The best thing that happened in the NJ election yesterday

was that Steve Sweeney won easily. All that NJEA money wasted. And Sweeney does not seem like the type of guy who forgives or forgets.

It's estimated that $20 million was spent on that one race.  That is insane, what a waste of money. Approximately 54,000 total votes for roughly $370 per vote.

  But he is the kind who sucks up to whomever is Governor.  He's just as likely to play nice to keep his leadership post.

Burner said:

was that Steve Sweeney won easily. All that NJEA money wasted. And Sweeney does not seem like the type of guy who forgives or forgets.

Sweeney is still the pal of George Norcross. Norcross wanted to make Sweeney governor but failed at that. He of course always has a plan B and that is to make Craig Coughlin Assembly Speaker. That still seems on track. With Sweeney heading the Senate and Coughlin the Assembly, it will be 2-1 for Norcross against political novice Murphy.

Prieto has pulled out of the Speaker race so Coughlin is assured of the spot, which means that George Norcross is effectively in control of New Jersey.

Burner said:

Prieto has pulled out of the Speaker race so Coughlin is assured of the spot, which means that George Norcross is effectively in control of New Jersey.

Again...

Find it hard to believe he’ll own Murphy. He certainly doesn’t need the money and he’s got the office now. What is Norcross going to do to him?

He has North Jersey’s support. He has his own money. Norcross is going to have to play Murphy’s game, not vice versa.

They can jerk him around on progressive priorities, but the North has the governor’s mansion, the bully pulpit, and the momentum. Oliver and Prieto both bucked Norcross, and they were his creatures.

It was Prieto who blocked state aid reform. Sweeney had a very comprehensive, pragmatic, progressive state aid reform proposal involving redistributing Adjustment Aid, putting new money into state aid, making PILOTs pay towards school budgets, and amending the tax cap for aid-losing districts.

Prieto ignored it, then said he opposed it without explaining why.  He opposed state aid reform even though a majority of the Democratic caucus wanted it.  

Even though Prieto didn't represent Jersey City, I think it was obvious he was protecting Jersey City's interests and obeying the anti-redistribution NJEA. 

I'm glad to see a new Speaker.

I'm interested in seeing what happens with the $15 an hour minimum wage, since Sweeney has already said he thinks there should be carveouts for agriculture and teenage workers and I don't think any progressive group supports carveouts.  

Getting to $15 an hour in four years, six years, or eight years makes a big difference due to inflation.  

If NJ reached $15 an hour by (say) 2023 that would be like having a minimum wage of $13.28 in 2017 dollars.  (assuming 2% inflation)

If NJ reached $15 an hour by 2025 it would only be $12.76 in 2017 dollars.  

I wouldn't be shocked if NJ does what New York did and adopts some kind of regionalization for the $15 an hour minimum wage, where the path to $15 is slower in lower-income parts of NJ.  

Jackson_Fusion said:

Find it hard to believe he’ll own Murphy. He certainly doesn’t need the money and he’s got the office now. What is Norcross going to do to him?




He has North Jersey’s support. He has his own money. Norcross is going to have to play Murphy’s game, not vice versa.




They can jerk him around on progressive priorities, but the North has the governor’s mansion, the bully pulpit, and the momentum. Oliver and Prieto both bucked Norcross, and they were his creatures.