>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REALTORS IN NEW JERSEY.

R.W.J.

BARNABUS HEALTH.

M.G.M.

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PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.

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AND BY POLITCO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK.

ONLINE AT POLITCO.com.

>>> A BLOW FOR TEMP WORKERS AND A BLACK-EYE FOR DEMOCRATS.

HI, EVERYBODY, IT'S "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL THIS WEEK INCLUDED SOPHIE NIETO MUNOZ.

AND MATT ARCO, POLITICS REPORT FOR N.J. ADVANCED MEDIA.

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE FIASCO AS OUR GUESTS DESCRIBED IT THAT TOOK PLACE ON MONDAY.

WHERE A TEMP WORKERS BILL DEBATED OVER FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER FOUR FLOOR VOTES, A CONDITIONAL VETO, AND WAS SUPPOSED TO GET A FINAL APPROVAL ON MONDAY DIDN'T.

THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL WAS LIVID AS WERE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED IT.

SOME OF WHOM GOT KICKED OUT OF THE SENATE CHAMBERS.

THAT SHOPONSOR IS WITH US TODAY.

HE IS SENATOR JOE CRYION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO THE M RAMIFICATIONS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS BILL DOES AND WHO IT AFFECTS.

>> THIS BILL S-511, FOLKS THAT ARE LOW WAGE, PRIMARILY INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

THIS IS NOT A BILL FOR THOSE THAT ARE VIEWING THIS THAT'S THE PERSON FILLING IN AT THE RECEPTION DESK OR THE PERSON FILLING IN AS AN ACCOUNTANT AT TAX SEASON, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

THIS IS A BILL VIA DEFINITION AND PURPOSE THAT IS DEFINED PRIMARILY WAREHOUSE WORKERS AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS.

FOLKS THAT ARE EARNING LOW WAGES, OFTEN BELOW MINIMUM WAGES.

THINGS LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR TRANSPORTATION THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR DIRECTED TRANSPORTATION BY THESE TEMP AGENCIES.

MANY OF THESE FOLKS OVER THE YEARS HAVE BECOME A PERMA TEMP, PERMANENT TEMPORARY WORKER.

-- THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS INDUSTRY.

THINK AMAZON.

THINK SOME OF THE LARGER PLAYERS IN TERMS OF WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

THESE FOLKS CONTINUE TO WORK FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO THEY CALL THEM PERMANENT TEMPS, IT'S PART OF IT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY DON'T GET ANY BENEFITS.

THEY'RE REQUIRED TO TAKE TRANSPORTATION REDUCTED HEAVILY FOR COSTS.

THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP TO WORK AS THEY'RE DIRECTED TO.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE WORK, THEY DON'T GET PAID.

THESE WORKERS HAVE BEEN ABUSED FOR YEARS.

>> SO SOME CONTEXT HERE AS WELL.

WE TALKED TO A FORMER TEMP WORKER ABOUT GETTING PICKED UP FROM THESE TEMP AGENCIES AND NOT HAVING ANY CLUE WHERE THEY'RE EVEN GOING TO BE WORKING THAT DAY.

AND THEN SEPTEMBER 7th, TRAGEDY ON THE PALISADES PARKWAY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SEPTEMBER 7th, FOUR WORKERS AND A VAN OF 12 FOLKS IN A MANDATED TRANSPORTATION VAN -- BY THE WAY, FROM A STAFFING COMPANY CALLED ON TARGET.

A TREMENDOUS VIOLATOR AND HUGE FINANCEOR OF THE FOLKS AGAINST THIS BILL.

ON TARGET VAN TURNED OVER AT 1 1:30 IN THE MORNING AS FOLKS WERE COMING BACK FROM WORK.

FOUR PEOPLE DIED.

OVER THE SUMMER WAREHOUSE WORKERS DIED IN MONROE, CARRETTE AND ROBBINSVILLE.

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS WORKER SAFETY, WORKER PROTECTION.

BY THE WAY, THAT TRANSPORTATION, NO SEATBELTS, NO REQUIREMENT FOR SEATBELTS.

NEVER MIND 12 FOLKS IN A VAN.

BY THE WAY, THESE FOLKS ALL SHOW UP FOR WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY.

NO COVID PROTECTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

MOST FOLKS WOULD TALK ABOUT.

IT REFLECTS ON A VERY HUMAN LEVEL WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS TO THESE TYPES OF WORKERS.

