I'm the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5, covering the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. I'm a lifelong New Jerseyan -- raised in Bergen, living in Hunterdon, Rutgers graduate. I'm co-author of the 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.' I am not the Iron Chef with a similar name though sometimes get tweets meant for him, especially around Thanksgiving. Believe me, you don't want my cooking tips.
Michael Symons
Voter turnout in NJ rose sharply this year … but still low
Turnout was the second-lowest on record, but the 1.6 million voters marked a nearly 39% increase from 2015, the last time state legislative races headlined.
NJ Assembly OKs letting people on parole or probation vote
Voting rights, financial aid, lessened parole penalties, ways to earn early release: All approved on what one lawmaker derided as 'Criminal Appreciation Day.'
NJ considers another $9.5M for Planned Parenthood, family clinics
Clinics such as Planned Parenthood already get nearly $10.5 million from the state but are declining federal funds due to new abortion-related restrictions.
Murphy keeps pushing economic plan that’s been stalled 14 months
Gov. Phil Murphy chatted up his long-stalled economic plan in a meeting with mayors, council members and county officials at the League of Municipalities.
Lawmakers, businesses wrestle over independent contractor rules
Major changes aimed at ending employee misclassification are among the major debates happening in the lame-duck legislative session.
NJ considers point penalty for repeated ‘move over’ violations
A decade after New Jersey enacted its ‘move over’ law, it is looking for ways to get more drivers to comply – including motor vehicle points, for some.
Murphy, joined by Gore, ups New Jersey’s offshore windmill goal
The new target, 7,500 megawatts by 2035, is enough to power around 3.2 million homes and equals about half of New Jersey’s electricity demand.
Political boss Norcross: Camden tax breaks worked just as designed
After a year of scrutiny, and a morning of protests, George Norcross testified before sympathetic senators about New Jersey's corporate tax incentives.
Voters, not lawmakers, to decide marijuana legalization in 2020
Marijuana legalization still lacks the votes needed to pass the Senate, so it'll be decided as a constitutional amendment in the 2020 election.
NJ on verge of cutting back driver’s license suspensions for crimes
Mandatory license suspensions for things unrelated to unsafe driving would end. It would be discretionary in some matters, including unpaid child support.