Sherrill gets Scutari to back off Cabinet power play
Good Wednesday morning!
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill phoned Senate President Nick Scutari late last week after she learned of his proposal to limit the amount of time Cabinet members can serve without confirmation.
Sherrill, perhaps not shockingly, didn't like the idea of giving the Senate more leverage over the executive branch.
But Scutari didn't put up a fight. He agreed to put then never-formally introduced proposal aside — at least for now.
Still, we don't know who the next governor is going to be. And if it's Republican Jack Ciattarelli, I can't help but wonder whether Scutari will take this idea back off the shelf.
In other moves related to the balance of power, a bipartisan group of senators wants to make the State Police its own department for the first time since 1948, moving it out of the Attorney General's purview. More on that below.
FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@politico.com
WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule
QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Don't try to get me killed out here. I mean, that's what killed those people in Minnesota.' — Senate President Nicholas Scutari on a stalled package of abortion rights bills
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Leonard Lance, Henry Klingeman
WHAT TRENTON MADE
BAD BOYS BAD BOYS, WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY MAKE A DEPARTMENT FOR YOU — Lawmakers seek to make State Police its own department, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman: Amid tensions between New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and the state Legislature, a bipartisan group of senators is seeking to move the State Police out of the attorney general's authority. The new legislation would make the New Jersey State Police its own department for the first time in 76 years, removing it from within the Department of Law and Public Safety, which is led by the attorney general. 'I don't think a politically-appointed lawyer who does not know anything about policing should be the person responsible for the State Police to report to,' said state Sen. James Beach, a Democrat from Camden County who's the bill's prime sponsor. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office declined to comment. While the bill comes during a period of tension between Platkin and the Legislature — as well as between Platkin and the State Police — it likely won't take effect until the end of his tenure at the earliest if it passes, since New Jerseyans will elect a new governor in November. Beach and state Sen. Mike Testa, a Republican, are the two prime sponsors of the bill, NJ S4613 (24R). Democratic Sen. Linda Greenstein — chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee — and Republican Sen. Bob Singer are co-sponsors.
VICE AND CONSENT — 'State will lessen tax hikes on internet and sports betting to 19.75% instead of 25% Murphy wanted,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'New Jersey will raise taxes on internet gambling and online sports betting, but not by as much as Gov. Phil Murphy had proposed. In a deal reached Monday night, lawmakers agreed to raise the tax rate on both forms of gambling to 19.75%, down from the 25% Murphy sought in his budget proposal in February. Online sports betting is currently taxed at 13%, and internet gambling is taxed at 15%. The deal was confirmed by five lawmakers and industry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they say they were not authorized to discuss budget negotiations publicly. … Pennsylvania taxes online sports betting at 36% and online slot machines at 54%. New York taxes online sports betting at 51%. Last year, online sports betting in New Jersey brought in $138.3 million in tax revenue, and internet gambling generated $358.3 million in taxes.'
—'New Jersey lawmakers eye hiking nicotine taxes to boost revenue'
ROEING AGAINST THE CURRENT — 'Sherrill Goes after Ciattarelli on the Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade,' by InsiderNJ's Fred Snowflack: 'Elections are not the same. Candidates are different, as are the offices sought. Still, some wondered if abortion rights as a motivator to drive Democratic turnout had waned. That's a very relevant issue in light of the New Jersey governor's race. That became clear Tuesday when Mikie Sherrill held a zoom call with the press to announce her endorsement by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. It was noted that when it comes to abortion, women growing up today have fewer rights than the grandmothers. She was asked if the abortion issue still resonates widely. 'I think this still is a really key issue,' she said. New Jersey has moved to protect abortion right legislatively, but has not yet done so through a constitutional amendment, which Sherrill supports.'
—'Concerns about student health as transgender policy clashes continue'
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TRUMP ERA
MCCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE — McIver heads to court as watchdog group files complaint against Alina Habba: by POLITICO's Ry Rivard: Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) is expected to appear in federal court for the first time Wednesday morning on a trio of charges following a May scuffle outside a federal immigration facility. At her arraignment in Newark, McIver will plead not guilty, spokesperson Hanna Rumsey said. McIver is accused in a three-count indictment of slamming a federal agent with her forearm and 'forcibly' grabbing him and using her forearms to strike another agent. Allegations of physical violence by a sitting member of Congress are rare, with a handful of incidents including the pre-Civil War caning of a senator by a member of the House. … Her allies are also trying to turn the tables on the federal prosecutor bringing the case, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba. The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, filed a complaint this week against Habba with the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics. The complaint alleges Habba has acted improperly since becoming a prosecutor and cites her actions in the McIver case, along with comments about turning 'New Jersey red' and announcing investigations into its Democratic governor and attorney general over immigration.
