State Sen. Nellie Pou on Monday said she would back a millionaire’s tax if it was put up to vote.
“It’s a bill that I would be in support of,” she said, adding that she had voted for the measure in the past.
It’s not clear whether that support means Gov. Phil Murphy can count on her in the year’s budget fight over the issue.
Murphy is seeking a millionaire’s tax, a cornerstone of his 2017 campaign platform.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have steadfastly opposed the measure since the close of last year’s budget negotiations.
So far, Murphy’s proposal for a millionaire’s tax has the clear support of four senators—Brian Stack (D-Union City), Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence), Ronald Rice (D-Newark) and former Gov. Dick Codey (D-Roseland).
If Pou’s support for the policy translates into support for Murphy’s budget, the governor will still be 16 votes short of what he needs to pass a millionaire’s tax.
The two Assembly members from Pou’s district, Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson) and Benjie Wimberley (D-Paterson), have already signed on in support of the millionaire’s tax. Both could be aspiring to replace Pou in the Senate in two years.
