“The people of New Jersey deserve a full and transparent discussion of all options to expand health care to all nine-million residents of our state, and that is a conversation I am eager to have.”

The statement aligned Murphy with embattled Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) and against the longstanding tandem of Christie and powerful South Jersey boss George Norcross III.

Norcross last week attempted to round up caucus votes in support of the proposed Horizon raid, which Prieto checked with public DOA declarations. In the midst of the standoff, state Senator Joe Vitale (D-19) put forward a bill on Friday evening that proposes numerous changes to Horzion’s governing structure. For more on that bill, go here.