Murphy won’t have 2020 litmus test

Gov. Phil Murphy isn’t ready to make support of New Jersey infrastructure projects a litmus test when prospective presidential candidates seek his endorsement, and suggested that only President Donald Trump may not see the obvious reasons to support projects like the Gateway Tunnel and the replacement of the Portal Bridge.

“For my taste it’s far too early to get into anything related to the presidential politics.  I think we’re well served to keep pounding away on how obvious this is,” said Murphy. “I’ve not seen any evidence other than the frustrations we’ve had with this administration on either side of the aisle who wouldn’t say that this is so darn obvious.  I don’t know that this needs to be a litmus test because it’s so in plain sight the economic impact that this would have.”

Murphy was joined by labor and business leaders, as well as Sen. Bob Menendez, Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), Albio Sires (D-West New York) and Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark) and other local officials, in calling for the Trump administration to fund New Jersey’s need to replace failing infrastructure.

“New Jersey is ready to get to work on America’s next great infrastructure project,” Murphy said.  “We are ready for the Trump administration to step up to the plate with us.  We are ready to do Gateway together.