November 29, 2017

Sunny with high temperatures near 60 degrees. Cooler weather on the way. MURPHY CONFIDENT LAWMAKERS WILL PASS MILLIONAIRES TAX Gov.-elect Phil Murphy says he fully expects the Legislature to pass a millionaires tax, even though enthusiasm seems to be softening among some Democratic leaders. State Senate President Steve Sweeney has said he would reconsider his support if Congress enacts federal corporate and income tax cuts while repealing the federal deduction for state and local property, income and sales taxes, Nicholas Pugliese reports for The Record. STATE MAY HAVE TO REPAY $600 MILLION IN MEDICAID MONEY New Jersey could be forced to repay more than $600 million to the federal government in Medicaid funding. An audit, released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the state received $300.5 million for school-based Medicaid services that were not allowed, Lilo H. Stainton writes for NJ Spotlight. An additional $306.2 million is under review. Officials at the state Department of Human Services said they would contest the audit's findings. CONGRESSIONAL PANEL HEARS PLEAS ON TRANSIT SECURITY FUNDING Officials from agencies responsible for keeping New Jersey’s transit system safe urged a congressional subcommittee to block proposed cuts in federal financing for transit security. President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget would cut national security grants to $48 million, from $88 million. Christopher Trucillo, the chief of NJ Transit Police, said the cuts could put people in harm’s way, Brenda Flanagan writes for NJTV. CHRISTIE VOWS TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID ADDICTION Gov. Chris Christie told a congressional committee Tuesday that he will continue his efforts against opioid addiction after he leaves office in January, Jonathan D. Salant reports for NJ.com. "I'll play any role that leaders of both the Congress and the administration want me to play as a private citizen in 49 days to be able to continue this fight," Christie, a Republican, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. FBI SEARCHES WILDLIFE REFUGE IN CASE OF BOYS MISSING SINCE 1975 The FBI searched a wildlife refuge in Burlington County on Tuesday in connection with the disappearance of two boys in 1975, the Press of Atlantic City reports. About a month ago federal authorities said they had received “promising new information” in the disappearance of David Williams, 12, and Steven Anderson, 17, who went missing April 7, 1975, from a state facility in the Pinelands. The FBI did not announce any results of the search.