New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez Being Investigated

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating allegations that New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, may have received expensive gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz, a luxury apartment in Washington D.C., money, and jewelry.

• According to sources, these gifts, valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, are suspected to have come from the owner or associates of an Edgewater, NJ business called IS EG Halal.
• This company was awarded a controversial exclusive contract by the Egyptian government to certify Halal meat, despite the fact that it had no prior experience in this field and objections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Aside from the possible quid-pro-quo scheme, IRS investigators are also examining if the gifts were correctly accounted for in the senator and his wife's tax filings, as they do not appear on Menendez's Senate disclosure forms.

Menendez, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee overseeing billions in aid to Egypt, has denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence that the investigation will result in "absolutely nothing."

80% of New Jersey Think Politicians Are Corrupt

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A recent 2023 poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University reveals that 80% of New Jersey residents perceive state politicians as corrupt, with only 6% believing they are "not at all corrupt."

• The poll found that 34% view these politicians as "somewhat corrupt," 27% as "very corrupt," and 19% as "a little corrupt."
• When asked about local government representatives, the number of New Jersey residents who view them as "not at all corrupt" increased to 13%.
• Poll director Dan Cassino explained that this perspective, particularly the view that their representatives are corrupt, was significant.

The poll, conducted from April 28, 2023, to May 6, 2023, with a sample of 716 adult New Jersey residents, had a margin of error of +/- 3.5%, with some design effects altering it to +/- 4.7%.

New Jersey GOP Wants

Voters To Vote By Mail

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New Jersey Republicans are focusing on increasing their mail-in and early voting operations in response to the significant lead Democrats hold in this area, developed over a decade.

• Although the Republicans are not aiming to surpass Democrats in pre-election day voting immediately, they hope to close the gap, as they believe this could be detrimental to their chances.
• In recent weeks, the party has trained county organizations on boosting mail-in and early voter turnout, especially targeting those who don't frequently vote.
• Despite potential challenges from former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of mail-ballot voter fraud, Republicans are hopeful for the future.

According to voting data, Democrats currently account for ~74% of mail-in ballot requests, with the 2022 general election seeing 22% of voters casting their ballots by mail, almost triple the rate reported a decade ago.

New Jersey's Senior Property

Tax Relief Has A Catch

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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has announced that the StayNJ program, intended to retain senior citizens by significantly reducing their property taxes, will not take effect until 2026.

• Residents aged 65 and above who earn less than $500,000 per year will see their property taxes halved, with the benefit capped at $6,500.
• Until the StayNJ program's commencement, seniors will receive additional tax relief via the ANCHOR program, which will increase tax relief by $250 annually for senior homeowners and renters.
• When StayNJ begins, seniors' property taxes will be halved, and senior renters will continue to receive the extra $250. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin expressed that the initiative will benefit families as seniors play crucial roles in family dynamics.

A six-person commission will be formed to manage administrative tasks related to StayNJ, with recommendations expected by May 2024.