>> SO THOSE TRAGEDIES GAVE EVEN MORE URGENCY TO THIS BILL.

YOU GO TO TRENTON ON MONDAY MORNING THINKING AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS OF DEBATE AND STUDY, THIS BILL IS A DONE DEAL.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I MEAN, THIS IS YOUR PARTY.

YOUR MAJORITY.

>> THANKS FOR THAT REMINDER, DAVID.

YES.

AND YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT FOUR DEATHS AND ANOTHER THREE OVER THE SUMMER WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR US TO HAVE A CONVINCING VOTE FOR THIS.

IT WASN'T THE CASE.

WE HAD A MEMBER OUT.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE AT 21 VOTES.

QUITE FRANKLY, WE ENDED UP AT A NUMBER LESS THAN THAT.

I CAN COUNT.

I JUST CAN'T COUNT WHEN PEOPLE -- IT'S THE OLD JOKE.

I CAN COUNT NOSES.

I JUST CAN'T COUNT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TWO NOSES.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED.

WE WERE STUNNED.

SHOCKED.

IT HAPPENS.

IT JUST TELLS US AS FOLKS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE, WHO WORKED SO HARD, JUST WANT TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

WE'VE GOT SO MUCH EDUCATION TO DO.

REASONS FOR BAD ACTORS, LIKE THE TEMP STAFFING AGENCY WHICH REFERS TO BLACK PEOPLE AS TWO AS OPPOSED TO THEIR ETHNICITY.

ABUSE AFTER ABUSE.

FIRST DESCRIBED BY THE WAY BY THE STAR LEDGER IN A REMARKABLE SERIES IN 2016.

SO THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING, A YEARS' LONG FIGHT AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE OPENING.

SIMPLY TRYING TO SAY TO DEMOCRATS VIA EDUCATION, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.

>> WE SAW A LOT OF LOBBYISTS IN THE HALLS ON THAT DAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY EARNED THEIR MONEY THAT DAY.

>> THEY DID.

I WILL TELL YOU, AND OBVIOUSLY WE NKNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING.

WE CAN COUNT, AND UNTIL THE CAUCUS TOOK THE VOTE, I ADMIT TO BEING SURPRISED.

I SAW TIME AFTER TIME.

AND IT'S THE STANDARD STUFF -- LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, DAVID.

ONE OF THE THINGS THESE FOLKS WERE PITCHING WAS THE AVERAGE PAY -- HERE'S WHAT THE BILL REQUIRES.

IF YOU'RE A PERMANENT TEMP, IT REQUIRES THAT YOU GET THE AVERAGE PAY OF A ONE-YEAR WORKER IN YOUR SAME JOB CLASSIFICATION DOING YOUR SAME JOB.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD STUFF.

THE OPPOSITION, INCLUDING A BUSINESS GROUP THAT'S GOT A LEADING VOICE IN TRENTON, YOU KNOW, SAID OH NO, THEY WANT YOU TO PAY THE SAME AS A 40-YEAR WORKER, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN.

ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.

THERE WAS CONTINUING REPETITIVE LIE AFTER LIE.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THOSE LIVES THE FOLKS LOST AND THE VALUE OF THE BILL ITSELF.

BUT WE'LL GO BACK AND EDUCATE FOLKS WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT.

YOU PAY FOR EQUAL VALUE FOR EQUAL WORK AT THE SAME TIME OF EQUAL SENIORITY.

SO THIS IDEA, SOMEONE MAKING 30, SOMEONE MAKING 20.

IF YOU'RE IN A JOB IN THE SAME CLASSIFICATION OF SOMEONE NEXT TO YOU IN A YEAR, YOU'RE MAKING ABOUT THE SAME MONEY.

THE PERMANENT EMPLOYEE IS GETTING BENEFITS.

THIS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE IS NOT ONLY NOT GETTING PAID THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, THEY'RE BEING MANDATED TO PAY FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION COSTS WHICH THEY'RE DIRECTED THEY HAVE TO DO.

WHICH OFTEN BY THE WAY TAKES THEIR PAY BELOW MINIMUM WAGE.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BENEFITS.

IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR TEMP AGENCIES AND LARGE CORPORATIONS TO ABUSE THESE WORKERS.

THESE WORKERS ARE BLACK, BROWN, THE GENDER DIFFERENCE HERE IN TERMS OF THE ABUSE OF WOMEN IS SIGNIFICANT.

BLACK, BROWN WOMEN.

