1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. I'm in Jersey City, 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: New Jersey, with the Congressman for the eighth District of 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: New Jersey, which represents most of Hudson County and a 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: good chunk of Jersey City where I'm standing right now, 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: Congressman Rob Menenda, is great to have you here, sir, 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: on a day where I think a lot of people 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: are really looking right now to the State House and 8 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: wondering whether this is that year where we end up 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: with a Republican governor for the first time in a while. 10 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 3: Listen, New Jersey and Virginia are the epicenter of the 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 3: political universe right now here in America, and so Mikey's 13 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 3: made the case every single day of this campaign. She 14 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 3: came out of a contested primary, ran away with it, 15 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 3: and every day she's been disciplined about the issues that 16 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 3: New Jersey's are facing. So she knows there's an immense 17 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 3: amount of work to do. She's raised her hand and 18 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 3: dedicated herself to New Jersey, to the American people, and 19 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 3: this moment she wants to deliver for New Jersey. And 20 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 3: I believe that that has resonated with a lot of 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 3: our voters. 22 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: There's been some criticism of the campaign that Mikey Cheryl 23 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: has been running, the idea that that campaign is a 24 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: little bit more high level, it's about national issues, while 25 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: Jack Chittarelli seems to be focusing a little bit more 26 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: on the kitchen table and pocketbook book book issues. If 27 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: you will, what are you hearing from voters as to 28 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: what they actually want? 29 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 4: What are they going to the polls to vote for today? 30 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: So I think there's two main issues in this election. 31 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 3: One is the affordability challenge that a lot of Americans 32 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 3: and New Jerseyans are facing. Two is they want a 33 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 3: governor that's going to stand up for New Jersey. Yeah, 34 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 3: so at times work with the President, but when needed, 35 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: stand up to this administration. We've seen in this administration 36 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 3: overreach in La Portland, Chicago. If they come to New Jersey, 37 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 3: we want a governor who's going to protect us. And 38 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: so those are the two issues I hear the most, 39 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 3: and Mikey's been laser focused on both of those issues. 40 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 3: She's talked about affordability and what her administration would do 41 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 3: to address that here in New Jersey. She's also made 42 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: it clear that she will stand up to Trump. So 43 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 3: I think those two issues are the center of this election, 44 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: and I think she's done a really good job of 45 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 3: articulating a clear message to New Jersey voters. 46 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: And talking to voters, you hear a lot about housing affordability, 47 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: but as a blake, we're also hearing a lot about 48 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: the issue of affordability of electricity. Power prices jump more 49 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: than twenty percent on a year over year basis. Part 50 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: of that's good, I guess that's a sign that you're 51 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: getting these data centers and other things moving to the state. 52 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: But when it raises the bills for homeowners and businesses, 53 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: you need something to address that. 54 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 4: What's the plan. 55 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 3: So she's made it clear that in day one of 56 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 3: her administration she's going to declare a state of emergency 57 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 3: on the energy price hikes. There's an imense amount of 58 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 3: work that we have to do with our regional operator PGM, 59 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 3: the production that we have in New Jersey, and we 60 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 3: also have to look at how demand has changed. You 61 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 3: mentioned AI data centers. It's good for New Jersey to 62 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: be a leader on AI. You need those data centers 63 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 3: to do so, but they require an immense amount of energy. 64 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: There are ways, and we're looking at it in Congress. 65 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 3: It's one of the things that I'm doing on energy 66 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 3: and commerce to think about how that increased energy demand, 67 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 3: which could be thirteen percent of all energy demand in 68 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 3: the next several years, how that doesn't get pushed to 69 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 3: our consumers, our residents. So it's going to take an 70 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 3: all hands, whole of government approach. But she's made that 71 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: a clear priority of hers and that's a Day one priority, 72 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: so I know it's something that she's looking forward to 73 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 3: tackling as governor. 74 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 4: Another big issue, of course is taxation. 75 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: The idea of addressing some of the budget issues potentially 76 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: raising the sales tax once again as well as corporate taxation. 77 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: Do you think that's something a that the governor, no 78 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: matter who it is, would actually follow it through on 79 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 1: and would there be enough support at the State House 80 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: to see that throw. 81 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 3: Well, I think you can take innovative ways, right Like 82 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 3: I think, yes, Traditionally, money and money out right, So 83 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 3: if we need to spend to grow and build New Jersey, 84 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 3: then we need to raise the revenue to do so. 85 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 3: But on something like mass transit and infrastructure, there are 86 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 3: ways to do it where you look at the assets 87 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 3: that Enjy transit has that are underutilized, and if you 88 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 3: can make better use of them, you can actually create 89 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 3: revenue for the state without having to raise taxes raise 90 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: the levee. So I think Mikey is going to have 91 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: an innovative approach. I don't think she's just going to 92 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 3: go and say we have to raise taxes because we 93 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: have to pay for A, B and C. I think 94 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: she's going to look about how the state has underutilized assets, 95 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 3: how to make better use of them to reduce the 96 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 3: tax Burand on New Jersey, it's because it goes into 97 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 3: affordability crisis, whether it's energy, whether it's taxes. 98 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: These are what people are thinking about. 