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>>WELCOME TO STATE OF AFFAIRS.
I'M STEVE ADUBATO.
COMING TO YOU FROM THE
AGNES VARIS NJTV STUDIO
IN NEWARK. IT IS OUR PLEASURE
TO WELCOME STATE SENATOR
RAYMOND J. LESNIAK,
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF THE
GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
GOOD TO SEE YOU SENATOR.
>>NICE TO BE HERE.
>>HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN
IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE?
>>40. THIS IS MY 40TH YEAR.
>>ALRIGHT. SO YOU SAID,
"I AM NOT RUNNING FOR..."?
>>IT'S TIME TO MOVE UP OR MOVE
OUT. I PLAN ON MOVING UP.
>>YOU'RE MOVING UP?
>>MOVING UP.
>>BECAUSE?
>>BECAUSE THE STATE NEEDS
LEADERSHIP THAT IS NOT
EXISTENT EITHER NOW OR
I SEE WITH THE OTHER
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
SO I WANT TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
>>OKAY.
>>I'VE SPONSORED THE MOST
POWERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION LAWS IN THE
COUNTRY. PRISON, CIVIL
JUSTICE, AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM.
LGBT RIGHTS. ANIMAL WELFARE.
I'VE BEEN A CHAMPION ON THESE
ISSUES. NEW JERSEY NEEDS THAT
TYPE OF LEADERSHIP.
WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS.
>>SO SPEAKING OF PROBLEMS,
LET START WITH THE STATE
PENSION CRISIS. BY THE WAY,
IS THERE A CRISIS?
>>IT IS A CRISIS.
SURE IT IS.
>>DEFINE THE CRISIS.
>>HOW ABOUT 150 BILLION
DOLLARS BETWEEN THE PENSION
AND THE HEALTHCARE IN
NOT BEING THERE. NOT...
>>WHAT DO YOU MEAN? LET'S BE
CLEAR. YOU MEAN FOR STATE
EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE
RETIRING?
>>AND...
>>AND THEY EXPECT THOSE
PENSION BENEFITS TO BE THERE
FOR THEM, THEIR HEALTH
BENEFITS TO BE THERE FOR THEM,
MAY NOT BE THERE?
>>AND... WELL, IN ABOUT
20 OR 30 YEARS THEY MAY NOT
BE.
>>IF WHAT?
>>AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.
IF WE DON'T ADEQUATELY START
FUNDING 'EM NOW. I MEAN IT'S
KINDA LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO START NOW, OR ELSE
DECADES LATER, THERE'S GONNA
BE... WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
CATCH UP.
>>BUT SENATOR, RESPECTFULLY,
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE COME
IN HERE TO SAY IT HAS BEEN
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
AS GOVERNOR, TOGETHER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, AS GOVERNORS
TOGETHER, BUT THE LEGISLATURE
WHO HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY FUNDED
ON THE STATE END, RIGHT?
>>MM HMM.
>>THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE
WHO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
RAY LESNIAK, SENATOR LESNIAK'S
BEEN A LEADER IN SO MANY
AREAS, WHAT HAS THE SENATOR
DONE TO MAKE SURE THE STATE
HAS PUT IN THEIR FAIR SHARE
SO THE PENSION WOULDN'T BE IN
CRISIS TODAY?"
>>AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR. BUT BY THE WAY,
I DID HAVE A PROPOSAL TEN
YEARS AGO TO PUT SIX TO EIGHT
BILLION DOLLARS IN THE
PENSION PLAN.
>>IN ONE FISCAL YEAR?
>>YES. YES.
>>WHEN THE BUDGET...? WELL NOW
IT'S 35 BILLION DOLLARS, THE
STATE BUDGET, WHAT COULD IT
HAVE BEEN THEN?
>>THAT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE
PROBLEM.
>>AT THE TIME?
>>THAT WOULD HAVE SOLVED...
BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
GROWN OVER YEARS.
BUT IT... THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THOUGH, OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS
TO BE RESTRUCTURED AND
REFORMED.
>>DEFINE THAT.
>>WE HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE
HAVE A CONTROL OF EDUCATION.
THERE'S A BILLION DOLLARS,
I'VE IDENTIFIED IT,
WASTED IN GOVERNMENT, IN
EDUCATION. IT NEVER GETS TO
THE CLASSROOM. NEVER GETS TO
THE CLASSROOM.
>>WELL WHAT'S WRONG WITH
HAVING A HEAD OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? WHAT
WOULD BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN...
>>BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THAT.
>>...THAT PERSON AND A
CONTROLLER OF EDUCATION?
>>I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE
THEY COVER... I'M SORRY, BUT
THEY COVER UP FOR EACH OTHER.
YES. WE... MONEY GOES INTO
THE... COMPLAINTS GO TO THE
OFFICE OF FISCAL AFFAIRS,
AND...
>>IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION?
>>IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION. AND IT GETS INTO A
BLACK HOLE. BECAUSE IT'S A...
IT'S A BUREAUCRACY THAT
TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER.
WE NEED OUTSIDERS TO OVERLOOK
THAT SPENDING. WE NEED THAT IN
EVERY ASPECT OF GOVERNMENT.
HOW ABOUT THE PORT AUTHORITY?
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY GETS
WASTED IN THE PORT AUTHORITY?
I WOULD PUT COMMUTERS, MEMBERS
RECOMMENDED BY THE AAA.
NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, SAME
THING. HOW ABOUT THE PAROLE
BOARD?
>>HMM.
>>WE HAVE A POLITICAL
PATRONAGE SYSTEM THERE.
