Murphy rules out shutdown for about 40 minutes

Gov. Phil Murphy ruled out a government shutdown Friday only to rule it back in less than an hour later.

“Within the next nine days I will meet my constitutional responsibility to enact a balanced budget for New Jersey,” Murphy said during remarks at a budget press conference Tuesday.

Up until that point, Murphy had maintained that all options—including a shutdown — remained on the table.

He returned to that stance in under 40 minutes after a reporter asked him to clarify if his comments meant he would sign a budget before the July 1 deadline.

“I don’t think I ever said that I would sign it, necessarily, in the next nine days,” Murphy said, repeating again that all options were on the table.