Earlier today, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his third annual State of the State address — the first-ever delivered virtually. In his speech, the governor recognized major pieces of legislation enacted over the last few years that should act as the foundation for the state’s pandemic recovery. In response to the address, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) releases the following statement:

Brandon McKoy, President, NJPP:

“In the face of the biggest public health crisis in a century, Governor Murphy and legislative leaders stepped up to keep residents safe and the economy afloat. The governor and state lawmakers deserve an enormous amount of credit for how they are handling the pandemic, especially considering the lack of leadership by the federal government.

“By rejecting austerity and, instead, investing heavily in public schools, the social safety net, and health care, New Jersey is in a good position to chart a strong and swift pandemic recovery. Putting the needs of the many before those of a few should serve as a roadmap for other states as they continue to respond to COVID-19. To maintain a robust and equitable recovery, lawmakers must expand on these investments, especially for our immigrant communities, to ensure no one is left behind.

“We welcome Governor Murphy’s renewed call for ethics reform in the halls of power in New Jersey. All lawmakers have a responsibility to improve public trust in government. That can only be accomplished by bringing much-needed transparency and accountability back into the legislative process. We look forward to working with the governor and legislature on these priorities, and more, in the year ahead.”

New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.

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