I THINK IF THEY HAD THE SUR NAMES OF FOLKS WHO CAME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER, MAYBE THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT CATARI SAYS -- WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THIS BILL?

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC.

THE GROUND SWELL, LOOK, WE HAD A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN SHY WITH YOU IN THE FACT I THOUGHT WE WERE AT 21.

WHEN WE WEREN'T, THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS A SURPRISE.

EVERYBODY'S GOT A HISTORY.

WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, HAS A HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY OF COMING LOOKING FOR A GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEFINING HERE.

WE'RE ALSO DEFINING THE MONEY.

ON TARGET, THE VAN, THE FOUR DEATHS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ALONG WITH THE INJURED WORKERS.

ABUSE.

THEY PAID A $50,000 FINE IN JANUARY OF 2022 FOR ABUSE OF WORKERS.

THEY'VE GOT A LONG HISTORY.

I MENTIONED LIONEX WHO THINKS THAT BLACK WORKERS ARE S2s NOT EVEN PEOPLE WITH ANY SORT OF VALUE TO THEM.

THERE'S HISTORY AFTER HISTORY OF ABUSE.

IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY AGAINST IT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> DAVID, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

PANEL, SOPHIE, MATT.

MATTHEW, MONDAY WAS CHAOTIC INCLUDING PROTESTORS GETTING KICKED OUT OF THE GALLERY, WHICH YOU DON'T SEE TOO OFTEN.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DONE DEAL, NO?

>> I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT WERE THERE TO SUPPORT THE BILL BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION WAS POSTED.

WHICH IN TRENTON SPEAK MEANS IT'S GOING TO PASS.

>> YEAH.

>> ALTHOUGH YOU DON'T NEED TO BE THERE TO LOBBY FOR IT.

IT WAS AROUND THE TIME THAT FOLKS WERE INTERRUPTING THE SESSION AND WERE GETTING ESCORTED OUT OR PULLED OUT.

THAT'S WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR, OH WAIT, TWO SENATORS THAT ARE THERE JUST TOLD THEIR FELLOW DEMOCRATS IN CAUCUS EARLIER THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT IT.

WITH THE ABSENCE OF TWO OTHER SENATORS, IT PROBABLY OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE PASSED THE OTHER DAY.

SO IT WENT DOWN.

AND I WOULD JUST ADD REALLY QUICK, AND YOU TOUCHED ON SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT THE LOBBYING AGAINST THIS HAS REALLY KICKED UP FROM WHAT I HEAR BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND YES, SENATOR SKATARRI DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S DEAD, BUT IT'S NECESSARILY DEAD.

THE PROBLEM NOW IS THERE'S MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ADAMANTLY AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION TO LOBBY OTHER FOLKS.

THAT'S WHY WHEN I TALK TO SOME OTHER FOLKS IN AND AROUND THE STATEHOUSE, THEY'RE LESS OPTIMISTIC THAN SENATOR KRIION THAT THIS WILL GET OVER THE FINISH LINE.

SOME FOLKS SAY IT HAS LOST ITS WINDOW.

THE SENATOR KNOWS MORE THAN ME.

SO IT CERTAINLY MIGHT NOT BE DEAD.

THE LOBBYING AGAINST IT HAS BEEN INTENSE.

>> MICHAEL, YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE GROUPS GETTING KICKED OUT OF THE GALLERY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE STATUS OF THESE GUN BILLS THAT ARE ALSO ON THE AGENDA THERE?

>> SO THE GUN LEGISLATION HAS MADE IT NOW THROUGH A COUPLE OF ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES.

IT'S DUE FOR A VOTE IN THE FULL ASSEMBLY THIS COMING WEEK.

THAT'S SORT OF FROM THE TIME THAT THE LEGISLATION GOT ANNOUNCED, IT WAS APPARENT IT WAS GOING TO GET THAT FAR ON THAT SCHEDULE.

THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES NEXT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SENATE.

SENATE PRESIDENT SKATARRI HAS SAID FROM THE BEGINNING IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE THAT QUICKLY.

YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TEMP WORKER BILL AND HOW THINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

AND MAYBE VOTES YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD YOU DON'T NECESSARILY.

YOU DO KIND OF WONDER IF THERE WILL BE A SIMILAR DRAWN OUT PROCESS AND A SIMILAR LACK OF PREDICTABILITY ABOUT WHERE THAT ENDS UP.

