Legislators, Leaders React To Governor Murphy’s Budget Proposal
Governor Murphy delivered his second budget address yesterday, rolling out a $38.6B budget and announcing $1B in spending reductions, while renewing his call for a millionaire’s tax.
Legislators and leaders responded:
- Senate President Sweeney called it a ‘positive budget plan‘ and welcomed the Governor’s willingness to comprise, but added that he remains opposed to the proposed tax increase.
- Speaker Coughlin called it an ‘encouraging first step‘ but, like Sweeney, said he is opposed to any broad-based tax increases.
- Senator Pennacchio excoriated the Governor, saying the Governor was using ‘phantom numbers’ and admonishing him to ‘get your hands out of our pockets‘.
- Senator Gopal said that any conversation about new taxes requires long-term property tax reduction measures.
- Senator O’Scanlon went off on Murphy, saying the budget ‘won’t lift up the middle class’ and that it will ‘leave generations of New Jersey residents with no hope for a prosperous future‘.
- Senator Cryan said the speech was ‘well-delivered‘ and the proposal is ‘attainable’.
- Senator Oroho said he’s ‘extremely troubled‘ by the income tax proposal.
- Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald said the proposal ‘represents our shared values‘ and that Assembly Democrats will delve into it over the next several months to craft a ‘fair budget’.
- Assembly Minority Leader Bramnick slammed the tax hike proposals ahead of the address, calling the Governor’s revenue projections ‘way off’.
- Assemblyman Holley said that marijuana legalization legislation should be the first bill posted for a vote post-budget address.
- Assembly Budget Chair Pinto Marin said the proposal ‘represents a strong starting point‘.
- Assemblyman McKeon applauded the elimination of ‘one-shot budget gimmicks’.
- Assemblymen Space and Wirths said the proposal ‘refuses to address‘ high property taxes.
- NJGOP Chairman Steinhardt blasted the Governor’s proposal, saying ‘there is no escaping the harsh reality that Phil Murphy’s newest spending spree, while emotionally appealing, will be paid for by New Jersey’s middle class’, mocking Murphy by adding ‘Period. Full Stop’.
- NJDSC Chairman Currie applauded the proposal, saying ‘our state is on a path to stronger, fairer economy for everyone.’.
Advocacy groups reacted:
- Clean Water Action called the budget a ‘step in the right direction’.
- The NJBIA said they appreciate the Governor’s efforts, but the budget ‘will not improve the outlook‘ for state small businesses.
- The NJEA applauded the increase in public education funding and lauded it as a ‘progressive, people-focused’ proposal.
- Chamber of Commerce President Bracken released a statement on Governor Murphy’s budget proposal, applauding changes to public employee and retiree benefit programs but strongly opposing increases to tax rates.
- NJ Main Street Alliance said it brings tax incentive programs ‘back in line with reality’.
- The HCDNNJ said its a ‘big boost‘ for affordable housing.
- NJ Citizen Action said it puts the state on a ‘corrective course‘.
- The Sierra Club called it a ‘good start‘ but needs more work, and released their assessment of the budget.
- Better Choices for NJ urged legislators to ‘get behind’ the millionaire’s tax.
- NJ Policy Perspective said the budget ‘sets the foundation for shared prosperity’.
- The AFL-CIO NJ said proposal will ‘help position our state for an even brighter future’.
- 1199SEIU said that including a ‘true millionaire’s tax’ is ‘important’.
- The CIANJ applauded the cost-saving measures but urged the Governor not to raise taxes.
- The NJLCV applauded the reduction in environmental diversions.
- AFSCME-NJ released a statement supporting the proposal.
- NJ Future said they are ‘encouraged‘ by infrastructure investments.
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