WEBVTT - NJ Representative Robert Menendez Talks Gubernatorial Race 0:00:02.520 --> 0:00:08.879 Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. I'm in Jersey City, 0:00:08.960 --> 0:00:11.960 New Jersey, with the Congressman for the eighth District of 0:00:12.000 --> 0:00:14.680 New Jersey, which represents most of Hudson County and a 0:00:14.720 --> 0:00:17.440 good chunk of Jersey City where I'm standing right now, 0:00:17.640 --> 0:00:19.840 Congressman Rob Menenda, is great to have you here, sir, 0:00:20.160 --> 0:00:21.680 on a day where I think a lot of people 0:00:21.960 --> 0:00:24.720 are really looking right now to the State House and 0:00:24.840 --> 0:00:27.920 wondering whether this is that year where we end up 0:00:27.920 --> 0:00:30.720 with a Republican governor for the first time in a while. 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:31.520 Yeah. 0:00:31.520 --> 0:00:33.680 Listen, New Jersey and Virginia are the epicenter of the 0:00:33.680 --> 0:00:38.000 political universe right now here in America, and so Mikey's 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:39.879 made the case every single day of this campaign. She 0:00:39.920 --> 0:00:42.800 came out of a contested primary, ran away with it, 0:00:43.240 --> 0:00:45.280 and every day she's been disciplined about the issues that 0:00:45.320 --> 0:00:48.040 New Jersey's are facing. So she knows there's an immense 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:50.000 amount of work to do. She's raised her hand and 0:00:50.040 --> 0:00:52.760 dedicated herself to New Jersey, to the American people, and 0:00:52.840 --> 0:00:54.560 this moment she wants to deliver for New Jersey. And 0:00:54.600 --> 0:00:57.040 I believe that that has resonated with a lot of 0:00:57.040 --> 0:00:57.640 our voters. 0:00:57.920 --> 0:01:00.880 There's been some criticism of the campaign that Mikey Cheryl 0:01:00.920 --> 0:01:03.240 has been running, the idea that that campaign is a 0:01:03.240 --> 0:01:06.240 little bit more high level, it's about national issues, while 0:01:06.360 --> 0:01:08.840 Jack Chittarelli seems to be focusing a little bit more 0:01:08.840 --> 0:01:11.680 on the kitchen table and pocketbook book book issues. If 0:01:11.680 --> 0:01:14.400 you will, what are you hearing from voters as to 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:15.640 what they actually want? 0:01:15.720 --> 0:01:17.679 What are they going to the polls to vote for today? 0:01:17.720 --> 0:01:19.200 So I think there's two main issues in this election. 0:01:19.240 --> 0:01:21.520 One is the affordability challenge that a lot of Americans 0:01:21.520 --> 0:01:24.200 and New Jerseyans are facing. Two is they want a 0:01:24.240 --> 0:01:26.360 governor that's going to stand up for New Jersey. Yeah, 0:01:26.400 --> 0:01:28.600 so at times work with the President, but when needed, 0:01:28.640 --> 0:01:31.160 stand up to this administration. We've seen in this administration 0:01:31.280 --> 0:01:35.199 overreach in La Portland, Chicago. If they come to New Jersey, 0:01:35.200 --> 0:01:37.200 we want a governor who's going to protect us. And 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:39.080 so those are the two issues I hear the most, 0:01:39.080 --> 0:01:41.560 and Mikey's been laser focused on both of those issues. 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:44.399 She's talked about affordability and what her administration would do 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:46.679 to address that here in New Jersey. She's also made 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:49.240 it clear that she will stand up to Trump. So 0:01:49.440 --> 0:01:51.840 I think those two issues are the center of this election, 0:01:51.880 --> 0:01:53.480 and I think she's done a really good job of 0:01:53.560 --> 0:01:56.120 articulating a clear message to New Jersey voters. 0:01:56.400 --> 0:01:59.280 And talking to voters, you hear a lot about housing affordability, 0:01:59.320 --> 0:02:01.760 but as a blake, we're also hearing a lot about 0:02:01.800 --> 0:02:05.480 the issue of affordability of electricity. Power prices jump more 0:02:05.520 --> 0:02:08.000 than twenty percent on a year over year basis. Part 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:09.880 of that's good, I guess that's a sign that you're 0:02:09.880 --> 0:02:12.240 getting these data centers and other things moving to the state. 