THEY GET 120,000 DOLLARS
A YEAR, HEALTH BENEFITS,
PENSION BENEFITS, WHEN RETIRED
JUDGES CAN DO IT FOR
300 DOLLARS A DAY.
>>GO BACK AGAIN THOUGH.
>>THESE ARE.... BY THE WAY,
THESE ARE THINGS THAT A
LEGISLATOR CAN DO... CAN'T DO.
ONLY A GOVERNOR CAN
RESTRUCTURE AND REFORM
GOVERNMENT.
>>RESPECTFULLY SENATOR, IF
YOU WERE GOVERNOR...?
>>SURE.
>>IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR,
WOULD YOU SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WOULD RAISE... I WOULD
PROPOSE RAISING TAXES ON
WEALTHIER NEW JERSEYANS...?"
>>I ALREADY SUPPORT
THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX.
>>OKAY, HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
"I WOULD RAISE TAXES. I WOULD
PROPOSE RAISING TAXES ON
MILLIONAIRES, AND HAVE THAT
MONEY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
GO DIRECTLY INTO FUNDING
THE PENSION CRISIS." RIGHT?
>>MM HMM.
>>EVEN... BUT SENATOR...
>>I ALREADY HAVE LEGISLATURE TO
DO THAT
>>EVEN IF
>>YES
>>A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE
OF THOSE MILLIONAIRES SAID
"I'M OUT OF NEW JERSEY
IT'S AN OVERTAXED STATE
I'M GOING TO FLORIDA
I'M GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE"
YOU'D SAY?
>>I'M SAYING THAT'S NOT TRUE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN
WE HAVE LOWER... WE WOULD HAVE
EVEN WITH THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX
WE HAD IT, WE HAD IT UNDER THE
PREVIOUS GOVERNORS, BUT IT
EXPIRED, NOBODY WAS LEAVING
THEY LEFT BECAUSE... IF THEY
WOULD LEAVE, THEY WOULD LEAVE
BECAUSE OF THE ESTATE TAX
BUT WE DID AWAY WITH THAT
OKAY? SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE
A KEY FACTOR...
>>YOU DON'T THINK IT MATTERS
WHETHER WE INCREASE TAXES ON
WEALTHIER NEW JERSEYANS?
>>I DO NOT AT ALL, THEY DID IT
IN CALIFORNIA, AND THEIR
ECONOMY IS BOOMING
SAME THING WITH NEW YORK
THEY'VE DONE IT
>>SHOULD...? LET ME ASK YOU
THIS
>>BY THE WAY, ALSO CORPORATIONS
WE HAVE LOOPHOLES THAT 40...
>>HIT THEM EVEN HARDER?
>>WE HAVE... NO, LOOPHOLES
WE HAVE LOOPHOLES THAT 40 OTHER
STATES HAVE CLOSED
>>HMM
>>40... THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE
CAUSE 40 OTHER STATES HAVE IT
THAT'S ANOTHER TWO... THREE
HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS
>>REAL QUICK, BEFORE I GET OFF
THE PENSION ISSUE, SHOULD...?
>>WAIT WAIT, DON'T FORGET EXXON
MY SUIT OVERTURNED THE EXXON
CASE, THAT'S A COUPLE BILLION
>>WE DO REMEMBER THAT
>>DOLLARS TOO
>>RAFAEL PI ROMAN AND I
ON CAPITOL REPORT DID HAVE YOU
>>RIGHT
>>TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU WERE ONE
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO LEAD
>>YOU GOT IT
>>THAT EFFORT, LET ME ASK YOU
THIS
>>YES
>>WOULD YOU, AS GOVERNOR
IN ANY WAY HAVE A RENEGOTIATION
WITH PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AS TO
>>ABSOLUTELY
>>WHAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS
WITH THE STATE, AND WHETHER
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND
PENSION BENEFITS SHOULD BE
RENEGOTIATED FOR NEWER
EMPLOYEES? WOULD YOU DO THAT?
>>ABSOLUTELY
>>YOU WOULD?
>>OF COURSE I WOULD
AND NOT ONLY FOR
NEWER EMPLOYEES
>>BUT THAT'S A CONTRACT?
>>HOLD ON, IT CAN BE
RENEGOTIATED IF - IF - YOU
MAKE THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE
NECESSARY...
>>YOU MEAN THE STATE MAKES THE
PAYMENTS?
>>THE STATE MAKES THE PAYMENTS
TO HAVE THE PENSION SECURE
>>HMM
>>OKAY, AND THEN YOU CAN SIT
DOWN AND NEGOTIATE IT
AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL
NEGOTIATE IT
>>ONLY IF THE STATE DOES
THEIR PART?
>>ONLY IF THE STATE DOES
THEIR PART
>>YOU KNOW TAXES, YOU KNOW
SCHOOL FUNDING BETTER THAN MOST
>>YES
>>WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO
SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE ARE
A WHOLE RANGE OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS
THAT ARE NOT GETTING
THE STATE FUNDING THAT THEY
SHOULD BE GETTING UNDER THE
CURRENT LAW FOR SCHOOL FUNDING"
>>MM HMM
>>AND THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THIS
BECAUSE THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT ARE NOT GETTING THAT
FUNDING ARE HAVING TO RAISE
PROPERTY TAXES, AND THOSE
PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD
THEIR HOMES ANYMORE
YOU SAY, SENATOR?
