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♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH YOU AND THANKS TO JOANNA GAGAS FOR SITTING IN HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I KNOW I WASN'T AROUND FOR PRIMARY NIGHT, BUT I'M HERE NOW, SO LET'S GET RIGHT BACK TO BUSINESS.

AND I MEAN THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT, AND IF I MEAN THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH AS WE SPEAK IS GETTING A FINAL VOTE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AFTER WHICH IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

DEMOCRATS CONTROL ALL THE LEVELS IN TRENTON AS WE KNOW, SO THE VOTE WAS PROBABLY PREDICTABLE ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT COME WITHOUT CRITICISM, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT TODAY'S SHOW IS GOING TO BE ABOUT, I'M SURE.

WE START WITH A REPUBLICAN WHO WOULD BE GOVERNOR THIS YEAR, JACK CHIT RELLI.

YOU WERE IN THE ASSEMBLY FOR THIS PROCESS DURING THE CHRISTIE YEARS WHEN IT WAS STILL THREE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AT THE END OF JUNE.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS IN 2021.

>> WELL, AT LEAST THOSE THREE PEOPLE WERE COMMUNICATING AND WE GOT THESE BUDGET DOCUMENTS A LITTLE EARLIER.

DESPITE WHAT SOME LEGISLATORS HAVE SAID, IT'S NEVER BEEN LIKE THIS.

LESS THAN 48 HOURS AGO, THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY AND THE GOVERNOR RELEASED A 280-PAGE DOCUMENT AND 13 MINUTES LATER, THEY APPROVED IT.

THEY ONLY APPROVED $46.5 BILLION IN SPENDING, SO THAT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME, RIGHT?

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THIS TRANSPARENCY OR THE LACK THEREOF IN THIS PROCESS.

WHAT IS THE PUBLIC MISSING?

>> WELL, THE PUBLIC'S NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.

THE PUBLIC HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST AND PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK, AND THAT'S THE TRAVESTY.

I THINK IT'S THE HIGH OF FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S ALSO THE HEIGHT OF ARROGANCE WHEN WE DON'T GIVE THE PUBLIC ENOUGH TIME.

WE SAW THIS THREE OUR FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY PASSED THE BILL THAT CODIFIED A NUMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

>> YOU KNOW, ALSO I MEAN THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS.

SOME SENATORS, REPUBLICANS, HAVE SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THE LEGISLATURE GET THE BUDGET AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE A VOTE IS EXPECTED.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD AGREE TO?

>> UNDER GOVERNOR CHET RELLI, THEY WILL, DAVID.

I WENT AS FAR AS TO SAY I WILL VETO ANY BILL THAT HASN'T BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE OF HITTING MY DESK.

I MEAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A TRAVESTY OF DEMOCRACY.

>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE PORK AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS.

DOESN'T THAT KIND OF CUT BOTH WAYS?

NOBODY KNOWS WHO INSERTED THESE ITEMS INTO THE BUDGET.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME GOP PORK IN THERE TOO, I IMAGINE, NO?

WOULD YOU ELIMINATE THOSE CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS?

>> EVEN THE STAR LEDGER REPORTS THIS MORNING THAT THIS IS A CHRISTMAS TREE BUDGET.

IT'S CHRISTMAS EARLY IN TRENTON.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PORK IS GOING TO DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED COUNTIES AND CITIES.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT PARTICIPATION OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, AND MANY OF YOUR FORMER REPUBLICAN -- OR CURRENT REPUBLICAN, FORMER COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LACK OF PARTICIPATION.

BUT HOW DO YOU BRING THE OPPOSITION IN, IN THIS PROCESS?

>> IT ALL STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP, DAVID.

THAT'S UP TO THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND UNDER GOVERNOR CHET RELLI, IT WILL HAPPEN.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I WOULD BE DOING IN THIS BUDGET.

I'D BE RETURNING THE MONEY WE UNNECESSARILY TAXED PEOPLE.

WE UNNECESSARILY BORROWED.

WE SHOULD BE RETURNING THE MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE.

THIS BUDGET IS $11 BILLION MORE THAN CHRIS CHRISTIE'S LAST BUDGET.

