TRENTON – A question posed yesterday by Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26) regarding his CD11 general election opponent’s support for Governor Phil Murphy’s budget, signaled a Republican unger for an issue, and the presumed juicy target of the state’s chief Democrat looking to raise $1.5 billion in new taxes.

Confronted today by reporters on the potential political impact of his budget, which rests on a proposed millionaire’s tax – in battleground congressional district where his party seeks gains and the additional possible burdensome narrative of Democrats fighting one another over budget priorities, Murphy pushed back today at the Trenton Train Station.

“I’m still of the opinion – and history will be the judge – that we can have it both ways,” said the Governor.

Democrats can argue it out and come to a healthful endpoint.

“I told [the Democratic Legislative Leadership in last Friday’s talks], ‘let’s not let the public narrative undermine a lot of the stuff we’ve gotten done already. We’ve gotten a lot of stuff done.

“We’re a big tent party,” Murphy added. “It causes us a lot more headaches than the Republicans, although they’re having their own headaches.”

Then he made the case for why his budget simply makes sense, and should be embraced as an asset to those running in battleground districts, not a deficit.

“Investing in the middle class – how we got there was messy, maybe it took longer, but we did the right thing,” he said of what he believes is the coming end game.

“I’ve been telegraphing for years,” said Murphy, noting that he ran on a millionaire’s tax.

It wasn’t something he sprang on the public after assuming office.

“We won by over two touchdowns, with big Democratic majorities,” said the Governor.

To his point, Democrats picked up seats in historically Republican districts, including an add in LD16.

“Everyone knew why we got elected – for sustainable revenues, historic investments in the middle class and undoing tax gimmicks,” Murphy said.

He challenged people to find a poll that projects an uphill climb for someone championing those priorities in New Jersey elections.

“These are obvious no brainers and every piece of evidence proves it. It would be a little like denying climate change,” Murphy said.

Reflecting on his talks with legislative leaders, the Governor said all options are on the table at this time.

“They say I’m getting 95% of what I want, but you have to balance the books here,” he said. “I’m not going to stare a commuter in the eye and say we’ve got this on a sustainable path [with the legislature’s budget].”

As for charges that he’s been less than rigorous in building legislative relationships to this point, “I’m here any hour of any moment of any day,” Murphy said.