Good Friday morning!

Here’s one thing Gov. Murphy and his predecessor, Chris Christie, have in common:They both compared Trenton favorably to Washington’s gridlock when it came to getting things done.

Murphy yesterday purported to want Republicans to get their act togetheras they continued to fail to elect a House speaker for their narrow majority, hours before a possible breakthrough came into sight last night.

“If you compare and contrast what we’re doing with what’s going on in Washington, it’s a jaw-dropping gap between how government should work and the fiasco that’s going on, especially in the Republican Party,” Murphy told reporters Thursday after a signing ceremony for a bill that’s intended to streamline the permitting process for housing construction.

Murphy made reference to politicians “on both sides of the aisle” who want to get on with the business of governing.Christie used to do this frequently as he burnished his bipartisan credentials with an eye towards running for president in 2016. "Maybe the folks in Washington, in both parties, could learn something from our record here,” Christie said a decade ago. Of course Murphy has been talked about as a potential 2024 presidential candidate if Biden doesn’t run.

But if you ask me, dysfunction in Trenton isn’t necessarily bad. Excuse the cliche, but when politicians are fighting, you actually get a glimpse into how the sausage is made. When Trenton politics functions smoothly, deals are cleanly cut behind closed doors and no one has an incentive to leak any sensitive and difficult information. Of course, you can’t even get to that point if you’re unable to elect a leader.

DAYS SINCE MURPHY REFUSED TO SAY WHETHER HIS WIFE’S NON-PROFIT SHOULD DISCLOSE DONORS: 335

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WHERE’S MURPHY? — Attending the Somerset County reorganization meeting and swear-in ceremony in Branchburg.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Anthony S. Verrelli, Casey Doss, Vince Mazzeo, Olivia Nuzzi. Sunday for Joe Sgroi, Bertin Lefkovic, Kevin Ryan

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “[A] petite former dentist from New Jersey often seen in pinstriped suits” — POLITICO Playbook’sdescription of U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd Dist.)

STATE OF THE SMOKE — Casino workers group wants Murphy to pressure lawmakers on smoking ban bill, by POLITICO’s Daniel Han: A coalition of casino workers seeking to eliminate smoking inside of Atlantic City’s gaming halls want Gov. Phil Murphy to set a deadline for the Legislature to send him a bill that would do just that. In a letter first shared with POLITICO, the group Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects, or CEASE, asked Murphy to include an April 15 deadline in his State of the State Address to get the bill, NJ S264 (22R) / NJ A2151 (22R) to his desk. “When you deliver your State of the State address on Tuesday, we are asking that you call on legislative leaders to send bipartisan legislation to close the casino smoking loophole to your desk by April 15,” the letter states. “This date marks 17 years since the Clean Indoor Air Act took effect for most indoor workplaces – except for casinos.

NJ FU—  Cuts to NJCU early education teacher certification programs could imperil Murphy's universal pre-K plan, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: As part of its “aggressive rightsizing efforts” amid an ongoing financial crisis, New Jersey City University is eliminating programs that train and certify preschool teachers, a move education advocates say “could not have come at a worse time,” and threatens Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan for universal pre-K in New Jersey. In a letter to NJCU’s acting President Jason Kroll and acting Provost Donna Adair Breault, representatives from the nonpartisan Advocates for Children of New Jersey group said the cuts are “virtually wiping out the institution’s ability to educate and train students to become early childhood teachers.”

ALBIN AND THE SIXMONTHS — “N.J. Supreme Court vacancy nears six-month mark,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Nikita Biryukov: “Nearly six months after his retirement, former Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin’s seat on the state’s high court remains without a permanent successor. The seat isn’t empty — Appellate Judge Jack Sabatino, temporarily elevated to the high court by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner in August, continues to act as the court’s seventh member — but the delay in naming an official replacement for Albin has left some legal observers dissatisfied. ‘To still sit here in the beginning of 2023 and have not a nomination made, you can’t feel anything other than outraged and disappointed and embarrassed that they can’t figure this out,’ said Jeralyn Lawrence, president of the New Jersey State Bar Association. ‘You wonder, what are they doing?’”