SO IN LESS THAN 3 1/2 YEARS' TIME, WE'RE SPENDING $11 BILLION MORE THAN WE DID FOUR YEARS AGO.

IS ANYBODY'S LIFE REALLY THAT MUCH BETTER OFF?

>> THE GOVERNOR WOULD PROBABLY SAY TO THAT, HEY, WE'RE SENDING CHECKS OUT TO PEOPLE THIS SUMMER.

>> EVEN THE STAR LEDGER HAS CALLED THAT AN ELECTION YEAR BRIBE.

LISTEN, HERE'S WHAT THE BUDGET DOESN'T DO, WHICH NONE OF PHIL MURPHY'S PREVIOUS BUDGETS DID.

IT DOESN'T PROVIDE A PERMANENT FIX TO OUR PROPERTY TAX CRISIS.

IT DOESN'T FIX OUR BROKEN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

IT'S NOT CAMPAIGN RHETORIC, DAVID.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW YEAR-OVER-YEAR, NEW JERSEY IS RANKED THE WORST STATE IN THE COUNTRY IN WHICH TO DO BUSINESS.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GROW AN ECONOMY, CREATE JOBS, AND HAVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TAKE OFF WHEN YOU'RE THE WORST STATE IN THE NATION TO DO BUSINESS?

>> SO HOW DOES THIS DOCUMENT CONFLICT WITH YOUR VIEW OF HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK?

>> IT'S THE SAME OLD SCOOP FUNDING FORMULA.

WE NEED A FLATTER AND MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF STATE AID.

I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT LEAVING ANY CHILD OR ANY COMMUNITY BEHIND AND WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

THAT IS A PERMANENT LONG-TERM FIX TO OUR PROPERTY TAX CRISIS.

AND WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING THE TAX BREAKS ON MAKING NEW JERSEY THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS.

THIS BUDGET DOESN'T DO THAT.

IT ALSO DOES ONE OTHER THING.

IT ONLY INCREASES THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, OKAY?

WE'VE GOT A BLOATED, INEFFICIENT, AND CORRUPT STATE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE THE NJEA.

THOSE ARE THE THREE AREAS OF FOCUS UNDER GOVERNOR CHET RELLI.

>> THIS ALSO PAYS DOWN THE PENSION, MAKES A BIGGER PENSION PAYMENT THAN THE GOVERNOR WAS EXPECTING.

ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING?

>> THAT IS SOME GOOD NEWS.

HERE'S THE BAD NEWS.

WE STILL DON'T SEE ANY REFORMS, PARTICULARLY FOR NEW HIRES.

PHIL MURPHY HAS YET TO ENACT OR EVEN ADVOCATE FOR ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HE GAVE JOHN COR ZAHN WHEN HE CHAIRED A COMMISSION ON BENEFITS REFORM.

>> THEY ALSO PUT AWAY A FEW BILLION DOLLARS TO PAY DOWN SOME DEBT.

THAT'S GOT TO BE A GOOD THING ALSO, NO?

>> IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE CERTAINLY ADVOCATED FOR.

THE IRRESPONSE PART IS HE BORED $4.5 BILLION HE DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE SEEING SOME DEBT REDUCTION BUT IN MY OPINION, NOT ENOUGH.

>> WHEN WILL YOU ANNOUNCE YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND WILL SHE BE SOMEONE SERVING IN GOVERNMENT ON SOME LEVEL RIGHT NOW?

>> DAVID, DID I HEAR YOU SAY "SHE"?

>> DID YOU SEE HOW I DID THAT, ASSEMBLYMAN?

>> I JUST WANT TO PROVE THAT I'M LISTENING.

I HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE CERTIFICATION OF THE PRIMARY TO ANNOUNCE MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WE'LL TAKE THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO DO THE PROPER TYPE OF VETTING AND MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT A RIGHT CHOICE.

WHEN I DO ANNOUNCE, I'M CONFIDENT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY WILL LIKE IT.

>> WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW?

JUST TAKING RESUMES, OR DO YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN MIND?

>> I HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MIND.

