{"id":2329494,"date":"2024-08-22T19:36:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T23:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jerseys-acting-governor-seizes-leadership-opportunity-by-signing-bill-that-benefits-himself-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-22T19:39:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T23:39:50","slug":"new-jerseys-acting-governor-seizes-leadership-opportunity-by-signing-bill-that-benefits-himself-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jerseys-acting-governor-seizes-leadership-opportunity-by-signing-bill-that-benefits-himself-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey\u2019s acting governor seizes leadership opportunity by signing bill that benefits himself &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-jerseys-acting-governor-seizes-leadership-opportunity-by-signing-bill-that-benefits-himself-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2329494&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>New\u2063 Jersey&#8217;s \u2062acting governor, Nicholas Scutari, has recently \u2064signed a bill that raises the \u200ccap on attorney fees in workers&#8217; compensation cases from 20% to 25%. This legislation is \u2063particularly\u2064 significant for Scutari, as he is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-seems-to-make-false-statements-about-number-severity-of-white-house-dog-bites\/\" title=\"Joe Biden Seems To Make False Statements About Number, Severity Of White House Dog Bites\">personal injury attorney<\/a> who handles workers&#8217; compensation\u200d cases, meaning the new law directly\u200d benefits\u200d him. The bill, which had been awaiting the \u200dsignature of Governor Phil Murphy, was \u2063signed on \u2064Scutari&#8217;s first day \u200din office as acting governor, while a significant part of the \u2063state&#8217;s executive branch attended the Democratic National Convention. Scutari stated that the law aims to protect New Jersey employees by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/liberal-journalists-shame-hardworking-americans-for-suffering-under-the-biden-economy\/\" title=\"Liberal media blames diligent Americans for hardships in Biden&#039;s economy\">ensuring fair wages<\/a> and accessible legal representation. In addition to this bill, Scutari signed\u200b three others and renamed a state interchange, with one bill increasing \u200csalaries for many judges and county prosecutors in New Jersey.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">New Jersey&rsquo;s acting governor seizes leadership opportunity by signing bill that benefits himself<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1736225\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Democratic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>New Jersey<\/a> Senate President Nicholas Scutari, acting governor of the state while a large part of its executive branch has gone to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dnc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Democratic National Convention<\/a>, signed a bill raising the price cap <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attorney<\/a>&nbsp;f<\/span>ees in workers compensation cases from 20% to 25%.<\/p>\n<p>Scutari is a personal injury <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nickscutarilaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>attorney<\/a> who also covers workers compensation cases, meaning the bill directly compensates him further.<\/p>\n<p>The bill had been <a href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/NJ\/bill\/S2822\/2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>awaiting<\/a> Gov. Phil Murphy&rsquo;s (D-NJ) signature for less than two months, and Scutari signed it into law on his first day as acting governor.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are committed to protecting New Jersey&rsquo;s workers and ensuring fair wages,&rdquo;&nbsp;Scutari said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/nj.gov\/governor\/news\/news\/562024\/approved\/20240822c.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>press release<\/a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s legislation makes a meaningful adjustment to the contingency attorney fee cap, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-talks-sunday-as-wga-studios-reportedly-near-end-to-monthslong-strike\/\" title=\"WGA, Studios Close to Ending Long Strike with Sunday Talks\">ensuring fair compensation<\/a> for attorneys and providing workers with the accessible, quality legal representation they deserve.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The cap will ensure attorneys are paid more for each workers compensation case they handle.<\/p>\n<p>Scutari also signed three other bills and renamed an interchange in the state. One of the bills signed will increase salaries for many judges and county prosecutors in the state.<\/p>\n<p>The acting governor signed the bill as the third in line to the gubernatorial mantle behind Murphy and Democratic Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way.<\/p>\n<p>Several other Democratic governors, such as Govs. Maura Healey (D-MA) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), are out of state at the DNC as well. Whitmer&rsquo;s situation is unique because it appears no official has been left behind to take the acting governor position. Whitmer said she is always the governor, and the Michigan state line is an hour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/08\/22\/michigan-gretchen-whitmer-acting-governor-democratic-national-convention\/74898016007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>away<\/a> if she is needed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am the governor. I&rsquo;m always the governor of Michigan. It&rsquo;s 24\/7,&rdquo; Whitmer told the <em>Detroit News<\/em>. &ldquo;Obviously, if there is something official that needs to be done, I can get back over the state line in about an hour.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> contacted Murphy&rsquo;s office and the New Jersey Senate Republicans for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy recently appointed George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to the U.S. Senate vacancy left by former Sen. Bob Menendez, who was recently convicted in his corruption trial.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1736225\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1736225\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Jersey&#8217;s acting governor takes advantage of a leadership opportunity by enacting a self-benefiting bill. Nicholas Scutari, the Democratic Senate President and acting governor while many state officials attend the Democratic National Convention, signed legislation that increases the cap on attorney fees in workers&#8217; compensation cases from 20% to 25%. As a personal injury lawyer who also handles workers&#8217; compensation cases, this bill directly benefits him financially. The legislation had been pending for less than two months awaiting Gov. Phil Murphy&#8217;s signature before Scutari enacted it on his first day in office as acting governor. In a press release, he stated, &#8220;We are dedicated to protecting New Jersey\u2019s workers and ensuring fair wages,&#8221; adding that the new law adjusts the contingency attorney fee cap to guarantee fair compensation for lawyers while providing workers with quality legal representation. This change will allow attorneys to earn more per case they manage. Additionally, Scutari signed three other bills and renamed an interchange in New Jersey; one of these bills will raise salaries for numerous judges and county prosecutors across the state. He is currently third in line for the governorship after Murphy and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, both of whom are also attending the DNC along with several other Democratic governors like Maura Healey (D-MA) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI). Notably, Whitmer has stated she remains available as governor even when out of state since she can return quickly if needed: &#8220;I am always the governor of Michigan&#8230; I can get back over the state line in about an hour.&#8221; The Washington Examiner reached out to Murphy\u2019s office and New Jersey Senate Republicans for their responses regarding these developments; recently, Murphy appointed George Helmy as his replacement in U.S. Senate following Bob Menendez&#8217;s conviction related to corruption charges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2329495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Nicholas-Scutari-acting-gov.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[39010,5191,33096],"class_list":["post-2329494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-acting-governor","tag-leadership","tag-new-jersey"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Nicholas-Scutari-acting-gov.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2329494"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2329495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2329494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2329494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2329494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}