Murphy criticizes budget scrambles

Jan 19, 2024

Happy Friday morning!

Gov. Phil Murphy said he wants to change the state budget process to end last-minute budget deals that get voted on before the public has a chance to weigh in.

Ahead of his budget speech and spending plan unveiling in late February, the governor said Thursday the state budget process typically involves months of robust and open discussion that “ends suddenly.”

Truly. At times, New Jersey lawmakers have spent as much time debating the budget process as what is in the budget itself — if only because not many people actually know what is in the final budget deal before they vote on it.

The governor’s comments, which Murphy made to a roomful of municipal finance analysts in Manhattan, follow an especially chaotic budget session last summer where Democratic lawmakers advanced a $54 billion spending plan with initially flawed summaries and barred public comment. In 2021, budget committees in both chambers advanced their $46 billion spending deal just minutes after the text was made public. There were also similar complaints in 2022 about a $50 billion plan.

Yet Murphy conceded the process was unlikely to change this year. But he claimed to have support for making some changes. Murphy said legislative leaders would support “some mechanism” to allow more public review to “help our residents, advocates, other stakeholders feel like that they had a process that they were really a part of.” Among the ideas is requiring there be 72 hours between the unveiling of a budget deal and the final vote on it.

“We largely have a very good process — with one exception, which I'd really like to see changed,” he said. “And I think the legislative leadership agree with me.”

It’s unclear how solid that support is, though. The last-minute dealmaking is a source of power for lawmakers and Democratic lawmakers in the majority have repeatedly defended their work as transparent.

The Assembly Democratic majority office released a milquetoast and noncommittal statement following Murphy’s remarks that said, “We will follow all rules, laws and the state constitution to ensure the public is able to understand how this year’s budget will reflect our values and improve their lives.”

Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, a Republican member of the chamber’s budget and appropriations committee, said even the governor’s comments ring hollow. “If his budget proposal for next year contains more special line items of pork, he ought to disclose who asked for them and explain to taxpayers how their money will be spent,” he said. “It’s wishful thinking, but when June 30 rolls around we’ll all look back at this moment as more of the same from the Murphy administration.”

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: Tammy Murphy is likely “a lovely woman, but the last time I had to deal with a Republican from New Jersey, that was my own race.” — Sen. John Fetterman told The New York Times about endorsing Rep. Andy Kim over Murphy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Rep. MIKIE SHERRILL, Assemblymember SHAVONDA SUMTER.

Missed from Thursday: Stono Public Affairs’ JAY REDD.

WHERE’S MURPHY? — Doing a series of early morning media hits to discuss the snow storm.

WHAT TRENTON MADE

PLEASE, LET ME BREAK YOUR LEG, THANK YOU — “New Jersey’s top court rejects challenge of witness tampering law,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo: “New Jersey’s witness tampering law is constitutionally sound, but Hudson County prosecutors may have misapplied it when they charged an accused carjacker for writing a ‘polite’ letter to the victim that contained no threats, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Thursday.”

BORED OF ED — “Two members join State Board of Ed, first since 2018,” by NJ Spotlight’s Hannah Gross: “Two new members were sworn in to the State Board of Education at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, bringing the first new voices to the board since 2018. Their first meeting coincided with acting Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan’s last meeting before her retirement on Feb. 1. With more additions to the board possible and over a dozen open positions in the Education Department, this could be just the beginning of more changes to come.”

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT MURPHY, BACK SOMEONE WHO DIDN’T TRY — “Guadagno backing Fulop for governor,” by NJ Globe’s David Wildstein: “Former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, twice elected on a ticket with Republican Gov. Chris Christie, supports Democrat Steve Fulop’s bid to become the Democratic nominee for governor in 2025. Guadagno contributed $300 to Fulop’s campaign last year, indicating that she wants the three-term mayor of Jersey City to replace the state’s term-limited governor, Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. She quit the Republican Party in 2021 and is now an unaffiliated voter." In a social media post, Guadagno said she “did not make any endorsement.”

JOIN 1/31 FOR A TALK ON THE RACE TO SOLVE ALZHEIMER’S: Breakthrough drugs and treatments are giving new hope for slowing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. But if that progress slows, the societal and economic cost to the U.S. could be high. Join POLITICO, alongside lawmakers, official and experts, on Jan. 31 to discuss a path forward for better collaboration among health systems, industry and government. REGISTER HERE.

BIDEN TIME

WIZARD OF OZ — “Fetterman backs Andy Kim in New Jersey's closely watched Senate primary” by POLITICO’s Katherine Dailey: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman on Thursday endorsed Rep. Andy Kim in his Senate campaign against New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, becoming the first one in the upper chamber to weigh in on one of the country's closely watched Democratic primaries … In an interview with POLITICO, Fetterman called New Jersey's unique ballot-design system "the same kind of regime that had protected that kind of sleazeball Menendez," but added that "I think Democratic voters are also savvy enough to understand what's at stake here, and that they are going to want their voice fully reflected in D.C. And that voice is going to be Representative Kim’s.”

NONMOUTH — Sen. Bob Menendez will not seek the endorsement of Monmouth County Democrats at its convention next month for the 2024 Senate primary, a Menendez aide told POLITICO. It’s unclear whether Menendez — who is facing federal charges of aiding New Jersey businessmen and foreign governments in exchange for money, gold bars and a luxury vehicle — will seek reelection.

The Monmouth County Democratic convention is one of the earliest by Democrats in the state, where candidates seek the county party endorsement for the so-called party line which gives them favorable ballot placement. However, Menendez aide Jason Tuber said in a statement that Menendez “will not be filing for their endorsement given the process is likely to be predetermined” citing “statements made by Democratic leadership in Monmouth County.” Tuber declined further comment on if Menendez will run for reelection.

Monmouth County Democratic Chair David Brown has called for Menendez’s resignation. The filing deadline for the Monmouth Democratic convention is later today.

“Any Democratic candidate for U. S. Senate is welcome to send a letter of intent by the deadline,” Brown said. “Our convention is one of the most open in the state - filled with 800 eligible county committee and local elected officials. We are proud to have one of the most Democratic processes in the state on selecting our Democratic candidates.” – Daniel Han

LOCAL

CAMDEN — “Camden school board president says he will take leave pending the outcome of the sexual assault civil trial against him” by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Melane Burney: “Gov. Phil Murphy has called for Camden Advisory School Board President Wasim Muhammad to resign immediately, citing ‘the appalling and heinous nature’ of allegations by a former student who accused him of abusing her for years.'”

IMMIGRATION — “Undocumented migrants may come to Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital” by Tapinto North Hunterdon: “In a release sent by Hunterdon County Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl, the Murphy administration is looking to place undocumented migrants at the former Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital, in Glen Gardner (Lebanon Township).”

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