AGAIN, I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THAT LIST I DO HAVE IN MIND.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUALITIES YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

>> SOMEBODY WHO CAN STEP RIGHT INTO THE JOB HEAVEN FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME.

THAT'S MY GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY, AND I WILL DO THAT.

>> SO THIS FDU POLL FINDS YOU DOWN IN DOUBLE DIGITS, AND A BIG MAJORITIES SAY THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

HOW BIG IS THE CHALLENGE YOU'RE FACING, OR WOULD YOU JUST CHALLENGE THE PREMISE OF THAT QUESTION?

>> IT IS A CHALLENGE, AND I WELCOME THAT CHALLENGE.

BUT I'M ALSO CONFIDENT WHEN THE NEXT 4 1/2 MONTHS ARE OVER, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS GOING TO KNOW WHO JACK CHIT RELLI IS AND THEY'RE GOING TO LIKE WHAT THEY SEE AND HEAR AND GO WITH MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

THOSE POLLS ALSO SAY PHIL MURPHY IS UNDERWATER.

HE'S VERY MUCH UNDERWATER WITH THE UNAFFILIATED, INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH ARE THE MAJORITY OF OUR REGISTERED VOTERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE JACK CHIT RELLI, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, AND WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE.

>> GOOD, DAVID.

THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT.

AS EXPECTED, I THINK, A REPUBLICAN BLASTING A DEMOCRATIC BUDGET, BUT NOT ALL DEMOCRATS ARE CELEBRATING THIS SPENDING PLAN.

THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGET THAT SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR.

SHE JOINS US NOW TO DISCUSS WHAT SHE LIKED AND DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE $46 BILLION SPENDING PLAN.

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND TO HEAR ASSEMBLYMAN CHIT RELLI TALK ABOUT THIS BUDGET AND ABOUT HOW SO MUCH MONEY IS GOING INTO CITIES AND TOWNS.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND HIM THAT'S WHERE THE MOST PEOPLE LIVE, WHICH IS WHY THERE ARE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY GOING THERE.

>> WHEN WE SPOKE EARLIER IN THE WEEK, YOU WERE BARELY ABLE TO CONTAIN YOUR DISPLEASURE AT THE WAY THIS BUDGET TURNED OUT.

ARE YOU STILL FEELING THAT WAY AND WHY?

>> I THINK THIS IS BASICALLY A GOOD BUDGET, WHICH IS WHY I VOTED FOR IT.

AND YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR EARLIER INTERVIEW SOME OF THE MORE POSITIVE THINGS.

IT SETS ASIDE MINE FOR DEBT RELIEF.

IT STRIVES TO PUT OUR PENSION ON A REALLY SOLID FOOTING THAT WE'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

IT INCREASES AID FOR CHILD CARE.

IT GIVES MONEY BACK TO PROPERTY OWNERS, TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO GET A PORTION OF THE INCREASED MONEY THAT CAME INTO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS.

BUT I WAS A LITTLE BIT UPSET, A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED THAT NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, WHICH IS REALLY PART OF THE BACKBONE OF OUR WHOLE ECONOMIC ENGINE EAR, WHICH IS THE DIETARY WORKERS, THE JANITORS, THE SUPERMARKET WORKERS.

ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE NEEDED TO GET TO THEIR JOBS SO THE REST OF US COULD WORK AT HOME, THEY ALL COMMUTED ON BUSES.

THEY ALL CAME ON NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

I POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL TO US ECONOMICALLY AND BY EVERY OTHER BAROMETER.

SO THE FACT THAT THE STATE SUBSIDY TO NEW JERSEY TRANSIT WAS REALLY REDUCED, YES, THEY HAVE A LARGE INFUSION OF CASH THAT'S COME IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THERE IS STILL THE ISSUE OF BORROWING FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND PUTTING IT INTO OPERATING EXPENDITURES.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT IS SMALLER THAN IN THE PAST, BUT IT STILL EXISTS.

THIS WAS THE TIME, THE APPROPRIATE, ABSOLUTELY PERFECT TIME TO FUND THINGS LIKE THE HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT RAIL, TO FUND THOSE SO THAT THE HUDSON BERGEN LIGHT RAIL ACTUALLY COMES INTO BERGEN COUNTY.

