Coughlin congratulates caucus on primary victories

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Wednesday congratulated his caucus members for emerging victorious in Tuesday’s primaries.

“Congratulations to my colleagues in the Assembly and I look forward to continuing to work with each of you to allow New Jersey to serve as a model state for others to follow suit,” Coughlin said.

Every member of Coughlin’s Caucus won over their primary challengers Tuesday.

A small number of them will have to defend their seats against competitive Republican challengers come November, but for now, Assembly Democrats will have to focus on a slightly more pressing issue — making sure the government stays open in July.

At the moment, legislative leaders are at odds with Gov. Phil Murphy over the latter’s proposal for a millionaire’s tax.

Coughlin and Senate President Steve Sweeney staunchly oppose such a tax. Murphy ran on it and is pushing for the second row in a year to see that campaign promise fulfilled, though its prospects in both chambers of the legislature look rather grim.

“Last year, the Legislature put forth a budget that has proven to be fiscally responsible and surpassed revenue expectations,” Coughlin said. “I am confident that we will work together to again put forth a budget that provides that same economic stability and growth.”