Steinhardt attacks Murphy over borrowing plan

State Republican Chairman Doug Steinhardt attacked Gov. Phil Murphy over a borrowing plan set for an Assembly vote later Thursday.

“This COVID-19 crisis has tested the bounds of governments everywhere, and Phil Murphy’s failing that test. He chose Wall Street over Main Street, big box stores over mom and pop shops, and the public sector over private business,” he said. “Today, Governor Murphy and the Democratic led Assembly are picking big government and big taxes over you and your family. Assembly Bill A-4175 will jack up your property taxes year after year to pay the interest on the billions of dollars in bonds Phil Murphy will issue to keep spending.”

The bond act includes a provision that would allow the state to collect a surcharge on property taxes to pay for debt service incurred on money borrowed using the bill. The provision will only kick in if sales tax revenues aren’t enough to cover the bill.

Steinhardt is one of three Republicans considering a run against Murphy next year. So far, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is the only one of those three to announce.

The third member of the group, Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, is holding a call Tuesday morning to lambast Murphy and Trenton’s Democrats over the same bill.

“The only thing Phil Murphy learned from this crisis, is that in the highest taxed State in America, he’s not afraid to keep taking more,” Steinhardt said. “Join the NJGOP and tell Phil Murphy no more taxes.”