>>I SAY THEY'RE RIGHT
AND THEY'RE PARTICULARLY RIGHT
IN AREAS OF LOW INCOME
FAMILIES, THE MOST IMPORTANT
TIME IN A CHILD'S ABILITY TO
LEARN, IS FROM PRENATAL
TO THREE, AND WE DON'T DO
ANY HELP THERE, OKAY
WE SHOULD HAVE THESE WRAP£
AROUND NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS
THAT PROVIDE SERVICE FOR THOSE
FAMILIES, SO THOSE KIDS, WHEN
THEY GET TO SCHOOL, OR HAVE AN
ABILITY TO LEARN, NOBODY'S
DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
I WOULD DO THAT
>>WELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
URBAN AREAS?
>>YES
>>BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT
BEYOND THAT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE
>>OKAY
>>SOME ABBOTT DISTRICTS
AND SOME OTHER URBAN AREAS
>>MM HMM
>>WHAT ABOUT THE JERSEY CITIES
AND THE HOBOKENS WHO SOME
PEOPLE SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEIR ECONOMY'S BOOMING
REAL ESTATE'S BOOMING THERE
PROPERTY VALUES ARE HIGH"
>>YEAH
>>AND THEY DON'T NEED THAT
STATE AID THAT THEY'RE GETTING
THEY SHOULD CUT BACK SOME OF
THAT AND SEND IT TO SOME
SUBURBAN AREAS THAT ARE REALLY
STRUGGLING, YOU SAY?
>>WELL, WHAT I SAY IS THAT
THEY SHOULD NOT BE HELD
HARMLESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE
GETTING MORE MONEY THAN THEY
PARTICULARLY NEED, AND I'D GO
IN AND AUDIT THEM, AND I'D SHOW
THEM THAT THEY COULD SAVE MONEY
AND NOT LOSE ONE DIME IN TERMS
OF EFFICIENCY
>>BUT YOU WOULD NOT TAKE MONEY
AWAY FROM THOSE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS?
>>I'D SHOW THEM WHERE THEY'RE
WASTING MONEY, AND TAKE THAT
MONEY AWAY, YES ABSOLUTELY
>>AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
>>ABSOLULTELY
>>AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
MANY OF THEM, AND PRESIDENT
TRUMP, REPEAL AND REPLACE
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
GONNA TALK ABOUT REPLACING WITH
THIS, WE DO THIS PROGRAM EARLY
IN MARCH, 2017, WHAT ARE YOUR
CONCERNS ABOUT NEW JERSEY
RESIDENTS WHO ARE...?
>>HUGE
>>WHO HAVE BENEFITED
MANY SAY THEY'VE BENEFITED
FROM THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
>>OH
>>BUT OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE
SAID THEY'VE BEEN HURT BY THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
>>MM HMM. WELL, OVERALL
>>GO AHEAD
>>OVERALL WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON
IT, WITHOUT IT, OUR CHARITY
CARE WOULD GO THROUGH THE ROOF
>>CHARITY CARE...?
>>GO THROUGH THE ROOOF
>>MAKE IT CLEAR TO FOLKS
>>SURE
>>CHARITY CARE, IF SOMEONE
GOES INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
YOU MUST BE TREATED BY LAW
>>WELL OF COURSE, YOU DON'T
>>RIGHT? SO, AND BY THE WAY
>>WANT TO TURN THEM AWAY
>>THAT STATE F... STATE
NO NO, RIGHT, SO THE
>>ABSOLUTELY
>>STATE FUNDING FOR HOSPITALS
WHO TREAT THOSE PEOPLE
>>YES
>>AND SO WHAT'S YOUR CONCERN
HERE? SO WE EXPLAIN TO FOLKS
>>MY CONCERN IS IF THEY'RE NOT
THESE FOLKS NOW NO LONGER HAVE
COVERAGE IF THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT GOES AWAY, THEY'RE GOING TO
BE GOING TO THE HOSPITALS AND
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET TREATED, BECAUSE THERE'S
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO
TREAT THEM, WE WOULD HAVE TO...
LET'S HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY
DON'T ABOLISH THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT
>>CAN WE PLAY WORD ASSOCIATION
SENATOR? I SAY
>>OKAY
>>PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
YOU SAY?
>>DANGEROUS
DANGEROUS
HOPEFULLY HE'LL CHANGE
BUT HE IS INSTILLING FEAR IN
PEOPLE, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
OTHER COUNTRIES, NATO COUNTRIES
ARE CONCERNED, THE...
MY MUSLIM BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
I LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THEY'RE FEARFUL OF HIS POLICIES
AND HIS RHETORIC, THEY'RE BEING
ATTACKED THEMSELVES
>>WHAT COULD IT MEAN IN
NEW JERSEY PER SE?
>>IN NEW JERSEY? WE, LOOK, WE
HAVE A LARGE IMMIGRANT
POPULATION, WHAT WE DON'T WANT
IS THEM TO GO UNDERGROUND
SO THAT WHEN CRIMES ARE
COMMITTED, THEY'RE NOT REPORTED
THEY'RE NOT WITNESSED
IF THEY FEAR THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO COME FORWARD
AND THEN BE DEPORTED
SO WE NEED A PATH... A PATH
FOR LEGALIZATION FOR THOSE
CITIZENS, AND INSTEAD OF
FEARFUL, LOOK AT ELIZABETH
DOWNTOWN, IT'S BOOMING
IT'S BOOMING, BECAUSE OF THE
IMMIGRANT POPULATION
>>LEADERSHIP?
>>YEAH
>>THE NUMBER ONE LESSON YOU...
