Being a New Jersey Politician Seems Like the Greatest Gig of All Time

I’m in the wrong line of work man. Being a politician, especially in the state of NJ, sounds amazing! Apparently back in 2018,  NJ Governor Phil Murphy spent $12,000 on concessions at a bunch of concerts and games and didn’t even have to pay for it, via Daniel Han at Politico:

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy used his taxpayer-funded expense account for nearly $12,000 worth of food and drinks at MetLife Stadium — including at a Taylor Swift concert and a hip-hop music festival, according to public records obtained by POLITICO.

Murphy similarly used his expense account at MetLife stadium, although his spending there was far smaller. The $11,847 for snacks and beverages at the East Rutherford stadium included:

– $936 for snacks during a July 2018 Taylor Swift concert

– $2,095 at a Sept. 2018 USA vs. Brazil soccer game

– $2,068 at a Nov. 2018 Jets vs. Patriots game

– $1,413 at the Hot 97’s Summer Jam in June 2019

– $2,856 for the Sept. 2019 USA vs. Mexico soccer game

– $2,479 for the Oct. 2019 Jets vs. Cowboys game.

A taxpayer funded expense account is nuts when you think about it, lol. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on. Having a portion of your paycheck, that should all go towards roads, schools, programs, state debt etc., given to the governor so he can go to MetLife and see Taylor Swift is crazy. Think about that. You’re laying tar 60 hours a week, it’s 90 degrees out, and you see Phil Murphy in his free air conditioned Governor’s suite at MetLife singing “Bad Blood” while you’re paying $10 for a pound of cheese at ACME. Sick. And don’t get it twisted like it’s just Murphy. NJ Republicans do it too, and bigger:

When (Chris) Christie was eyeing a run for the White House, multiple news outlets reported on his use of the expense account in 2010 and 2011, notably the $82,594 spent on concessions at MetLife, which the state Republican Party reimbursed. That was part of $300,000 in spending on food and alcohol over five years, according to a now-defunct outlet, New Jersey Watchdog.

$82,000 DOLLARS! On food and drink!

Why did my kindergarten teacher not call me an idiot when I wanted to be a fireman or a cop? Mrs. Paris should’ve said, “No you idiot. Be a politician.” Who cares that 50% of the coin hates you at all times. Referees experience the same fate and they don’t get paid out like politicians do. Could you imagine suite tickets to a Taylor Swift show, all you can drink and eat, probably a limo to and from the place, and the hardworking people of New Jersey get left with the bill? What an absolutely awesome job.

Pass a bill here. Cut a ribbon outside a new hospital there. Be semi-good at your job and you’re almost guaranteed eight years of bliss. Once you leave you just get on some board of a donor who helped fund your campaign or become a consultant to the next hot shot governor candidate and keep the gravy train going. Get a rest stop on the AC Expressway named after you and benefits until you croak. What a life.

Everyone should aspire to be a politician in NJ. That or an NFL head coach:

NFL coaching contracts are fully guaranteed.

So with the Raiders firing Josh McDaniels last night (and Jon Gruden resigning in ’21), they are now paying somewhere between $40M & $80M for them not to coach the team, depending on Gruden’s settlement.

That’s poor money management. pic.twitter.com/DXVVK6SA63

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 1, 2023

P.S. What is this goofball doing at a Summer Jam concert?

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