0:02:12.440 --> 0:02:15.639 But when it raises the bills for homeowners and businesses, 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:17.600 you need something to address that. 0:02:17.680 --> 0:02:18.240 What's the plan. 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:20.000 So she's made it clear that in day one of 0:02:20.040 --> 0:02:22.560 her administration she's going to declare a state of emergency 0:02:22.840 --> 0:02:25.639 on the energy price hikes. There's an imense amount of 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:28.520 work that we have to do with our regional operator PGM, 0:02:28.800 --> 0:02:31.120 the production that we have in New Jersey, and we 0:02:31.160 --> 0:02:33.040 also have to look at how demand has changed. You 0:02:33.080 --> 0:02:35.760 mentioned AI data centers. It's good for New Jersey to 0:02:35.760 --> 0:02:38.320 be a leader on AI. You need those data centers 0:02:38.360 --> 0:02:41.239 to do so, but they require an immense amount of energy. 0:02:41.320 --> 0:02:43.400 There are ways, and we're looking at it in Congress. 0:02:43.400 --> 0:02:44.800 It's one of the things that I'm doing on energy 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.920 and commerce to think about how that increased energy demand, 0:02:47.960 --> 0:02:50.160 which could be thirteen percent of all energy demand in 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:52.960 the next several years, how that doesn't get pushed to 0:02:53.680 --> 0:02:56.480 our consumers, our residents. So it's going to take an 0:02:56.600 --> 0:02:59.440 all hands, whole of government approach. But she's made that 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:02.320 a clear priority of hers and that's a Day one priority, 0:03:02.360 --> 0:03:04.120 so I know it's something that she's looking forward to 0:03:04.120 --> 0:03:05.040 tackling as governor. 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:07.200 Another big issue, of course is taxation. 0:03:07.400 --> 0:03:09.800 The idea of addressing some of the budget issues potentially 0:03:09.880 --> 0:03:13.959 raising the sales tax once again as well as corporate taxation. 0:03:14.200 --> 0:03:17.359 Do you think that's something a that the governor, no 0:03:17.360 --> 0:03:19.760 matter who it is, would actually follow it through on 0:03:19.840 --> 0:03:21.959 and would there be enough support at the State House 0:03:22.000 --> 0:03:22.800 to see that throw. 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:24.639 Well, I think you can take innovative ways, right Like 0:03:24.680 --> 0:03:26.840 I think, yes, Traditionally, money and money out right, So 0:03:26.880 --> 0:03:29.360 if we need to spend to grow and build New Jersey, 0:03:29.480 --> 0:03:31.040 then we need to raise the revenue to do so. 0:03:31.360 --> 0:03:34.000 But on something like mass transit and infrastructure, there are 0:03:34.040 --> 0:03:35.840 ways to do it where you look at the assets 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:38.680 that Enjy transit has that are underutilized, and if you 0:03:38.760 --> 0:03:41.320 can make better use of them, you can actually create 0:03:41.360 --> 0:03:44.600 revenue for the state without having to raise taxes raise 0:03:44.640 --> 0:03:46.840 the levee. So I think Mikey is going to have 0:03:46.880 --> 0:03:48.920 an innovative approach. I don't think she's just going to 0:03:48.920 --> 0:03:51.160 go and say we have to raise taxes because we 0:03:51.200 --> 0:03:52.800 have to pay for A, B and C. I think 0:03:52.840 --> 0:03:55.560 she's going to look about how the state has underutilized assets, 0:03:55.600 --> 0:03:57.760 how to make better use of them to reduce the 0:03:57.800 --> 0:03:59.920 tax Burand on New Jersey, it's because it goes into 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:02.840 affordability crisis, whether it's energy, whether it's taxes. 0:04:03.000 --> 0:04:04.360 These are what people are thinking about. 