40 YEARS IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, AND BY THE WAY
I SHOULD DISCLOSE THAT
IN A DIFFERENT LIFE
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>IN THE MID 1980'S, I...
>>YOU CHOSE WISELY [LAUGHTER]
>>I... NO I DIDN'T CH... NO NO
NO, HEY RAY, RAY, RAY, I LOS...
>>PEOPLE CHOSE FOR YOU
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>YEAH THAT'S A LITTLE INSIDE
I LOST MY SEAT, AND I WAS
ELECTED TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AS A VERY YOUNG MAN
>>YES
>>ACTUALLY TOOK OVER YOUR...
YOU WERE THE LEADER IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE
ASSEMBLY EDUCATION... EXCUSE ME
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND IN...
>>ENVIRONMENT
>>I WOUND UP DOING SOME
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
AND I LOST MY SEAT SOON
THEREAFTER, AND YOU SAID
"DON'T COME BACK, GO FIND
ANOTHER CAREER" AND THIS IS
WHERE I AM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE
ISSUE, THE QUESTION IS THIS
WHILE I HAPPEN TO HAVE SERVED
WITH YOU IN THE LEGISLATURE
FOR A SHORT TIME, I'M GONNA
ASK YOU THIS, AFTER 40 YEARS
THE NUMBER ONE LESSON YOU'VE
LEARNED ABOUT LEADERSHIP
THAT YOU WOULD TAKE INTO THE
GOVERNORSHIP IS?
>>RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS
HAVE... WE HAD A CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP
>>SURE DID
>>WHEN I NEEDED YOUR VOTE
I GOT IT, MORESO ON THE ISSUE
THE ISSUE WAS IMPORTANT
BUT MAYBE YOU'RE IFFY ON
SOMETHING, BUT IF YOU HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP, HEY I NEED YOU
COME ON, WE'RE BUDDIES, WE'RE
FRIE... RELATIONSHIPS COUNT
AND THAT'S WHY MY EXPERIENCE
IS GOING TO COUNT
>>SO WHY DOES COMPROMISE
GET SUCH A BAD NAME FOR SO MANY
>>SURE
>>PEOPLE? WHY IS THAT?
>>BECAUSE SOMETIMES COMPROMISE
CAN BE BAD, WHEN... I'LL GIVE
YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE
>>REAL QUICK
>>I TALKED ABOUT THE PAROLE
BOARD, OKAY, WHEN THEY PUT
THEIR BUDDIES ON A PAROLE BOARD
UNQUALIFIED, THAT'S A PART OF
COMPROMISE AND DEALING THAT
DOESN'T WORK THAT'S BAD
BUT GOOD COMPROMISE IS LIKE
THE RELATIONSHIP I HAD WITH
TOM KEAN, AND JON BRAMNICK...
>>REPUBLICAN...?
>>YES
>>YES YES
STATE SENATOR RAY LESNIAK
40 YEARS IN THE NEW JERSEY
STATE LEGISLATURE
A FEW IN THE ASSEMBLY
MOST MORE... MOST IN THE
SENATE, THE UPPER HOUSE
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN THE
LOWER HOUSE BELIEVE ME, WE KNEW
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>THE DIFFERENCE
THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT
SENATOR
>>MY PLEASURE
>>WISH YOU ALL THE BEST
>>THANKS FOR HAVING ME
>>FOLKS, STAY WITH US
ON STATE OF AFFAIRS
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK
RIGHT AFTER THIS
NEW JERSEY VOTERS WILL SOON
DECIDE WHO WILL BE NEW JERSEY'S
NEXT GOVERNOR AFTER CHRIS
CHRISTIE, NOW MY JOB IS TO ASK
THE CANDIDATES THE TOUGH
QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT
ANSWERED, SO FOLLOW ME ON
TWITTER AT @STEVEADUBATO
AND POST THE NUMBER ONE
QUESTION THAT YOU WANT ME TO
ASK NEW JERSEY'S NEXT GOVERNOR
>>WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME
JEANETTE HOFFMAN, WHO IS A
REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST IN THE
GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND
PHIL ALAGIA, CHIEF OF STAFF,
ESSEX COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND
ALSO A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST.
WELCOME TO STATE OF AFFAIRS.
YOU LIKE OUR NEW SET?
>>BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT.
>>BEAUTIFUL. CONGRATULATIONS
ON A NEW SHOW.
>>WELL, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
HERE AT NJTV IN NEWARK. LET ME
ASK YOU, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO
ALL THESE CANDIDATES RUNNING
FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW JERSEY OF
2017, TAKE OVER IN 2018.
LET ME ASK YOU, IF YOU WERE TO
SAY THE THREE ISSUES THAT
THIS RACE FOR GOVERNOR, POST
CHRIS CHRISTIE, WILL TURN ON,
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THEY ARE?
>>ABSOLUTELY AFFORDABILITY
AND THE ECONOMY, PROPERTY
TAXES, AND SCHOOLS.
TO ME, THOSE ARE THE BIG
THREE. I THINK NEW JERSEY
HAS BEEN HAVING A TOUGH TIME
GRAPPLING WITH THOSE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, YEAR AFTER YEAR,
WE HAVE PROPERTY TAXES THAT
KEEP SKYROCKETING.
WE HAVE A GAS TAX THAT'S
MAKING OUR STATE MORE
EXPENSIVE. I THINK THE PEOPLE
OF NEW JERSEY WANT TO HEAR
HOW THESE CANDIDATES ARE
GONNA ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
>>BUT TAKE A STEP BACK, PHIL.
HOW DOES A CANDIDATE TALK
ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, RIGHT?
