MORRIS COUNTY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) stood up for New Jersey consumers by supporting the Shrinkflation Prevention Act, legislation preventing corporations from deceptively selling less of a product without lowering the price accordingly. Sherrill’s support is part of her ongoing work to lower everyday costs for New Jersey families.

“We’ve all felt the disappointment of opening a bag of chips and finding out that it’s mostly full of air – and that’s not an accident. Large corporations have gotten away with charging more and selling less for too long while New Jerseyans foot the bill. Tackling this issue of shrinkflation is a big step in stopping inflation at the supermarket. That’s why I am proud to support the Shrinkflation Prevention Act to lower prices at the grocery store, hold large corporations accountable, and make sure Garden State families get a fair shake,” said Rep. Sherrill.

The Shrinkflation Prevention Act is led by Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) in the House, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) in the Senate. The legislation would:

• Direct the Federal Trade Commission to develop regulations establishing shrinkflation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice prohibiting manufacturers from engaging in it.
• Authorize the FTC and state governments to pursue legal actions against corporations who unlawfully engage in shrinkflation.

Since taking office, Sherrill has fought to lower prices and make the Garden State more affordable for families. She helped to successfully pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and expanded access to clean energy tax credits. She voted to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act through the House, which would boost support for American farmers, expand competition in the meat industry, and make new investments in biofuels. 

After passing the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American supply chains and reduce the cost of cars and electronics, Sherrill also introduced her American Jobs and Competition Plan to address unfair economic practices by the Chinese Communist Party and level the playing field for New Jersey businesses. She has also led legislation to cap childcare costs at 7% of families’ income and to provide tax relief to New Jerseyans by repealing the SALT deduction cap.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) introduced a resolution to express support for the federal “Equal Representation Act,” which would modify the apportionment of United States Representatives and electoral college votes based on the population of United States citizens.

“Appropriating representatives to the United States Congress based on citizenship is the only formula that allows for accurate representation in our federal government,” said Pennacchio. “It is imperative that the right of each American citizen to receive equal representation in government is protected from dilution.”

More than 10 million people have illegally entered the United States under the tenure of President Biden, which, according to current estimates, has increased the total population of illegal immigrants in the United States to more than 20 million people and the total population of noncitizens to more than 30 million, Pennacchio said.

“The noncitizen population is so large that if they were all located in one state, it would be apportioned 40 congressional districts and 42 electoral votes in presidential elections. In no world does that echo the sentiment of equal representation,” Pennacchio said.

The United States House of Representatives introduced H.R. 7109, known as the “Equal Representation Act,” on January 29, 2024, and passed the bill on May 8, 2024. Enactment of the bill would ensure that the allocation of congressional seats and electoral votes among the states would be apportioned based on the United States citizen population and would not be diluted by the country’s noncitizen population, said Pennacchio.

Additionally, Senator Pennacchio has introduced companion legislation that would protect the process of redistricting New Jersey’s legislative seats by only counting New Jersey citizens during that process.

MORRIS COUNTY — Bill Spadea, a well-known radio host, has announced his candidacy for Governor of New Jersey. Spadea announced on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I’m in. I’m running for governor to fight for you,” and emphasized his readiness to lead with “Strength, conviction, and courage to restore common sense to our great state.”

A native of New Jersey residing in Princeton, Spadea has been the morning drive show host on 101.5 FM for the past nine years. His entry into the gubernatorial race adds a prominent conservative voice to the political landscape of New Jersey.

Bill Spadea’s gubernatorial announcement highlights the issues New Jersey residents frequently discuss on his talk show. Spadea criticizes Trenton politicians for policies he claims benefit illegal immigrants at the expense of taxpayers. He promises to make tough budget cuts, reform school funding to reduce property taxes for suburban parents and ensure education focuses on academics rather than indoctrination.

Spadea also vows to prevent President Joe Biden from using New Jersey to house illegal immigrants and to end the associated benefits provided by current Governor Phil Murphy and other politicians he deems ineffective.

Spadea joins the Republican primary field, including State Senator Jon Bramnick, former gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, and State Senator Ed Durr, who gained prominence by defeating former State Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021.

Murphy is term-limited, and four Democrats have already entered the race to succeed him: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest public employee union.

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, former Deputy U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jim Johnson, and others could join the race.

Spadea positions himself as an outsider, claiming that the insider establishment powerbrokers dislike him because they cannot control him.

On the Republican side, Bill Spadea joins an already competitive race. State Senator Jon Bramnick announced his candidacy in January, followed by Jack Ciattarelli, who made his second gubernatorial run official in April. Ed Durr, notable for his 2021 victory over former State Senate President Steve Sweeney, has also declared his intention to run for governor.