IT'S EARLY.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THE SENATE IS NECESSARILY GOING TO GET STARTED ON THE BILL.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> COULD BE A WHILE.

>>> ATTORNEY GENERAL MATT PLATKIN HAS BEEN MORE VISIBLE OF LATE.

THIS WEEK HE ANNOUNCED WHAT THEY CALL A MAJOR SUIT AGAINST BIG OIL FOR DECEIVING THE PUBLIC ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

SOPHIE, YOU WERE THERE.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS IS NEW JERSEY IS SUING FIVE MAJOR OIL AND GAS COMPANIES, INCLUDING BP, EXXON, CHEVRON.

AND THE STATE IS ALLEGEDING THAT THESE COMPANIES KNEW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND LIED ABOUT WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW IT WOULD AFFECT OUR LIVES BASICALLY.

AND NEW JERSEY -- A LOT OF OTHER STATES HAVE ALSO SUED OIL COMPANIES OVER THIS.

I BELIEVE NEW JERSEY IS THE 19th STATE TO SUE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A BUNCH OF MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING HOBOKEN THAT HAVE SUED.

THIS LAWSUIT LINES UP WITH THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPER STORM SANDY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE WORST STORMS TO HIT OUR STATE.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL KIND OF POINTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW IT'S WORSENED STORMS SINCE THEN.

SO ANY MONEY THAT COMES IN FROM THIS LAWSUIT WOULD GO TO REPAIRING DAMAGES FROM SANDY AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS THAT CONTINUE TO HIT OUR STATE.

>> YEAH, AND THEY DIDN'T PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON IT.

BUT THEY ALSO SAID THEY WANT THE COURTS TO IMPOSE AN INJUNCTION THAT STOPS THEM FROM MISLEADING THE PUBLIC.

I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE A DIFFICULT ONE TO ACHIEVE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE ADVERTISING IS SORT OF INTENDED TO DECEIVE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

AND I MEAN, THE DAMAGE HAS KIND OF ALREADY BEEN DONE AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

>> PEOPLE KIND OF ALREADY HAVE THEIR STANCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND WHETHER IT IS REAL OR NOT OR WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO BELIEVE.

WHICH IT IS REAL.

BUT THESE OIL COMPANIES HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AT CONVINCING PEOPLE OTHERWISE.

IT'S THE SAME AS THE TOBACCO COMPANIES, AND KIND OF THE IMPACT THAT THEY HAD ON PEOPLE SMOKING CIGARETTES SO MANY DECADES AGO.

AND ALL WE'VE LEARNED SINCE THEN.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PART PLAYS OUT FOR SURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MIDTERMS JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY.

NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS OUT STUMPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN, AND NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY PROMINENT AMONG THEM.

MATT, PHIL MURPHY IS NO CORY BOOKER IN THE ORATORY DEPARTMENT.

IS THIS MORE GROUND WORK LAYING FOR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> CERTAINLY THE LATTER.

I WOULD JUST SAY A QUICK CORRECTION.

HE'S GOING TO BE THE CHAIRMAN LATER THIS YEAR.

>> SORRY, YES.

>> BUT HE IS TRAVELING WITH THE DGA.

YOU KNOW, PHIL MURPHY'S RISE IN POLITICS HAS BEEN TIED TO HIS EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE.

HE HAS THAT GOING FOR HIM.

I AM LOOKING AT THIS A LOT MORE AT TRAVELING TO STATES LIKE NEVADA, WHICH IT HAPPENS TO BE AN EARLY VOTING STATE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE.

SO LOOK, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE -- THE DEMOCRATIC CIRCLE IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT JOE BIDEN DOES.

BUT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT IF JOE BIDEN DECIDES NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN, THAT PHIL MURPHY WILL AT LEAST MAKE AN ATTEMPT.

HOW FAR THAT WILL GO, WHO KNOWS?

NEXT YEAR WHEN HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DGA, HE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THAT CHRIS CHRISTIE HAD TO CRISSCROSS THE COUNTRY AND GET HIS FACE OUT THERE.

AND HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN DOING THAT, NOT JUST NOW AS DGA VICE CHAIR BUT AS THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CHAIR.

RIGHT BEFORE HE WENT TO NEVADA, HE WAS IN UTAH IN A MEETING THERE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FOR STUDENTS.

IT'S A WAY TO MEET SOME MORE FOLKS, TRY TO GET YOUR FACE OUT THERE.

WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY IF YOU WERE TO JUMP INTO THE RACE WITH MORE ESTABLISHED FIGURES THAT TOP THE CHARTS OF POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS IF JOE BIDEN DOESN'T RUN.

>> LET ME STICK WITH YOU HERE, MATT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS NOT SO SUBTLE ANTI-SEMITISM THAT HAS ENTERED THE NARRATIVE IN THESE FINAL WEEKS.

YOU HAVE THE FORMER PRESIDENT POSTING ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLET THAT AMERICAN JEWS NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND SHOW SUPPORT, NOT ONLY FOR HIS SUPPORT BUT THE STATE OF ISRAEL BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THEN IAN SMITH, THE FORMER GYM OWNER ON TWITTER USED THE OLD "THOSE WHO CANNOT BE CRITICIZED" TROP.

HASHTAGGING KANYE WEST OF ALL PEOPLE.

JEWISH GROUPS CALL THIS ANTI-SEMITISM.

AND FORMER CENTER LORETTA WINEBERG CALLED OUT HER FORMER COLLEAGUES.

LET'S HEAR THAT AND WE'LL BE BACK.

>> IF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, PEOPLE I KNOW WHO KNOW BETTER.

PEOPLE LIKE JOHN BREMNICK WOULD SPEAK UP AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM IN THEIR OWN PARTY.

THAT'S PART OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES.

AND I CAN'T SOLVE POCKETBOOK ISSUES IF I'M BEING HARASSED BECAUSE I'M JEWISH.

>> JUST AN FYI, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING WITH JOHN BRAMNICK ABOUT THIS FOR A STORY WE'RE PREPARING FOR MONDAY AND WE'RE GOING TO REACH OUT TO TOM KAINE JR. AS WELL.

MATT, IS THIS JUST THE MIDTERM PUSH FOR THE RIGHT-WING OR IS THIS JUST A DANGEROUS TREND?

>> NO, YOU HAVE THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- I MEAN, YOU COULD PUT THESE IN TWO BUCKETS BUT THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY RELATED.

YOU KNOW, ANTI-SEMITIC.

BUT YOU HAVE THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO IS LEADING THE CHARGE THAT'S NOT EVEN A DOG WHISTLE.

IT'S VERY BLATANT WHAT HE'S TRYING TO SAY THERE.

FOLKS LIKE IAN SMITH -- LOOK, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE HEAD OF THE PARTY, WHAT WE'VE SEEN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT CAN MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES BY THROWING BOMBS.

BOTH OBVIOUSLY HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE NATION IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND THEY'RE VERY INFLUENTIAL.

MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LAWMAKER WHO IS, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T HOLD A LOT OF POWER BECAUSE SHE WAS STRIPPED OF A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT SHE'S ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC FUNDRAISERS IN TERMS OF CONGRESS.

AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SHE'S ABLE TO RAKE IN IS INCREDIBLE.

AND YOU KNOW, SHE'S ONE OF THOSE FOLKS LIKE IAN SMITH WHO THROW THESE BOMBS.

BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT PROVES IN SOME WAY, OR HAS THUS FAR PROVED THAT THIS IS EFFECTIVE AT GETTING ATTENTION AND ROUSING PEOPLE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, IF TRUMP RUNS AGAIN.

IF HE DOESN'T WIN, THEN MAYBE THAT CHANGES THE CONVERSATION.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF GOP POLITICS WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> MEANWHILE, MICHAEL, FIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES MET THE PRESS WITH POLLS SHOWING THAT VOTERS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT'S WORKING FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> SO I THINK THAT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH GAS PRICES AND WHAT STILL HAPPENS WITH PRICES AT THE SUPERMARKET IS THAT THAT POLLS SHOW THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S NECESSARILY BEEN EXAMPLES GIVEN OF WHAT WILL BE DONE TO SOLVE IT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE PRETTY GOOD JOB OF FIGURING OUT THAT THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IF THERE'S A PLAN.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF -- I DON'T KNOW THAT A FULL ON PLAN IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU SORT OF HAVE ONE PARTY MOSTLY CAMPAIGNING ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, AND ANOTHER PARTY MOSTLY CAMPAIGNING ON SOCIAL ISSUES.

AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE CAMPAIGNS BEING RUN.

AND WE'LL SEE WHICH ONE RESONATES MORE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW.

>> YES, SOMEBODY SAID YOU RUN ON THE PROBLEM NOT THE SOLUTION.