AS OPPOSED TO SAYING...
SAY A CANDIDATE SAYS,
"I'M GOING TO LOWER YOUR
PROPERTY TAXES."
WAIT, HOW DOES THAT...?
>>DOESN'T EVERYONE SAY THAT?
>>YEAH.
>>THEY'RE GONNA LOWER...
EVERYONE SAYS THEY'RE GONNA
LOWER 'EM.
>>HOW?
>>AND THEY GO UP EVERY YEAR.
>>DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. IS IT
NOT THE MAYOR'S JOB, THE
CITY COUNCIL'S JOB, TO
MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT
WHAT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY
SHOULD BE IN A COMMUNITY?
WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE
TO DO WITH THAT?
>>YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE TAX
REBATES THAT THE STATE SENDS
OUT. IS IT A GIMMICKY THING TO
TRY TO GIVE SOME PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF TO PEOPLE? BUT YOU'RE
RIGHT. YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE
MADE UP... A SMALL PORTION BY
COUNTY GOVERNMENT, A SMALL
PORTION BY MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT.
>>WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE?
>>BOARD OF EDUCATION.
>>YEAH. YUP.
>>SCHOOLS?
>>YOU RUN YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
60 TO 70 PERCENT OF YOUR
BUDGET.
>>SO SAY SOMEONE SAYS,
THEY'RE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR,
"I AM GOING TO MASSIVELY
INCREASE... I'M RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR, AND I'M GONNA
SPEND MORE MONEY..."
YOU IMAGINE THIS CANDIDATE
RUNS FOR GOVERNOR?
>>MM HMM.
>>PHIL, BOTH OF YOU ADVISE
CANDIDATES WHO RUN FOR
MAJOR OFFICE, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT. A CANDIDATE SAYS,
"I'M GONNA RUN FOR OFFICE, AND
I'M GONNA SAY, 'I'M GONNA
SPEND MORE STATE MONEY OF YOUR
DOLLARS, TAX DOLLARS, ON
PUBLIC EDUCATION THAN EVER
BEFORE'". WINNING CAMPAIGN,
PHIL?
>>I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS
TO HEAR ABOUT MORE EXPENSES.
PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR, "DO MORE
WITH LESS" AND LET'S, YOU
KNOW, CUT CORNERS, AND LET'S
BRING THE COSTS DOWN, AND...
>>BUT ISN'T IT THAT STATE
AID TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
TO SERVE SCHOOLS, THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY KEEP YOUR PROPERTY
TAXES DOWN?
>>WELL, RIGHT. I THINK THAT IS
A HUGE ISSUE IN NEW JERSEY.
AND ONE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO TACKLE FOR DECADES.
BECAUSE THE WAY THE SCHOOL
FUNDING FORMULA WORKS, IF
THERE ARE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS,
SOME DISTRICTS GET FUNDED
VERY WELL BY THE STATE, AND
OTHERS GET NOTHING. SO THEY
RELY ON TAXPAYERS TO MAKE
UP THE DIFFERENCE.
AND ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE
ALMOST 600 MUNICIPALITIES
AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
NEW JERSEY.
THAT'S A LOT. WE HAVE A LOT
OF SMALL LITTLE GOVERNMENTS
OUT THERE.
>>RIGHT.
>>SO CONCEIVABLY, IF THESE
TOWNS KEEP RUNNING THESE
SMALL LITTLE GOVERNMENTS,
YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GONNA GO
UP, RATHER THAN IF THEY
REGIONALIZED AND MERGED SOME
OF THEIR ESSENTIAL SERVICES,
YOU CAN SEE MORE SHARED
SAVINGS THERE.
>>PHIL?
>>BUT NO ONE WANTS TO GIVE UP
CONTROL. EVERY LITTLE TOWN...
>>RIGHT.
>>...WANTS TO NAME THEIR
PRINCIPAL. EVERYONE WANTS TO
NAME THEIR POLICE CHIEF.
EVERYONE WANTS TO, YOU KNOW,
IT'S MY LITTLE SCHOOL, AND
THE FUNNY THING IS, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU GO TO A TOWN LIKE
MONTCLAIR, OR...
>>DON'T YOU DARE SAY...!
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>SEE! HE... PHIL HAS TO
GO TO MY TOWN
DON'T YOU DARE SAY... GO AHEAD
>>OR, BUT ANY TOWN LIKE THAT
>>SAY MONTCLAIR, GO AHEAD
>>BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU
TALK TO SOME PEOPLE THEY'RE
>>YES
>>LIKE, WE DON'T MIND PAYING
MORE PROPERTY TAXES IF IT MEANS
A BETTER SCHOOL OR IF I CAN
KEEP MY PRINCIPAL, OR I CAN
KEEP, YOU KNOW, FOR SO...
>>IF I CAN KEEP MY, BUT PHIL
PLAY THIS OUT FOR A SECOND
IF YOU'RE GONNA TRULY PLAY THE
GAME, WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE WANT?
IS IT PART OF THE PROBLEM?
I DON'T WANT TO GET
PHILOSOPHICAL, I WANT TO BE
VERY PRACTICAL HERE
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
TRULY, THE STATE OF AFFAIRS
OF THE FISCAL REALITY OF
NEW JERSEY, OR WHAT'S THE
FISCAL STATE OF AFFAIRS OF
NEW JERSEY, ISN'T PART OF
THE PROBLEM, THAT WHAT PEOPLE
WANT, IN PART, IS DRIVING
UP THE COST AND THE FISCAL
PROBLEMS OF NEW JERSEY?
