This is what it should look like when Democrats get control of a state government. Where Republicans typically storm into office with an agenda already written for them by ALEC and corporate lobby groups, Democrats tend to take it a little more slowly. But New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has come out swinging with his new proposed budget.
Working families will see significant benefits: Murphy is calling for a $15 minimum wage to be phased in over the next four years, starting with a raise to $11 in 2019. He’d increase the Earned Income Tax Credit and create a child and dependent care tax credit. Tens of thousands more students from lower- and middle-income families would get free community college tuition, and thousands more little kids would get pre-K. State pensions would be funded.
The entire New Jersey economy will see benefits with Murphy’s investment in public transit:
Governor Murphy’s budget nearly triples funding for NJ Transit, appropriating an additional $242 million to support light rail, rail, and bus operations, and help fill staffing gaps. The additional funding represents a 172% increase over last year and is the largest State appropriation to NJ Transit in state history. This level of funding is more than four times the average annual subsidy during Governor Christie’s final term. Governor Murphy’s budget also allocates $2 billion to the state Transportation Capital Program to perform infrastructure repairs and improvements across New Jersey.
And while Congress has blocked research into gun violence, Murphy is proposing $2 million for a gun violence research center, tweeting that “It is now up to the states to lead.” He’s also restoring funding for women’s health care and environmental programs.
How’s he going to pay for this? By taxing millionaires and closing the carried interest loophole, bumping the sales tax up slightly from 6.625 percent to seven percent after former Gov. Chris Christie cut it, and by legalizing and taxing marijuana.
Now Murphy needs to fight for and win this, and Democrats in other states need to take it as a model.