Unpopular, Unaccomplished NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Continues To Feud With Own Party, Tout High Taxes

After summering at his Italian mansion, liberal New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appears to be recharged and ready to get back to his favorite pastimes: feuding with fellow Democrats, hiking taxes, and failing New Jerseyans.

Prominent New Jersey Democrats haven’t minced words about Murphy, characterizing him as incompetent and pompous. This time, Murphy’s frequent sparring partner, State Senate President Steve Sweeney “lashed out” out at the governor for his lack of leadership in addressing transit issues in the state. According to News 12 New Jersey, Sweeney called the state of the transit system a “crisis,” and had a clear message for Murphy: “Stop blaming, start fixing. You’re the governor. You’re in charge.”

But don’t expect Murphy to bother with transit when he could focus on higher taxes instead. In recent days, Murphy has spent his time traveling the state on his never-ending tax-and-spend crusade. Last year alone, Murphy proposed to raise taxes on New Jerseyans by $1.5 billion despite warnings from lawmakers that “taxes in the state are already too high” and are causing residents to flee the  state.

Now Murphy is doubling down, telling citizens that if they want lower taxes, they’re going to have to move to another state. The Shore News Networkreports:

“At a recent speech to business leaders, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy suggested that New Jersey may not be their state if they are concerned about tax rates. ‘If you’re a one-issue voter and tax rate is your issue, either a family or a business, if that’s the only basis upon which you’re going to make a decision, we’re probably not your state’ Murphy said.”

Barely halfway through his first term and slated to become the next Democratic Governors Association (DGA) chair, Murphy is already deeply unpopular. According to recent polling, 49% of New Jersey voters believe he is more concerned with his political future than running the state, and Bloomberg reports that “residents see little sign of the ‘stronger, fairer’ New Jersey they were promised,” with about a third of New Jerseyans saying that Murphy’s policies have hurt the middle class, and more than a third saying that Murphy “had no real accomplishments.”

“New Jerseyans and even his fellow Democrats have made it clear – serial tax hiker Phil Murphy is an ineffective, failed leader who cares more about his own political career than doing anything to help middle class families and job creators,” said RGA Communications Director Amelia Chassé Alcivar. “Phil Murphy’s track record is short on accomplishments and long on incompetence and insider bickering – New Jersey deserves better.”