CAUSE WHAT THEY WANT
>>RIGHT
>>IS THEIR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
THEIR OWN CHIEF OF POLICE
THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND FOR A COMMUNITY THAT'S
THAT SMALL, THEY... IT'S NOT
EFFICIENT ENOUGH, AND YOU
SHOULDN'T HAVE YOUR OWN
FIRE DEPARTMENT? YOU SHOULDN'T
HAVE YOUR OWN CHIEF OF POLICE?
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE YOUR OWN
SCHOOL DISTRICT
BECAUSE THERE'S BUREAUCRACY
THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT
RIGHT?
>>RIGHT
>>SO WHY CAN'T A POLITICIAN
RUN AND SAY, "YOU WANT THE
TRUTH? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE
TRUTH THAT I'M GONNA TELL YOU"
>>[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S TRUE, AND I THINK
YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF
HARD DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE
I THINK IT, WELL LOOK
GOVERNOR WHITMAN'S BEEN
TALKING ABOUT REGIONALIZING
SCHOOL DISTRICTS SINCE THE
90'S, HAS IT HAPPENED?
NO, BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL
PRESSURE, SO I THINK
IF ANY CANDIDATE WANTS TO BE
HONEST WITH THE PEOPLE OF
>>REALLY HONEST?
>>NEW JERSEY, BRUTALLY HONEST
>>WHAT WOULD HE OR SHE DO?
>>HE OR SHE'S GONNA SAY
"LOOK, IF YOU WANT LOCAL
CONTROL, IF YOU WANT SMALL
GOVERNMENT, IT'S GONNA COST
YOU MORE. HERE ARE WAYS THAT
WE CAN REGIONALIZE SERVICES
YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE
SERVICES YOU NEED, AND STILL
HAVE IT BE SOMEWHAT SMALL
AND LOCAL" LIKE THE
PRINCETONS, THEY JUST
REGIONALIZED PRINCETON
BOROUGH AND PRINCETON TOWNSHIP
>>YES
>>THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE
IS IT A HUGE MASSIVE
GOVERNMENT? NO, THERE'S STILL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE STILL
>>IT CAN BE DONE?
>>CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE
IT CAN BE DONE
>>YOU LOOK AT BERGEN COUNTY
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S...
>>70 COMMUNITIES?
>>YEAH
>>THEY HAVE MORE PIECES
OF FIRE APPARATUS
THAN THE NEW YORK CITY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE TOWN
>>WHAT?
>>HAS A FIRE TRUCK, A FIRE
ENGINE, A CAR FOR THE CHIEF
AND THIS, THAT, AND IF YOU
ADD 'EM ALL UP, THERE'S
ACTUALLY MORE PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT IN NORTH JERSEY
FOR A MUCH SMALLER POPULATION
>>BY THE WAY, ESSEX COUNTY
ONLY 22, JUST 22 COMMUNITIES
>>YES
>>I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>22
>>I KNEW YOU WEREN'T
GONNA TALK ABOUT ESSEX
>>BUT THERE'S SOME SMALL
COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY
IN WEST ESSEX THAT'S, YOU KNOW
WE SHARE A REGIONAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM, AND IT'S EFFICIENT
BUT WE HAVE A GRAMM...
IN FAIRFIELD, WHERE I LIVE
WHICH I LOVE, AND IT'S A GREAT
TOWN, WE HAVE A GRAMMAR SCHOOL
THAT'S PART OF FAIRFIELD
AND WE GO TO REGIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL, BUT WE HAVE A
SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AND A
SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE
HIGH SCHOOL
>>ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THIS
ON THE PENSION ISSUE
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE
WHO SAY, "THIS MASSIVE PENSION
CRISIS" WHICH I'VE BEEN
TALKING TO EVERY CANDIDATE
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR ABOUT
BY THE WAY, OUR TEAM'S GONNA
PUT UP OUR TWITTER HANDLE
AND ALSO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET
QUESTIONS FROM ALL KINDS OF
REALLY SMART ENGAGED PEOPLE
I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE SAY
PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT
POLITICS, YOU CARE ABOUT
ISSUES, AND YOU CARE ABOUT
WHO'S GONNA BE NEW JERSEY'S
NEXT GOVERNOR, LOG ON
WE'LL TAKE THOSE QUESTIONS
THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL
HERE'S THE THING
I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE SAY
"WHAT DO I CARE ABOUT THE
PENSION CRISIS BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T AFFECT ME, I'M NOT
A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE"
BUT PHILIP, IT DOES AFFECT
AND I'LL COME BACK TO YOU
JEANETTE, JUST... IT DOES
AFFECT EVERY PERSON IN THE
STATE, HOW?
>>WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE...
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S
THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF
GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO ARE
DEPENDENT ON, YOU KNOW
PENSION, AS YOU LIKE TO SAY
FOR FULL DISCLOSURE
>>GO AHEAD
>>I'M... I WORK FOR THE
COUNTY OF ESSEX, I AM
A MEMBER OF THE NEW JERSEY
STATE PENSION SYSTEM, I...
>>YOU WANT IT TO BE THERE
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?
>>I BASE MY CAREER, I COULD
HAVE GONE INTO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, I'VE MADE SOME
DECISIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE
BEEN WORKING IN GOVERNMENT ALL
MY LIFE, BUT MY PLAN IS
WHEN I HIT A CERTAIN AGE
AND I'M GONNA HAVE A
A RETIREMENT, NOW I'M WILLING
TO PAY MORE IN MY CONTRIBUTION
>>YOU WOULD?
