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
Groups urge tax hikes to narrow NJ’s $10B drop in revenue
Progressive groups say spending cuts can't be the only option for addressing shortfalls in New Jersey's current and upcoming budgets.
Why both conservatives AND liberals are against proposed NJ gas-tax plan
A plan to hike New Jersey’s gas tax and enact offsetting tax cuts was bashed Wednesday by lawmakers and interest groups from both sides of the political spectrum.
Trip to Colorado convinces NJ senator he’s right on legalizing marijuana
Sen. Nicholas Scutari, who wants New Jersey to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for recreational use, says Colorado's experience bodes well for a similar effort here.
Bipartisan plan would make NJ’s gas tax 7th highest in U.S.
After waiting months for a Transportation Trust Fund replenishment plan, it appears there are now two. One includes a 23-cent a gallon hike in gas taxes.