SOPHIE, GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS FOR THIS.

BUT YOU HAD AN INTERESTING PIECE ON $450,000 GRUBHUB TAB AT RUTGERS FOOTBALL.

AND HOW SENATOR DECKLAN O'SCANLON WANTS THE STATE TO LOOK INTO THIS NOW?

>> SO IT WAS DOORDASH, SAME DIFFERENCE.

>> SORRY.

>> THIS BILL WOULD BASICALLY ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO APPOINT A SPECIAL AUDITOR TO LOOK AT STATE UNIVERSITIES OR UNIVERSITIES THAT RECEIVE STATE FUNDS, AND ARE MISSPENDING THE MONEY.

SO SOMEBODY CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AND THEN THE SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY AUDIT THAT.

AND THEN IF IT DOES COME OUT THAT THE UNIVERSITY MISSPENT WHAT IS BASICALLY TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THE UNIVERSITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT MONEY BACK TO THE STATE ON TOP OF 1.25 TIMES WHATEVER THE INVESTIGATION COST.

AND THIS REALLY DOES COME FROM THOSE RUTGERS -- THESE REPORTS ABOUT RUTGERS MISSPENDING AND HOW ATHLETICS IS WASTING MONEY.

AND SENATOR O'SCANLON WAS UPSET TO SEE HOW MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY WAS BEING WASTED.

HE SAID HE WANTS TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO KIND OF HOLD THESE UNIVERSITIES ACCOUNTABLE.

>> RUTGERS SPENT $115 MILLION ON ATHLETICS THIS YEAR.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN NEW JERSEY SEGMENT.

HEADLINES AND NEWS NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY NEW JERSEY.

SOPHIE, YOU GOT ONE?

>> I DO.

MINE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE GOT ARRESTED AT A WILD WOOD BAR FOR CAUSING A SCENE.

SHE GOT KICKED OUT OR SHE LEFT THE BAR AND TRIED TO GET BACK IN.

THE BOUNCERS WOULDN'T LET HER BACK IN.

AND SHE'S LIKE, I'M WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

TRIED TO GET IN THROUGH A BACK DOOR AND EVENTUALLY SHE WAS ARRESTED.

>> AH, PUBLIC INTEGRITY.

ALL RIGHT.

MICHAEL, YOU GOT ONE?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO IT BY MATT EARLIER.

SO YOU'VE GOT GOVERNOR MURPHY IN UTAH TALKING ABOUT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, AND AT THE SAME EXACT TIME, THERE'S A HEARING HAPPENING HERE IN WHICH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE ARE CRITICIZING WHAT HE'S DOING WITH YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THE UNRAVELING POTENTIALLY OF SOME SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME.

SO IT REMINDED ME OF ANY TIME IT SEEMS A GOVERNOR KIND OF STEPS OUT AND TRIES TO HAVE MORE OF A NATIONAL PROFILE THAT WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, CHRIS CHRISTIE AND HIS APPROVAL RATING, AND THERE'S OTHER EXAMPLES THROUGH TIME.

WE DON'T ALLOW OUR GOVERNORS TO GO NATIONAL VERY EASILY.

>> WE'VE SEEN THAT ONE BEFORE.

ALL RIGHT.

MINE IS FROM PATTERSON, WHERE THE CITY WILL USE $700,000 TO BUY SOLAR POWERED TRASH CANS.

THAT'S ABOUT $4,400 PER CAN.

GRANTED THE CANS ARE SUPPOSED TO COMPACT THE TRASH AND HAVE SENSORS IN THEM TO TELL OFFICIALS WHEN THEY'RE FULL.

EVENTUALLY SAVING MONEY SAYS THE CITY.

THAT MAY BE TRUE.

BUT $4,400 TRASH CANS IS JUST TOO ONLY IN JERSEY HEADLINE TO PASS UP.

AND THAT'S ROUNDTABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

SOPHIE, MICHAEL, MATT, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

THANKS ALSO TO SENATOR JOE CRYION.

NEXT WEEK WE'LL LOOK AT SUPER STORM SANDY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW ON TWITTER AT ROUNDTABLENJ TO GET FRESH NEW CONTENT EVERY DAY.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON MYNJPBS.ORG.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY -- MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.com.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF ENGINE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROANE UNIVERSITY.

EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS.

PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES.

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

AND BY POLITCO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK.

A TOPICAL NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS ONLINE AT POLITCO.com.