CADDLE UPDATE — @ABalcerzak: “Sean Caddle and his family are facing eviction from their Hamburg home, according to a Dec. court filing. Caddle is the NJ man who pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire plot of a political operative, on home confinement w/an ankle monitor and cooperating w/ federal authorities.”

—“Sampson’s longshoreman union votes to spend up to $50k in effort to get license back” 

—“Are you missing the boat on ‘Anchor’ property-tax relief?” 

—“With 2023 legislative elections fast approaching, who isn’t running for re-election?” 

—“Newcomer interested in challenging Gopal” 

—“7 reasons why 2023 will be a crazy year in N.J. politics” 

—“Newark Airport’s New Terminal A opens next week after a month delay” 

—Murphy: Discussions continuing on local government worker health benefits as new rates take effect

— “Sexual harassment victims are protected under new law. Former Murphy aide had a hand in it”

—“Payne: Donalds is ‘the new Herschel Walker’” 

—“McCarthy and Pennington: Perfect together? McCarthy hopes so” 

—Brazilian-born immigrant advocate wants to challenge Menendez in 2024

—“Biden signs ride-sharing bill named for N.J. woman killed by fake Uber driver” 

#METOO’S LASTING IMPACT — “Vicari in charge in Ocean County, one year after public rebuke from board,” by The Asbury Park Press’ Erik Larsen: “Nearly twelve months to the day after Joseph H. Vicari’s Republican colleagues on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners moved to strip him of several of his longtime duties and curtail his influence on the five-member panel, those same colleagues elected him Wednesday as their leader for 2023. Vicari, 76, of Toms River, promised county residents that they could depend on the board “to produce results” this year and he specifically singled out Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore for his political leadership. Behind the scenes, Gilmore engineered Vicari’s comeback … Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, who presided over the board one year ago and helped push Vicari into the political wilderness at that time, abstained over … ‘I will be abstaining and my reason is: I do not believe it is in the best interest of the county for Commissioner Vicari to be director because of pending litigation that was received earlier this year. It is not a ‘no’ vote, it is just an abstention.’ Haines appeared to be referring to a federal lawsuit over accusations of sexual assault and harassment made against Vicari by a longtime county government employee. The woman, whom the Asbury Park Press has not identified, claims Vicari ordered her into his home and fondled her after previously making frequent passes and physical contact with her. Vicari has denied the allegations and he has not been charged with any crime.”

I’M GLAD I’M NOT AN OPRA-MIRED WIENER — “Irvington Township, NJ’s response to public records requests: Go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200,” by Alan Steinbaugh for The Fire: “Irvington Township may sound familiar because of the embarrassing national and international headlines it earned last year when it sued an elderly resident, Elouise McDaniel, for sending 75 such requests in three years — as NJ.com noted, that ‘comes out to one every two weeks.’ … After Irvington was pilloried for its bogus lawsuit, it sheepishly dropped it, citing a desire to avoid legal fees … I sent Wiener a public records request of my own, asking for the township’s retainer agreements and invoices, as well as the cease-and-desist letter sent to NBC New York … Irvington blew that request off, so I filed a complaint with New Jersey’s Government Records Council … So I sent a second public records request, this one asking for records of their search for records. Once again, Irvington blew it off — and, once again, I filed a complaint. Wiener’s response to the second complaint went nuclear, demanding that I be prosecuted.”

FINANCES OF WAYNE — “Opponents fight moves to make N.J. mayor full-time, boost pay by $121K,” by NJ Advance Media’s Richard Cowen: “A divided Wayne township council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance that would make part-time mayor Chris Vergano a full-time employee, a change that would boost his salary by more than 600% to $140,000. The council voted 6 to 3 to introduce an amended ordinance that sets up a committee to work out the details of a full-time mayor’s position. The council was nearly unanimous in its praise for Vergano’s work ethic during four terms as part-time mayor, but divided on whether to make him full-time. ‘Chris Vergano has been an exemplary leader for this township for 16 years,’ Councilman David Varano said, adding that the mayor guided the township through the recession of 2009 and then the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued to build the ratable base. But Varano expressed the consensus opinion that he needed more information—a job description, and salary comparisons to other towns—before he would make a decision on whether to make the mayor full-time. ‘As they say, ‘the devil is in the details,’’ Varano said.”