BOVE, B___H, GET OUT THE WAY — U.S. Sen. Andy Kim wants to testify against the nomination of controversial Trump administration lawyer Emil Bove to a New Jersey Third Circuit judgeship before the Judiciary Committee today, but he doesn't expect he'll be allowed to. In a letter this morning, the freshman Democrat said Bove 'has demonstrated that he lacks the independence to objectively decide the cases before him, the temperament to serve on the bench, and the moral compass to comply with professional ethics obligations. 'During his short time with the Justice Department, Mr. Bove earned the reputation of being the President's enforcer by pressuring the office in the Southern District of New York to drop its prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, hunting investigators and prosecutors assigned to investigate the January 6 insurrection, and working to gut Department of Justice's numerous divisions, including the historic Civil Rights Division and the Public Integrity Section,' Kim wrote. 'I believe that Mr. Bove sees his role more as the President's defense lawyer rather than an independent counsel at the Department of Justice working on toward just outcomes for the American people. In fact, just this week, a Department whistleblower stated that Mr. Bove ordered subordinates to ignore court orders as the Administration pursued its heartless removal policy of immigrants across the country. I hope this Committee and my colleagues outside its jurisdiction carefully follow developments related to this astonishing accusation because it alone should be enough to disqualify any nominee seeking a seat on any court, let alone a circuit court.'
FREEDOM OF SPEECH — 'Norwegian tourist, 21, is barred from entering the US after ICE guards find meme showing JD Vance with a bald head on his phone,' by The Daily Mail's Olivia Allhusen: 'A Norwegian tourist claims he was harassed and refused entry to the US after immigration officers found a meme of JD Vance on his phone. Mads Mikkelsen, 21, arrived at New Jersey's Newark Airport on June 11, excited about his holiday. But, his plans were thrown into disarray when he was reportedly pulled aside by border control and put in a cell. The tourist was then subjected to what he described to Norwegian outlet Nordlys as an 'abuse, of power and harassment.' 'They asked questions about drug trafficking, terrorist plots and right-wing extremism totally without reason,' he told the outlet. Mr. Mikkelsen, claimed the officers then threatened him with a $5,000 fine or five years in prison if he refused to give the password to his mobile phone. The guards reportedly found a meme on the device's camera roll showing US vice president JD Vance with a bald, egg-shaped head. Mikkelsen said after discovering the image the authorities sent him home to Norway the same day.'
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LOCAL
EAST NEW JERSEY — Zohran Mamdani topples Andrew Cuomo in NYC mayoral race, by POLITICO's Jeff Coltin: — Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist lawmaker, is on pace to win the Democratic primary for New York City mayor — a seismic shift in what normally would have been a sleepy reelection for the incumbent, Eric Adams, and one that involved toppling Andrew Cuomo's political comeback. Cuomo conceded defeat late Tuesday night and said he called to congratulate Mamdani. 'Tonight was not our night' Cuomo said at the headquarters of the New York City carpenters union. 'I'm very proud of the campaign that we ran.' Mamdani won 43.5 percent of first-place votes to Cuomo's 36.3 percent, according to the New York City Board of Elections. But that outcome is not final. The board is expected to announce full results on July 1 in an election that utilized ranked-choice voting, which allows New Yorkers to pick up to five candidates in order of preference.
JERSEY CITY — 'Child's death prompts rally for better traffic safety measures in N.J. city,' by NJ Advance Media's Larry Higgs: 'Jersey City safety and parent groups plan to rally at city hall at 5 p.m. Wednesday to demand more safety improvements and traffic enforcement after a tragic accident claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy on June 13. The groups are pressing city officials for more enforcement and an increase in safety infrastructure to protect pedestrians. 'Jersey City has made a lot of progress on Vision Zero, but it is not enough, and we need faster action to prevent more tragedies now,' said Jimmy Lee, a founder of Safe Streets Jersey City. 'We need to double-down and accelerate on what's been working.''
YOUR EMINENCE DOMAIN — 'Church vs. State battle erupts over 'deeply troubling' parish property fight,' by NJ Advance Media's Ricahrd Cowen: 'A legal battle is brewing between Queen of Peace Church parish and the North Arlington Board of Education, which is threatening to use eminent domain to acquire the church's La Salle Center for prekindergarten classrooms. Negotiations between the parish, the board of education and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark over a long-term lease of the La Salle Center recently broke down in May. Now both sides are gearing up for a potential legal battle between church and state. North Arlington school superintendent Stephen M. Yurchak said the board of education 'has begun the preliminary legal steps required under New Jersey law to explore eminent domain proceedings' to acquire the property, located next door to Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church on Ridge Road.'
DUCK THE POLICE COMIN' STRAIGHT FROM THE POND — 'Lacey Township police rescue 9 ducklings trapped in storm drain,' by The Press of Atlantic City's John O'Connor: 'Police rescued nine ducklings that fell into a storm drain Monday morning. Officers responded to an area near Lacey Mall for a report of several ducklings in distress and they discovered they were trapped, police said in a Facebook post. The ducklings were rescued and returned to their mother, who was waiting nearby, police said.'