THE SOUTH JERSEY LIGHT RAIL.

I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

>> THERE WAS A CERTAIN -- >> I'M SORRY?

>> THERE WAS A CERTAIN DRUNKEN SAILOR FEELING TO THE PROCEEDINGS.

$10 BILLION.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN SAY, HEY, THAT'S THE BIG THING WE GOT OUT OF THIS, THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, HEY, REMEMBER THAT TIME WE HAD THE EXTRA $10 BILLION?

THIS IS WHAT WE DID WITH THAT.

>> CERTAINLY PENSION REFORM, OR I SHOULD SAY PAYING INTO THE PENSION SO THAT WE STEPPED BACK FROM THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY.

THAT WAS A BIG, HUGE ISSUE IN PAST YEARS.

IT IS NOT ANY LONGER BECAUSE EVEN IN PAST YEARS, WE INCREASED THE STATE PAYMENT TO THE PENSION, AND THIS YEAR WE MADE, I THINK, THE BIGGEST INCREASE INTO THE PENSION.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE BIG THING.

BUT AS I SAID, THERE IS A COUPLE OF BIG THINGS MISSING.

AND TODAY WE DID GET SOME GOOD NEWS BECAUSE APPARENTLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY ARE COMING TO AN AGREEMENT ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY THAT I HOPE WE WILL SEE COME INTO NEW JERSEY, THAT PART OF THAT WILL GO TO CAPITAL IN NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I WILL BE FOLLOWING THAT ALONG WITH THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT REFORM BILL.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO FIND RELIGION AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A HUE AND CRY ABOUT THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FROM SOME OF THE SAME LAWMAKERS WHO SAW NO, YOU KNOW, SUCH VIRTUE IN TRANSPARENCY UNDER A PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THAT SAID, YOU SHOULDN'T BE VOTING ON A BILL THAT ISN'T EVEN WRITTEN IN INK YET, SHOULD YOU?

>> I AGREE, AND I HAVE BEEN A GREAT PROPONENT OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS LONG AS I SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND BEYOND.

AND, YES, I THINK THIS BUDGET BILL SHOULD HAVE HAD A LONGER TIME FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT A LOT OF THE GROWTH IN THE BUDGET IS FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS PUT INTO THE BUDGET TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE AFTERMATH OF THE TERRIBLE YEAR THAT WE ALL LIVED THROUGH, THE TERRIBLE YEAR WHICH SOME OF OUR LOVED ONES DIDN'T LIVE THROUGH.

SO COMING THROUGH COVID AND COMING THROUGH BUSINESSES BEING CLOSED AND SCHOOLS BEING CLOSED AND KIDS HAVING TO LEARN ONLINE WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE PARENTS AT HOME TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACTUALLY SITTING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS MIGHT BE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS TO ADDRESS.

SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THIS BUDGET, AND SO I THINK OVERALL THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO POINT OUT THAT NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IS THE ECONOMIC BACKBONE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND WE MUST GIVE THEM A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING, AND WE MUST STOP TAKING MONEY FROM THEIR CAPITAL PLAN AND PUTTING IT INTO OPERATING EXPENSES.

AND AS LONG AS I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT, I WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT.

>> YOU WANT TO TAKE 20 SECONDS TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT THESE MUCH MALIGNED CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS?

>> YEAH, WELL, CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS OR PORK, AS THEY'RE SOMETIMES DESCRIBED, THAT'S A NEGATIVE WORD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ITEMS ARE REALLY ABOUT PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS AND HISTORIC SITES AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

SO ALTHOUGH THEY'RE LISTED IN THAT MANNER BECAUSE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE ADVOCATING ON THE PART OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO GET DOLLARS FOR WORTHWHILE PROGRAMS.

SO I DON'T CONSIDER IT PORK.

YOU CAN CALL IT CHRISTMAS TREE ITEMS, BUT AS LONG AS THEY ARE GOOD PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE RESIDENTS OF NEW JERSEY, I'M FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER LORETTA WEINBERG, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

>>> PHIL MURPHY IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE GOVERNOR PROBABLY EVER IN NEW JERSEY.

BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO STILL THINK THAT HE HASN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH IN SOME AREAS.

HE'S FACED CRITICISM ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS, INCLUDING HELP FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED AND SOME OTHER PROGRAMS, NOT TO MENTION THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD ON THE WAY TO LEGALIZING CANNABIS.

I'M GOING TO PUT OUR NEXT GUEST IN THAT CATEGORY OF CRITICS.

HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF NJ POLICY PERSPECTIVE, BRANDON McCOY.

BRANDON, ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER BUDGET.

THIS ONE FEELING A LOT MORE VIRTUAL THAN YEARS PAST.

WHAT'S ON THE TOP OF YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW AFTER GOING THROUGH ANOTHER ONE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, DAVID.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

WHAT'S GOING THROUGH MY MIND IS THAT THIS WAS A VERY CHALLENGING BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THAT THE BILL LANGUAGE WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 11 MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS VOTED ON IN COMMITTEE.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF LAWMAKERS LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT IT'S NOT TRANSPARENT EVERY YEAR.

WELL, THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT, YEAH, WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING PROBLEM HERE IN THE STATE, AND TRANSPARENCY IS NOT DETERMINED BY ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR LAWMAKERS.

IT'S DETERMINED BY ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC, AND THE PUBLIC'S INABILITY TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS IN A SUFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL WAY, THE INABILITY AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO VIEW THE BUDGET LANGUAGE AND GO THROUGH IT AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT INVESTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND EXACTLY HOW THE $10 BILLION SURPLUS IS GOING TO BE DEPLOYED IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST TO NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL OF TAXPAYERS AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> YOU WERE PART OF A COALITION THAT HELD A RALLY IN TRENTON.

TRANSPARENCY WAS ONE OF THE THEMES THERE.

WHAT ELSE DID YOU TALK ABOUT?

>> TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF, NAMELY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS BUT ALSO THEIR LOVED ONES WHO ARE NOT ALWAYS UNDOCUMENTED THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THIS STATE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY, WHO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IF THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECOVERY, THEN THAT'S GOING TO SPELL TROUBLE FOR OUR STATE AT LARGE.

ANYTIME YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE BEHIND SO MANY PEOPLE, THAT WILL LEAD TO A WEAKER AND SLOWER RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US.

SO THAT WAS A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT.

AND THEN AGAIN, JUST DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE LACK OF EXPLICIT FUNDING FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

LACK OF CLARITY AROUND FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WHERE YOU HAD SO MANY RESIDENTS WHO HAD DELAYS IN RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

NEW JERSEY HAS SOME SYSTEMS THAT REALLY NEED TO INVEST IN AND SOME DISPARITIES THAT REARED THEIR UGLY HEADS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

AND WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE BETTER OPPORTUNITY WITH THIS $10 BILLION SURPLUS TO ADDRESS THEM MORE AGGRESSIVELY.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

YOU KNOW, $46 BILLION BUDGET.

$10 BILLION FLOATING AROUND.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO SHOW FOR ALL OF THIS LARGESSE?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN I AGREE A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT MAJORITY LEADER WEINBERG SAID.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE MADE A BIGGER PENSION PAYMENT WHICH HAS BEEN SORT OF THE ANCHOR AROUND OUR NECK AS A STATE FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

IT'S THE FIRST FULL PENSION PAYMENT AND THEN SOME THAT WE'VE MADE IN OVER 20 YEARS.

I THINK 25 YEARS IS THE NUMBER.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR PAYING DOWN EXISTING DEBT.

THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE DID BORROW LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE WERE NOT SURE HOW THE ECONOMY WAS GOING TO PERFORM.

SO THAT BORROWING WAS NOT -- IT WAS NOT UNWISE, BUT IT'S A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN NOW TO BE ABLE TO PAY IT DOWN.

AND WE PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDS INTO OUR RAINY DAY FUND, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION IGNORED AND THAT IS WHY WE WERE LEFT IN A WEAKER POSITION COMING INTO THIS PANDEMIC AND THIS RECESSION.

