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
Lawmakers Look to Shield H.S. Coaches from ‘Overbearing’ Parents
Lawmakers are thinking about requiring high school sports coaches to receive multi-year contracts and a specific set of steps that would have to be followed to discipline or fire them.
NJ Senate Advances Reforms as Thousands Protest Outside
Outside the Statehouse Annex on Thursday, a few thousand public workers rallied in favor of Gov. Murphy’s planned budget and against the Path to Progress reforms pushed by Senate Pres. Steve Sweeney.
Lawmakers Look to Extend Biz Tax Breaks Murphy Wants to Replace
Lawmakers don't favor the economic plan Gov. Phil Murphy has pushed since October. They're eyeing a 7-month extension to allow more time to negotiate.
Murphy Called This Bill Unconstitutional. Now He’ll Sign It
Legislation requiring ‘dark money’ independent political groups to disclose their donors and spending that Gov. Murphy conditionally vetoed last month is going to become law anyway.
Pot Half Full: Legislature OK’s Expungement, Delays on Medical
The expungement bill was passed 24-11 by the Senate and 50-15, with six votes to abstain, in the Assembly. It is now on the desk of Gov. Phil Murphy.
Immigrants Who Are Legal But Not Permanent Could Get NJ Tuition
Years after New Jersey began charging unauthorized immigrants in-state tuition at public colleges, lawmakers are thinking about doing the same for some who are here legally but not permanently.
Murphy, in Cherry Hill, Renews Push to Revamp Tax Breaks
On the to-do list is the future of New Jersey’s business tax incentive programs, which have also become the flashpoint in a feud between Gov. Phil Murphy and George Norcross.
NJ Voters OK’d Library Funds in ’17 But Won’t be Spent Until ’20
Talk about overdue library borrowing. Voters OK'd a $125M bond for library improvements in 2017, but the awards won't be made until 2020.
NJ Moves to Preserve Affordable Care Act by Making it State Law
The Affordable Care Act is being challenged in federal court and altered by the Trump administration. New Jersey might turn it into state law.
NJ Plans to Add 100+ New Medical Marijuana Businesses
The Murphy administration Monday announced plans to approve more than 100 additional medical marijuana businesses in the state, a rapid expansion that may go beyond what the Legislature envisions.