GROSS MEN — 'Attorneys debate separate Bergen trials for ex-councilman, son charged with child porn,' by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: 'A former Tenafly councilman and his son appeared in court on June 16 to discuss potentially separating their cases on charges of possessing child pornography. The defense attorneys appeared before Superior Court Judge Nina Remson to file a severance motion, which would separate the trials of Jeffrey Grossman, the father, and Steven Grossman. The pair were arrested in October 2023 on child pornography possession charges. Jeffrey Grossman resigned from the Tenafly Borough Council and withdrew from the November election that year.'
—'[Manville] sued over rezoning of former shopping center, Superfund site'
—'Ex-treasurer stole $32,000 from [Absecon] school's PTO, cops say'
—'It's nearly 100 degrees. Some N.J. schools are holding outdoor graduations anyway'
—'6 men sue Atlantic County alleging sexual abuse at Harborfields juvenile facility'
—'Newark Public Schools adopts AI literacy screener as part of state plan to boost reading skills'
—'After three-vote loss, Roselle candidate seeks recount'
—'Toms River considers plan for first Orthodox Jewish high school'
R.I.P. — 'Former Middle Township Mayor Dan Lockwood dies at 57'
EVERYTHING ELSE
LITERALLY UNFAIR — 'Meadowlands State Fair won't return until 2027. Here's why,' by The Record's Lucas Frau: 'The Meadowlands State Fair will not come to MetLife Stadium this year or next summer, with the venue hosting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The fair announced on its website that the two-year hiatus comes at the request of MetLife Stadium to accommodate the numerous soccer games that will be played there over the next two summers. The rides and other activities will return to MetLife Stadium in 2027, the Meadowlands State Fair announcement said.'
AN EVESHAME — 'Essential Pinelands waters under renewed development threat,' by Jeff Pillets for NJ Spotlight News: 'The headwaters of the Black Run Creek in Evesham Township are among the most pristine reaches of New Jersey's 938,000-acre Pinelands National Reserve. … For more than 1 million people in Burlington County and areas downstream, ecologists say, the Black Run is an essential component of clean drinking water. … Developers are now looking to bulldoze some 800 acres of privately owned land in the Black Run headwaters and build up to 270 new homes. Opponents of the plan, who've collected more than 5,000 signatures against it, say the threat to the Black Run headwaters is proof that long-awaited reforms to better protect Pinelands water can't come fast enough. … 'The good news is that new rules to limit this kind of intrusion are at hand,' [Pinelands Preservation Alliance Executive Director Jaclyn] Rhoads said, in an interview with NJ Spotlight News last week. 'The bad news is that it's taken way too long. Pressure on the aquifer from drought, from brush fires, from overdevelopment is only getting worse.'
TESLA CRASH — 'Tesla sued over Model S crash that killed three in New Jersey,' by Reuters' Jonathan Stempel: 'Tesla was sued on Monday by the estates of three people killed last September when their 2024 Model S equipped with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features crashed on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. The wrongful death lawsuit filed in the federal court in Camden, New Jersey, attributed the deaths of David Dryerman, 54; his wife Michele, 54; and their daughter Brooke, 17, to the car's 'defective and unreasonably dangerous design.' … The complaint said the car's defective design caused it to stray from its lane of travel and fail to apply emergency braking, resulting in the crash. It also said Tesla failed to warn David Dryerman, who was driving, that his Model S was unsafe, citing Musk's statement in 2016 that Autopilot was 'probably better' than human drivers.'
— 'In NJ, suicide rates double for middle-aged men. Why a 'friendship recession' is spreading'
—'JCP&L reports more than 14,600 customers without electricity at Shore'
—'High school seniors talk prom and that NJ rite of passage: going to the Shore'
—'Jonas Brothers, Dana Bash, David Burke headline 2025 New Jersey Hall of Fame class'
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Under the revived 287 (g) program, local and state law enforcement officers can interrogate immigrants in their custody and detain them for potential deportation. Agencies across all 67 Florida counties have signed more than 280 such agreements, more than a third of the 720 agreements ICE have reached nationwide. State officials are commandeering the land using state emergency powers, under an executive order issued by DeSantis during the administration of then-President Joe Biden to respond to what the governor deemed a crisis caused by illegal immigration. Florida is moving forward with the construction on county-owned land over the concerns of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, local activists and Native American tribal leaders who consider the area sacred. By relying on executive orders, the state is able to sidestep purchasing laws and fast-track the project, which Fried said amounts to an abuse of power. The orders grant sweeping authority to the state's head of emergency management, Kevin Guthrie, including the power to suspend 'any statute, rule, or order' seen as slowing the response to the emergency, and the ability to place select law enforcement personnel from across the state under his 'direct command and coordination.' 'Governor DeSantis has insisted that the state of Florida, under his leadership, will facilitate the federal government in enforcing immigration law,' a DeSantis spokesperson said in a statement. 'Florida will continue to lead on immigration enforcement.'