THERE ARE IMPORTANT AND GOOD AND LAUDABLE THINGS HERE.

BUT, AGAIN, LAWMAKERS SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND THEY SHOULD DEFEND THEM WITH A PUBLIC TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

WHEN THEY DON'T, IT'S HARD TO TRUST THEM.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED AS OTHERS ARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WAS FLUSH WITH CASH THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME SITUATION AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME SITUATION.

A LOT OF CRITICISM POINTED AT THE GOVERNOR WAS THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTION YEAR.

ALL THE GOODIES IN THE BUDGET.

IS THERE SOME DANGER REALISTICALLY THAT SOME OF THESE INVESTMENTS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE ON HOW TO FUND THEM GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY MADE WERE ONETIME INVESTMENTS, YOU KNOW, AS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAID.

YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN THINGS LIKE PARKS, THINGS THAT ARE SORT OF NOT ONGOING PROGRAMS.

SO THEY DID TAKE GREAT CARE TO AVOID INVESTING IN THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO LAST BEYOND THIS BUDGET, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY.

BUT STILL, IT DEFINITELY IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY IN SOME RESPECTS OF, YOU KNOW, NOT INVESTING IN CERTAIN THINGS THAT COULD HELP SPUR OUR ECONOMY FURTHER.

YOU KNOW, MORE INVESTMENT IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COST OF TUITION.

AGAIN, MORE INVESTMENT IN DNJ TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE BUSES AND TRAINS MORE RELIABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT FARE INCREASES ARE -- MORE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.

THEY DEFINITELY INCREASED THAT, BUT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTFALL IN THIS STATE.

WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO WE COULD HAVE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT.

SO I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER FOR SURE.

>> RUNNING OUT OF TIME HERE.

THERE WERE OTHER BILLS THAT WERE VOTED ON AND OTHERS THAT WEREN'T.

THERE WAS A BILL, FOR INSTANCE, ON POLICE BODY CAMERAS THAT OFFENDED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THOSE KIND OF THINGS SAY A LOT ABOUT A LEGISLATURE'S PRIORITY, DOESN'T IT, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR?

>> THEY SAY A LOT ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE YEAR WE JUST HAD WHERE DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES WERE, YOU KNOW, REALLY VISITED UPON EVERYBODY IN THIS STATE.

BUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS REALLY BORE THE SIGNIFICANT BRUNT OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

AND YOU HAD A LOT OF LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED LEADERS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE NEED TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES.

THEN WHEN THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT, THEIR ACTIONS DON'T PARTICULARLY MATCH THEIR WORDS.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING -- THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING UP WITH THAT QUITE HONESTLY.

IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING TO GO THROUGH THE YEAR WE JUST DID AND STILL HAVE LAWMAKERS TAKING VOTES ON BILLS THAT COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES ARE SAYING, THIS IS GOING TO HARM US.

THIS IS GOING TO WORSEN RACIAL INEQUALITY, AND THAT IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THERE WEREN'T OTHER BILLS THAT WERE ALSO UP THAT COULD HELP ADVANCE EQUITY.

SO, YEAH, YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT THAT THERE REMAINS TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION WITH THE PROCESS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN GENERAL BEYOND THE BUDGET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BRANDON McCOY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

SORRY YOUR KNICKS ARE ON VACATION AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ROOT FOR ATLANTA.

THAT'S GOT TO HURT.

>> OH, MAN.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAN.

THANK YOU.

>>> THAT IS "CHAT BOX" FOR TODAY.

OUR THANKS TO JACK CHIT RELLI AND LORETTA WEINBERG AS WELL.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE.

WE ARE OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

THEN WE'RE BACK.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE OFF.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF SCHEDULED THINGS I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @DAVIDCRUZNJ.

BE SURE TO DESCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET MORE "CHAT BOX" PLUS OTHER GREAT CONTENT LIKE "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THANKS AGAIN TO JOANNA GAGA IS FOR SITTING IN HERE FOR US THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

FOR ALL THE CREW HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

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