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:07.760 You represent Jersey City, the second most populous city in 0:04:07.800 --> 0:04:09.600 the state and really third most populous really in the 0:04:09.720 --> 0:04:12.760 entire New York metro area. It's seen phenomenal growth over 0:04:12.800 --> 0:04:15.200 the past few years in terms of new residents and 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:16.080 new businesses. 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:19.480 How do you get more businesses. 0:04:18.960 --> 0:04:21.719 And not just the big companies, but small and medium 0:04:21.760 --> 0:04:24.040 sized businesses to actually set up shop here. 0:04:24.279 --> 0:04:26.200 Yeah, I mean you have to have a competitive landscape. 0:04:26.279 --> 0:04:28.520 So I think New Jersey's done that well. On the 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:31.520 film industry, right, we've seen an announcement in Bay Owned 0:04:31.520 --> 0:04:33.840 where they're opening up a new studio. We have one 0:04:33.839 --> 0:04:36.240 here in Jersey City, we have one in Newark. Government 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:38.680 needs to work with private sector, and that's things like 0:04:38.760 --> 0:04:42.000 giant studios to small medium sized businesses. You have to 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:45.160 have a competitive landscape. It's something that we think about 0:04:45.200 --> 0:04:48.000 the federal level. I know municipalities think about it, and 0:04:48.040 --> 0:04:50.120 that's something that the state needs to continue to lead on. 0:04:50.200 --> 0:04:52.200 We want to drive business here. We want to grow 0:04:52.279 --> 0:04:55.080 homegrown businesses that are at the center of places like 0:04:55.160 --> 0:04:58.200 Jersey City and make sure that we create an environment 0:04:58.240 --> 0:05:00.279 for them to do so well. 0:05:00.279 --> 0:05:02.840 We're missing not asking you about the government shutdown. We're 0:05:02.880 --> 0:05:05.520 now basically out officially at thirty five the longest government 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:09.200 shut down, longest full government shut down in history. Where 0:05:09.240 --> 0:05:12.880 is the discussion right now between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, 0:05:12.880 --> 0:05:15.440 particularly in the Senate. Are we any closer to actually 0:05:15.440 --> 0:05:16.080 getting this result? 0:05:16.240 --> 0:05:18.000 Yeah? I think we are inching closer. 0:05:18.040 --> 0:05:20.600 But you know, for us, it's been a clear mission 0:05:20.600 --> 0:05:24.000 that goes back to the affordability challenge and specifically for Democrats' 0:05:24.000 --> 0:05:26.760 health care. You know, Republicans voiling to take a trillion 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:28.480 dollars out of Medicaid. That's going to make health care 0:05:28.480 --> 0:05:29.920 more expensive for everyone. We know at the end of 0:05:29.960 --> 0:05:33.040 the year the ACA premium tax rates expire, so if 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:35.240 you allow those to expire, premiums are going to increase 0:05:35.279 --> 0:05:37.520 for everyone on the exchange. At some point, it has 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:42.280 to stop, right we're talking about SNAP and the administration 0:05:42.440 --> 0:05:45.240 not funding it. Well before that, they had the largest 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:47.960 cut to SNAP in the program's history. So the pain 0:05:48.160 --> 0:05:50.600 has to stop because we see it every day when 0:05:50.600 --> 0:05:52.880 we're out with our constituents. That's what Democrats have been 0:05:52.920 --> 0:05:55.240 fighting for. The center of it has been healthcare and 0:05:55.279 --> 0:05:57.320 continue to fight for that. And Republicans look like they're 0:05:57.320 --> 0:06:00.120 interested in having a conversation specifically on the ACA, and 0:06:00.160 --> 0:06:01.960 I hope we get to that conversation get the government 0:06:02.000 --> 0:06:02.400 back open. 