Tag Archives: Phil Murphy

NBC News reports: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a law Monday prohibiting public schools and libraries from banning books and protecting librarians who obey state law. Murphy’s signing of the Freedom to Read Act comes amid an ongoing push by conservative lawmakers and activists across the country to challenge books they consider inappropriate for minors, particularly those …

Axios reports: George Helmy, former chief of staff to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, is expected to be appointed as the state’s next U.S. senator, Axios has learned. Helmy will serve in a caretaker role until 2025, when the winner of the November general election for the seat will take over. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) will officially resign from the …

Via press release from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: The allegations in the indictment against Senator Menendez and four other defendants are deeply disturbing These are serious charges that implicate national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system. Under our legal system, Senator Menendez and the other defendants have not been found guilty and will have the ability …

Gothamist reports: The Federal Highway Administration on Friday preliminarily approved the MTA’s highly anticipated congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. This triggers a 30-day public review period before the Federal Highway Administration makes its final determination, according to the letter it sent to the MTA on Friday. If the plan goes through, New York …

Via press release from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 326 establishing New Jersey as a safe haven for gender-affirming health care by directing all state departments and agencies to protect all persons, including health care professionals and patients, against potential repercussions resulting from providing, receiving, assisting in providing or receiving, seeking, or …

Gothamist reports: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is defending the text message to state E-ZPass users that urged them to publicly comment against the MTA’s congestion pricing program proposal. The message, which was sent this weekend and which made the rounds on social media, simply said congestion pricing “will increase cost and congestion for NJ drivers.” The MTA is in …

The New Jersey Advance reports: New Jersey legal weed sales topped $24 million in the first month of the roll out at a dozen locations, according to the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Actual receipts reported to the CRC showed $24,201,875.38 million in recreational weed sales from April 21 to May 21. Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed $48.9 billion budget for the …

Bloomberg News reports: New Jersey became the first state to ban both plastic and paper bags on Wednesday, leaving companies and shoppers to find creative workarounds to get their groceries home. ShopRite, with more than 100 New Jersey stores, will charge a flat $1.50 per order for reusable bags. Instacart Inc., which fulfills shoppers’ lists for Aldi Inc., Lidl Ltd., …

The New York Times reports: Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican vying to unseat Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, will concede defeat on Friday, acknowledging that there is no chance he can overcome the 74,000-vote gap now separating the candidates, according to two people close to his campaign. The Associated Press and other national news outlets had declared Mr. Murphy, …

The Associated Press reports: New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign denied Monday that there was fraud in this year’s governor’s election but his campaign’s attorney said the margin could shrink enough to warrant a recount. The statement from Ciattarelli’s campaign comes after the Associated Press declared Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy the winner last week. Murphy’s lead has grown from less …

ABC News reports: Mew Jersey Gov. Murphy and former member of the state assembly Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee, were swapping leads in early vote totals, but as heavily-Democratic counties processed mail-in ballots Wednesday afternoon, Murphy widened his lead over Ciattarelli. Leading up to the election, Murphy comfortably led in public polling, but the race was still seen as a …

The Associated Press reports: New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli were virtually deadlocked early Wednesday after a campaign centered on the incumbent’s progressive policies and handling of the pandemic. Murphy had been leading in the polls, has a 1 million-voter registration advantage and had more cash in his campaign coffers than Ciattarelli in the final days …

From Monmouth University Polling: Phil Murphy maintains a sizable lead over Jack Ciattarelli, although the margin has narrowed over the past two months, according to the final Monmouth University Poll of the New Jersey governor’s race. A top issue for voters in the current poll is taxes, an area where Ciattarelli, the Republican challenger, has a decided advantage. However, Murphy …

The New Jersey Advance reports: In his bid for re-election, Gov. Phil Murphy just went full Jersey on his opponent. With his catchphrase “What a knucklehead,” Murphy retweeted an NJ Dems humorous ad on Monday that takes a swipe at Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. The tongue-in-cheek digital ad, stealing a bit from late-night talk shows, first shows “people of the …

The New Jersey Advance reports: All New Jersey state workers will be required to be vaccinated for the coronavirus or undergo regular testing, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday. People who opt out of getting vaccinated will be tested once to twice weekly “at minimum,” the governor said. The governor made the announcement the same day he said teachers and …

The New Jersey Advance reports: Insisting it’s “the right thing” to do to combat a new rise in COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday announced New Jersey will mandate students in preschool through 12th grade, as well as staff members and visitors, to wear masks inside all schools when the new academic year begins with statewide in-person classes. Murphy announced …

The New Jersey Advance reports: Gov. Phil Murphy angrily lashed out at a small group of protesters carrying signs objecting to mandatory vaccinations, calling them the “ultimate knuckleheads” during a public bill signing event on a crowded street in Union City on Wednesday. “These folks back there have lost their minds — you’ve lost your minds,” Murphy said, his voice …

PBS reports: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that Andrew Bruck would be appointed acting attorney general for the remainder of Murphy’s term. Bruck, who is first assistant attorney general, has been part of the office’s executive leadership since outgoing Attorney General Gurbir Grewal was confirmed in January 2018. The announcement comes one day after the Securities and Exchange …

CNBC reports: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday announced a new bid to boost coronavirus vaccinations: Receive your first dose in May and get a free beer. “We’re not going to be afraid to try new things,” Murphy said as he unveiled the new program, dubbed “Shot and a Beer,” at a press briefing. New Jerseyans will have to …

Bloomberg News reports: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the state will pause further rollbacks of pandemic restrictions as its case count surges to the highest in the nation. Capacity at New Jersey’s restaurants, gyms, salons, and other recreational facilities increased to 50% on Friday as Murphy eased rules aimed at stemming the coronavirus outbreak. The number of people allowed …