT JOE ALBRIGHT WHO WORKED FOR THE JERSEY JOURNAL FOR DECADES.

58 YEARS.

HE WAS THE LONGEST SERVING STATEHOUSE REPORTER IN AMERICA.

JOE IS BELOVED AND WAS KNOWN BY ALL THE REPORTERS ON PRESS ROW IN TRENTON.

HE WOULD GO AND FEED THE BIRDS AND STRAY CATS AND A GROUP OF REPORTERS LOOKED AFTER HIM IN HIS LATER YEARS.

THIS PROJECT, I KNOW FOR TIM, IS A LABOR OF LOVE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO PROMOTE THAT, THAT "ST. JOSEPH'S" IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT.

>> FANTASTIC.

TIM A LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE OF NJN AND NJ TV.

MINE COMES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE POLITICAL BARREL WHERE IN WARREN COUNTY COMMISSIONER JASON SARNOSKY IS FACING OFF IN A REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY PRIMARY AGAINST DAWN FANTASIA.

IN A RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POST SARNOSKY MAKES COMMENTS ABOUT FANTASIA BENDING OVER AND STICKY FINGERS.

FIRST OFF, EW.

SECOND, GROW UP.

SIGNAL YOUR MISOGYNY IN OTHER WAYS.

WHEN MY FRIEND SEES A JERK BEING A JERK, YOU STUPID.

THAT'S "ROUNDTABLE" THIS WEEK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

THANKS ALSO TO BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ROUNDTABLENJ AND WATCH THIS CHANNEL AND "CHAT BOX" FIRST.

I'M DAVID CRUZ FROM ALL THE CREW HERE AT GATEWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTER'S ROUNDTABLE" WP DAVID CRUZ IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

AND NEW JERSEY HEALTH.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954 AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE TOPICS ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.