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:05.080 Are you comfortable though, with the leadership by the Democrats 0:06:05.160 --> 0:06:07.479 in Congress and trying to navigate through this crisis. 0:06:07.520 --> 0:06:09.800 Listen, we're in the triple minority, right, and so we've 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:11.560 drawn a line in the stand that for are the 0:06:11.600 --> 0:06:14.280 American people, we have to deliver more affordable health care. 0:06:14.440 --> 0:06:17.080 That message has resonated with people. When I'm out, people say, 0:06:17.240 --> 0:06:19.800 hold the line, keep fighting for us. Because if we 0:06:19.839 --> 0:06:22.360 do nothing, we will not be able to afford our healthcare, 0:06:22.400 --> 0:06:25.560 our housing, our prescription drugs. That's what Democrats are fighting for, 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:27.680 and they're happy to see us do so, and they 0:06:27.720 --> 0:06:29.040 are in this fight with us, all right. 0:06:29.080 --> 0:06:31.599 Circling back to the election here in New Jersey, I 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:33.479 do have to ask you, we've had four years here 0:06:33.640 --> 0:06:37.160 of film Murphy. Maybe potentially that legacy continues with the 0:06:37.200 --> 0:06:39.719 Mikey Cheryl. When you take a look at Murphy's legacy, 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:42.120 what do you think he got right? And more importantly, 0:06:42.120 --> 0:06:44.320 what do you think he maybe did not take advantage of? 0:06:44.760 --> 0:06:47.320 So? I mean, I think he got an immense amount 0:06:47.400 --> 0:06:49.120 right on moving the state forward, on a lot of 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:51.280 things that we're responsive to us happening in the first 0:06:51.279 --> 0:06:56.120 Trump administration, codifying you know, reproductive healthcare here in New Jersey. 0:06:57.160 --> 0:06:59.520 He's done a immense amount to drive the economy here 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:04.240 from being an AI, a leader on AI to tech 0:07:04.440 --> 0:07:07.560 to film studio. So he's done a lot to grow 0:07:07.600 --> 0:07:10.640 New Jersey, grow New Jersey's profile. You know, I think 0:07:10.800 --> 0:07:13.200 on the energy front, I think we could have diversified 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:16.080 our approach a little bit more to not bake so 0:07:16.160 --> 0:07:19.239 much of it into offshore wind, but to really maximize solar, 0:07:19.480 --> 0:07:20.840 to look at nuclear. 0:07:20.480 --> 0:07:21.280 To look at fusion. 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:23.960 But he still did so much, and I'm really proud 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:26.120 that he was our governor for these important years. 0:07:26.200 --> 0:07:28.400 Only about thirty seconds left, but looking ahead to the 0:07:28.440 --> 0:07:31.360 potential results that we get tonight, the polls have gotten 0:07:31.360 --> 0:07:33.840 a little bit tighter over the last few weeks. Tuldarelli 0:07:33.880 --> 0:07:35.560 has really closed the gap with Cheryl. You think she's 0:07:35.560 --> 0:07:36.440 still going to pull it out. 0:07:36.520 --> 0:07:36.720 I do. 0:07:36.880 --> 0:07:38.440 I've seen the momentum on the ground in the last 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:40.320 several days. Last night and you can say two days 0:07:40.320 --> 0:07:42.760 ago in West New York, it's pappable and people know 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:46.120 it's on the line. I think when they're in this 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:47.640 final moment they have to make a decision in the 0:07:47.640 --> 0:07:50.120 ballot box, they're going to go with Mikey because she's 0:07:50.120 --> 0:07:51.280 a true leader for New Jersey. 0:07:51.400 --> 0:07:54.040 All right, Really appreciate you, Thanks for us Congressman, appreciate it. 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:57.560 That's Congressman Rob Menendez of the eighth District here in 0:07:57.600 --> 0:07:59.520 the state of New Jersey. As we keep a close 0:07:59.520 --> 0:08:01.360 eye here on the goubnatorial race.