Across the aisle, the Democratic field is equally crowded. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced his campaign in April, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka declared his candidacy in February, and Steve Sweeney entered the race in December. Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller joined the race in June.

In his campaign announcement, Spadea emphasizes his outsider status, stating, “The insider establishment powerbrokers, well, they don’t like me. Why? Because I’m an outsider, they can’t control.”

Recently, Spadea hosted a panel discussion titled “Crucial Issues Shaping Our Community” featuring Parsippany’s Mayor Jamie Barberio. The panel also included Hanover Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, East Hanover Mayor Joseph Pannullo, Mount Arlington Mayor Mike Stanzilis, and Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor.

Before getting into media, Spadea served as an executive in the real estate industry for 18 years, coaching, recruiting, and selling. He is currently a licensed broker in several states, including New Jersey, Washington, and Massachusetts, working with a national real estate company. Following the show on FoxTV, Spadea launched and continues to manage the budget and production for a film company that sold its latest movie, “Psycho Storm Chaser,” to LifetimeTV.

MORRIS COUNTY — Under the shared services agreement, Somerset County will pay Morris County $115 per day, representing a 10% to 15% reduction in housing an inmate at the Somerset County Jail. No jobs will be lost, as the number of corrections officers has already decreased by about 40 due to retirements and attrition over the past year.

The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has finalized a shared services agreement under which Somerset County corrections inmates will be lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility for five years.

Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson stated, “The agreement with Morris County to provide jail services will deliver ongoing taxpayer savings while ensuring the needs of our detainees and the courts are met. I want to thank Sheriff Darrin Russo, my fellow Commissioners, and neighboring county officials for helping to reach this positive outcome for all involved.”

The Somerset County Jail will continue to operate on a limited basis to meet the needs of the courts and local law enforcement agencies by providing short-term housing for detainees scheduled for court hearings. Detainees serving sentences or held for longer periods will be housed at the Morris County Correctional Facility at 43 John Street in Morris Township. This $32 million facility, opened in May 2000, includes eight housing pods with 277 cells capable of housing 524 inmates. Morris County Correctional Facility is located less than a mile from Interstate 287’s interchange and is easily accessible.

Since August 4, 2023, all female incarcerated persons have been permanently transferred to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center.  

New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, which prevents courts from granting or denying bail based on a defendant’s ability to pay, has significantly reduced county jail populations by decreasing the number of defendants incarcerated while awaiting trial. The pandemic further reduced jail populations. Over the past year, the average number of inmates held at Somerset County Jail has been 125 per day, about one-third of its capacity.

“We’ve worked hard over the past year to find a solution that supports the courts and our local police departments, protects public safety, and aids county staff impacted by the changes,” said Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo. “Because of reduced populations, county jails throughout the state are consolidating populations, and we are pleased to partner with Morris County to achieve this successful outcome.”

“Somerset County saw a need to change their operational approach to their correctional facility, and we saw an opportunity to assist them.  This triple net lease arrangement is aligned with a shared services approach and benefits the Morris County taxpayer,” said Morris County Sheriff James Gannon.

“It cuts operational expenses for Morris County while ensuring those in custody from Somerset County are well cared for. It gives access to pre-trial detainees and sentenced people of Somerset County to all our proven services like the Hope Wing, the Morris County Re-entry program, educational and vocational training, and other programs to reduce recidivism.  Our state-of-the-art facility, professional staff, and forward-thinking make this possible.  I am very proud that the Morris County Sheriff’s Office can support the needs of our communities and beyond while benefiting Morris County,” the sheriff added.

In 2021, Bergen and Passaic county officials formally agreed to transfer hundreds of inmates from the Passaic County Jail in Paterson to Bergen County’s facility in Hackensack. This move resulted in the emptying and future demolishing of the Marshall Street facility for the first time in its 66-year history.

The 10-year deal is valued at a minimum of $195 million. Under the shared services agreement, Passaic will pay Bergen approximately $104 per day for a minimum of 500 inmates. The contract allows Passaic to send up to 700 inmates, which could increase the deal’s value significantly. The per-day inmate rate will climb over the contract’s life, from $104 at the outset to $112 when it expires in 2031. 

Morris County is in its fifth year of a shared services agreement with Sussex County and currently holds about 55 inmates from that neighboring county. Morris County’s correctional facility can hold 524 inmates, and the current facility population with inmates from all three counties is at about 304.4444