NEWS FROM THE SACK — “Here's how much former Hackensack school board lawyer got in defamation settlement,” by The Record’s Megan Burrow: “Several current and former city officials and the city’s public relations firm have settled a defamation lawsuit brought by former school board attorney Richard Salkin for $120,000. Salkin, who served as the board's attorney from 2005 to 2018, claimed he was forced to resign after he was targeted by a political campaign that falsely accused him of being a ‘crony’ of former Mayor Jack Zisa. In his suit, Salkin claimed that in the runup to their election in 2018, school board candidates Frances Cogelja, Carlos Velez and Lance Powell had circulated campaign literature that tarnished his reputation. The trustees, who ran together as the Putting Our Kids First team and were endorsed by Mayor John Labrosse, accused Salkin during the campaign of overbilling the school district thousands of dollars and illegally working without a contract.”

—“Accused Paterson bus company owner is embroiled in lawsuits at his mosque, too” 

—Snowflack: “A red wave in retreat – as Mancuso endures” 

—“2 officers stabbed in Newark, suspect in custody” 

—“Downtown Jersey City councilman touts plan for stricter oversight over future budgets” 

—“Citing numerous concerns, [Jerey City] West Side neighborhood leaders call for pause on 3-tower project” 

—“First meeting for Trenton’s new council in the books” 

—“Trenton cop indicted in 64-year-old’s death during violent 2020 arrest” 

—“Selen gets his first challenger in Morris GOP commissioner race” 

—“Complaint filed against Jersey City BOE VP over endorsement letter with late disclosure note” 

WHICH TOWN WILL THE POOPING DOLL CALL HOME? I’M GUESSING KENILWORTH — “American Girl's 2023 Doll of the Year calls Metuchen her hometown,” by MyCentralJersey’ Cheryl Makin: “American Girl revealed its 2023 "Girl of the Year" as Kavi − a 12-year-old Jersey Girl who hails from the ‘Brainy Borough.’ As part of her story, Kavi lives with her close-knit Indian American family in the borough − a train ride from her favorite place in the world − Broadway. The 18-inch doll is available online and at American Girl stores nationwide. ‘We are so excited that American Girl chose Metuchen,’ said Mayor Jonathan Busch. ‘Our borough is a diverse, vibrant community with residents and programming that reflect the world around us. Kavi is a welcome addition to the 'Brainy Borough' and we can't wait for the children in our community to share her and their Metuchen stories with the rest of the country.’ Proud that Kavi is a Jersey Girl and a hometown gal at that, the borough is planning a year of the girl for their ‘Girl of the Year.’”

AN ACTUAL GROOMER — “Youth pastor agrees to 27-year sentence for blackmailing boys into performing sex acts online,” by NJ Advance Media’s Anthony G. Attrino: “A youth pastor at a church in Burlington County pleaded guilty this week to blackmailing four underage boys into performing sex acts online, which he recorded for his enjoyment, authorities said Thursday. Sean Higgins, 32, of Palmyra, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New Jersey Superior Court to four counts of endangering the welfare of children in exchange for a 27-year sentence in state prison, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw.”

MAN SPELLS HIS LAST NAME WRONG — “News director at Delaware's News Journal named executive editor of Asbury Park Press,” by The Asbury Park Press: “Phil Freedman, news director for Delaware Online/The News Journal and regional editor of investigations and enterprise, is turning his critical eye to New Jersey as the new executive editor of the Asbury Park Press. Freedman, who has called Delaware Online/The News Journal home since 2003, has helped craft and mold some of the news organization’s finest investigative journalism over his more than 10-year stint as the paper’s news director.”