>>IF IT'S IN LIEU OF NOT
>>YOU WOULD PHIL?
>>GETTING A PENSION AT ALL
IN LIEU OF IT GOING BELLY UP?
>>OKAY
>>YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO ADD...
>>ARE YOU AFRAID OF THAT?
>>YEAH ABSOLUTELY
>>ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE
PENSION SYSTEM GOING BELLY UP?
>>I'M AT AN AGE NOW WHERE IT'S
HARD FOR ME TO GET A NEW CAREER
I MEAN, IT'S A BIG PART OF
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, PROBABLY
PAYS MORE THAN THE GOVERNMENT
SECTOR, FOR THE STUFF THAT
WE CAN DO, SO WE MADE DECISIONS
BASED ON GETTING A PENSION
AND A LOT OF GOVERNMENT
WORKERS, THE POLICE, THE
FIRE, THE TEACHERS, THEY'VE
ALL MADE DECISIONS TO GO
INTO GOVERNMENT WORK, THINKING
THAT THE PENSION WOULD BE THERE
WHEN THEY RETIRED, WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE IT'S THERE
>>MAKE THE CASE
>>BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF
US, RIGHT? I MEAN THE
PENSION SYSTEM...
>>YOU MEAN NON GOVERNMENT?
>>NON GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
>>THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT WORK
FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR PHIL
>>RIGHT, EXACTLY
>>GO AHEAD
>>THE STATE PENSION AND
HEALTH BENEFITS SYSTEM
HAS GOTTEN SO BIG
OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES
AND REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
ARE GUILTY OF GIVING A LOT AWAY
GIVING THE STORE AWAY TO
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS
>>GIVING THE STORE AWAY?
>>WELL NOT GIVING... LOOK
THEY'RE... THEY MADE PROMISES
THEY COULD NOT KEEP
WE ARE PAYING SO MUCH FOR OUR
PENSION BENEFITS PROGRAMS
>>BUT THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES?
>>NO IT'S NOT, BUT IF THEY
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEIR PENSION, LIKE PHIL
WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE
HAS A PENSION, RIGHT?
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE REFORMS ARE THERE
SO THE FUND IS SOLVENT
I MEAN THIS IS HAPPENING
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND TAXPAYERS IN NEW JERSEY
SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE
BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE LAYING OUT
A HUGE CHUNK OF OUR BUDGET
FOR THE PENSION, WE'RE NOT
ADDRESSING SCHOOLS, WE'RE NOT
ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE, THAT'S
MONEY THAT WE CAN'T PUT
FORWARD TO LOWERING PROPERTY
TAXES, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY
COMMITTED TO THE PENSION
HEALTH BENEFITS FUND
>>JEANETTE LET'S CLARIFY THIS
THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS
35 BILLION DOLLARS, GIVE OR
TAKE A FEW MILLION
SO GOVERNOR CHRISTIE
INTRODUCES HIS BUDGET
2.5 BILLION DOLLARS OR SO
HE'S PROPOSING IN FISCAL YEAR
2018, GO DIRECTLY TO
A STATE CONTRIBUTION TO
THE PENSION CRISIS
THAT'S A HUGE CHUNK MORE
THAN MOST GOVERNORS, A LOT OF
THE LAST GOVERNORS, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, PUT TOGETHER
THAT'S WAY MORE THAN MOST
>>AND LESS THAN THE ACTUARIES
SAY HE SHOULD PUT IN
>>WHICH, BY THE WAY, YOU THINK
IS A GOOD THING?
>>I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IF YOU
DON'T... IF... YOU HAVE TO
TAKE IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE
YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM
SCHOOLS, OR FROM HEALTHCARE
OR FROM CHARITY CARE
SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
DOLLARS TO GO AROUND, BUT...
>>SO THE, HOLD ON, THE MORE
SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING
PHIL, THE MORE MONEY THAT
COMES OUT OF THE STATE
OR FROM THE STATE TO GO INTO
IT, IT COMES FROM SOMEWHERE
ELSE?
>>IT HAS TO
>>RIGHT
>>BUT IT'S GOT... BUT
FOR THOSE WHO ARGUE
THAT CHRIS CHRISTIE OR
OTHER GOVERNORS HAVEN'T DONE
ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH, FRANKLY
THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T NEED ME
DEFENDING HIM, HE HAS PUT IN
MORE THAN MOST
>>HE HAS. MORE THAN ANY OTHER
GOVERNOR
>>BUT WHAT AB... THERE'S A
CONUNDRUM HERE, BECAUSE
THOSE ARE SAYING
YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU TAKE OUT
IT'S NOT GOING TO HEALTHCARE
IT'S NOT GOING TO EDUCATION
SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
>>WELL I THINK THE ANSWER IS
WE HAVE TO REFORM THE SYSTEM
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO
PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN'T AFFORD, WE CAN'T
AFFORD THESE CADILLAC BENEFIT
HEALTH PACKAGES, WE NEED TO
REFORM IT, REFORM THE PENSION
SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMING INTO THE SYSTEM?
>>YOU'RE SAYING PHIL HAS A
CADILLAC HE DOESN'T DESERVE?
>>[LAUGHTER]
>>I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU
JUST SAID THAT
>>I LOVE PHIL, I WOULD NEVER
SAY THAT ABOUT HIM
BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE
CAN'T MAKE PROMISES
>>OKAY
>>WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP
>>ALRIGHT. PHIL, STOP
YOU HAVE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE
I'VE KNOWN YOU, FULL DISCLOSURE
I'VE KNOWN YOU LONG ENOUGH TO
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
SAY
>>I'M NOT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
WITH ALL THESE PERKS AND BEING
>>[LAUGHTER] PERKS!
