Last year when Phil Murphy asked me to run with him and eventually serve as his Lieutenant Governor, I never hesitated to join his team. There’s a simple reason why — because I saw his commitment to progressive values and his will to make our state work not just for the wealthiest among us, but for everyone else as well.

Helping those people on the margins who are struggling to get by has always been my primary focus, from my time working in Essex County government to serving as the Speaker of the General Assembly to my current role as Lt. Governor. When I met Phil Murphy, I saw a man who shared those values and who would not stop fighting to make our state stronger and fairer.

Governor Murphy – the leader of our State and our Democratic Party – has put forth a budget based on the premise that the wealthiest people in our state — those that have seen their wealth increase dramatically over the last decade and who just received a major cut in their federal taxes — can afford to pay a little more. It’s not done to punish, but rather to ensure that the prosperity our state enjoys is spread to the many and not only possessed by the few.

With sustained new revenue from the Millionaire’s Tax, Governor Murphy is prepared to take the first steps needed to correct the mistakes of the Christie era and move our state forward. He will invest in tuition free community college and Pre-K expansion to make sure that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their zip code and family income. He’ll send much-needed funding into our public transit system to keep moving people where they need to go and creating economic development opportunities in underserved communities. And he’ll do it with a responsible, balanced budget that meets our constitutional obligations.

I’ve been through my fair share of legislative fights, and I know what can happen when egos are at play and people are dug in. But real leadership is about cutting through that kind of obstruction and never wavering from doing what’s right for the people.

I’m proud to stand with Governor Murphy and his budget, and I urge my friends and former colleagues in the legislature to do the same. New Jersey needs a fresh start and it’s time to work with the Governor to make it happen.