99 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: You represent Jersey City, the second most populous city in 100 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: the state and really third most populous really in the 101 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: entire New York metro area. It's seen phenomenal growth over 102 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: the past few years in terms of new residents and 103 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: new businesses. 104 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 4: How do you get more businesses. 105 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: And not just the big companies, but small and medium 106 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: sized businesses to actually set up shop here. 107 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean you have to have a competitive landscape. 108 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: So I think New Jersey's done that well. On the 109 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 3: film industry, right, we've seen an announcement in Bay Owned 110 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 3: where they're opening up a new studio. We have one 111 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 3: here in Jersey City, we have one in Newark. Government 112 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 3: needs to work with private sector, and that's things like 113 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 3: giant studios to small medium sized businesses. You have to 114 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 3: have a competitive landscape. It's something that we think about 115 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 3: the federal level. I know municipalities think about it, and 116 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 3: that's something that the state needs to continue to lead on. 117 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: We want to drive business here. We want to grow 118 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 3: homegrown businesses that are at the center of places like 119 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 3: Jersey City and make sure that we create an environment 120 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 3: for them to do so well. 121 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: We're missing not asking you about the government shutdown. We're 122 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: now basically out officially at thirty five the longest government 123 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: shut down, longest full government shut down in history. Where 124 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: is the discussion right now between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, 125 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: particularly in the Senate. Are we any closer to actually 126 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: getting this result? 127 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think we are inching closer. 128 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 3: But you know, for us, it's been a clear mission 129 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 3: that goes back to the affordability challenge and specifically for Democrats' 130 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 3: health care. You know, Republicans voiling to take a trillion 131 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 3: dollars out of Medicaid. That's going to make health care 132 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 3: more expensive for everyone. We know at the end of 133 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 3: the year the ACA premium tax rates expire, so if 134 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 3: you allow those to expire, premiums are going to increase 135 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 3: for everyone on the exchange. At some point, it has 136 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 3: to stop, right we're talking about SNAP and the administration 137 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 3: not funding it. Well before that, they had the largest 138 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 3: cut to SNAP in the program's history. So the pain 139 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 3: has to stop because we see it every day when 140 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: we're out with our constituents. That's what Democrats have been 141 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 3: fighting for. The center of it has been healthcare and 142 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: continue to fight for that. And Republicans look like they're 143 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 3: interested in having a conversation specifically on the ACA, and 144 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: I hope we get to that conversation get the government 145 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: back open. 146 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: Are you comfortable though, with the leadership by the Democrats 147 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: in Congress and trying to navigate through this crisis. 148 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 3: Listen, we're in the triple minority, right, and so we've 149 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: drawn a line in the stand that for are the 150 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 3: American people, we have to deliver more affordable health care. 151 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 3: That message has resonated with people. When I'm out, people say, 152 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 3: hold the line, keep fighting for us. Because if we 153 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: do nothing, we will not be able to afford our healthcare, 154 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 3: our housing, our prescription drugs. That's what Democrats are fighting for, 155 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: and they're happy to see us do so, and they 156 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 3: are in this fight with us, all right. 157 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: Circling back to the election here in New Jersey, I 158 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,479 Speaker 1: do have to ask you, we've had four years here 159 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: of film Murphy. Maybe potentially that legacy continues with the 160 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: Mikey Cheryl. When you take a look at Murphy's legacy, 161 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: what do you think he got right? And more importantly, 162 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: what do you think he maybe did not take advantage of? 163 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 3: So? I mean, I think he got an immense amount 164 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 3: right on moving the state forward, on a lot of 165 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 3: things that we're responsive to us happening in the first 166 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 3: Trump administration, codifying you know, reproductive healthcare here in New Jersey. 167 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 3: He's done a immense amount to drive the economy here 168 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 3: from being an AI, a leader on AI to tech 169 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 3: to film studio. So he's done a lot to grow 170 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: New Jersey, grow New Jersey's profile. You know, I think 171 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: on the energy front, I think we could have diversified 172 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 3: our approach a little bit more to not bake so 173 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 3: much of it into offshore wind, but to really maximize solar, 174 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: to look at nuclear. 175 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: To look at fusion. 176 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 3: But he still did so much, and I'm really proud 177 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 3: that he was our governor for these important years. 178 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: Only about thirty seconds left, but looking ahead to the 179 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: potential results that we get tonight, the polls have gotten 180 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: a little bit tighter over the last few weeks. Tuldarelli 181 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: has really closed the gap with Cheryl. You think she's 182 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: still going to pull it out. 183 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: I do. 184 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: I've seen the momentum on the ground in the last 185 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 3: several days. Last night and you can say two days 186 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: ago in West New York, it's pappable and people know 187 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 3: it's on the line. I think when they're in this 188 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: final moment they have to make a decision in the 189 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 3: ballot box, they're going to go with Mikey because she's 190 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 3: a true leader for New Jersey. 191 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 4: All right, Really appreciate you, Thanks for us Congressman, appreciate it. 192 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: That's Congressman Rob Menendez of the eighth District here in 193 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: the state of New Jersey. As we keep a close 194 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: eye here on the goubnatorial race.