>>ABLE TO GO WHEREVER I WANT
>>I PAY FOR MY OWN HEALTHCARE
>>A HARD GOVERNMENT WORKER
>>YES [LAUGHTER]
>>YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
>>ENOUGH SAID, PHIL
>>YEAH [LAUGHTER]
>>WORD ASSOCIATION, I'VE BEEN
DOING THIS WITH EVERYONE WHO'S
COME INTO OUR STUDIO
HERE AT THE AGNES VARIS STUDIO
HERE AT NJTV
WORD ASSOCIATION
I GOTTA DO THIS WITH YOU FIRST
>>OH... UH OH [LAUGHTER]
>>DONALD TRUMP
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH
TIME TO THINK
>>OPTIMISTIC. I'M OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT DONALD TRUMP
>>ARE YOU?
>>AFTER HIS RECENT ADDRESS TO
CONGRESS, I THINK HE'S
PRESIDENTIAL, I THINK HE'S
TRYING TO UNITE THE COUNTRY
AND I THINK HE'S TACKLING BIG
ISSUES
>>THIS SHOW MIGHT AIR, WILL AIR
A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT
MAY... SOME THINGS MAY HAPPEN
IN BETWEEN THAT ADDRESS TO
CONGRESS, PHIL, AND WHEN THIS
SHOW AIRS, YOU THINK SOME
TWEETS OR SOME OTHER THINGS
MIGHT HAPPEN PHIL?
>>I'M SURE THEY WILL
THE WORD THAT COMES TO MY HEAD
IS DISAPPOINTMENT
I'M DISAPPOINTED WHEN I HAVE
TO SPEAK TO MY FRIENDS FROM
EUROPE AND THEY ASK ME
"HOW DID YOU ELECT DONALD TRUMP
PRESIDENT?" AND YOU KNOW THEY
SAY THAT TOURISM, FOREIGN
TOURISM, I READ A STUDY THIS
MORNING, IS GONNA GO DOWN
ABOUT HALF A MILLION PEOPLE
WHICH IS REVENUE TO THE COUNTRY
BECAUSE THEY'RE... THEY DON'T
FEEL WELCOME BY THE NEW TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION
>>REALLY?
>>YUP
>>DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO
YOUR FRIEND PHIL?
>>YEAH, LISTEN, I DON'T AGREE
WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS DOING, I DO HAVE
SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE
TRAVEL BAN, HOWEVER
I THINK IF HE WORKS WITH
CONGRESS, AND TACKLES
THE BIG ISSUES, LIKE JOBS
LIKE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY
I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP OUR
EYE ON THE BALL, I THINK THE
PRESIDENT NEEDS TO KEEP HIS EYE
ON THE BALL, AND GET OFF THE
INTERNET, AND STOP TWEETING
AND FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUES
>>REALLY? YOU SAY STOP
TWEETING?
>>I DON'T THINK IT'S DOING
THE COUNTRY ANY SERVICE
>>A FEW SECONDS
>>I'M A FIERCE LOYAL DEMOCRAT
BUT AS AN AMERICAN, THERE'S
NOTHING I HOPE MORE THAN
HE DOES A PHENOMENAL GREAT JOB
AS PRESIDENT, BECAUSE THAT
WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY
I JUST, SO FAR, I DON'T SEE IT
>>YOU'RE NOT OPT...
>>I DON'T SEE IT
>>SHE SAYS OPTIMISTIC
YOU SAY?
>>I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC AT ALL
THE COUNTRY IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE
>>ALRIGHT
>>I SEE THE GLASS HALF FULL
>>SPREAD... I SEE IT HALF EMPTY
>>THAT IS IT, BY THE WAY
JEANETTE, I WANT TO THANK
YOU SO MUCH, PHIL, THANK YOU
SO MUCH, THAT IS IT FOR THIS
PARTICULAR EDITION OF
STATE OF AFFAIRS
HERE AT NJTV STUDIOS
I AM STEVE ADUBATO
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR WATCHING
>>STATE OF AFFAIRS
WITH STEVE ADUBATO
IS A PRODUCTION OF THE
CAUCUS EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION
CELEBRATING OVER 25 YEARS OF
BROADCAST EXCELLENCE
STATE OF AFFAIRS
WITH STEVE ADUBATO
IS BROUGHT TO YOU FROM
THE AGNES VARIS NJTV STUDIO
AT 2 GATEWAY
FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY
RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES
NJM
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
OPERATING ENGINEERS
LOCAL 825
THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL COUNCIL
OF CARPENTERS
TD BANK
MD ADVANTAGE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY
AND BY
THESE PUBLIC SPIRITED
ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, AND
ASSOCIATIONS, COMMITTED TO
INFORMING NEW JERSEY'S CITIZENS
ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ISSUES
FACING THE GARDEN STATE
AND BY
EMPLOYER'S ASSOCIATION OF
NEW JERSEY
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
>>TOGETHER WE'RE BEATING CANCER
TOGETHER WE'RE UNLOCKING THE
MYSTERIES OF THE BRAIN
TOGETHER WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY
HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED,
DELIVERED, AND IMAGINED
WELCOME TO RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
NEW JERSEY'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WITH 41,000
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SERVING
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
NEW JERSEY. SO WHEN IT COMES TO
YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS
YOU'RE NEVER ALONE
RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER
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