Recorded on 9/23/21 as part of “Decision 2021: Who Will Lead NJ?” Steve Adubato sat down with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) in an in-depth interview to discuss the 2021 NJ Gubernatorial election and what’s at stake in New Jersey. Murphy is running against former New Jersey Assemblyman, Jack Ciatarelli (R). Steve Adubato talks to the Governor about the leadership lessons he learned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, tax policies, education and learning loss, child care, and the impact of the public health crisis on businesses across the state.

Governor Phil Murphy said in regards to the COVID-19 crisis and nursing home patients, “The tragic loss early on, especially in long-term care was the tragedy within the tragedy.” He explains, “Number one, they’re not patients, remember this is their home. They’re residents in these places. That they were returning home. Secondly we were crystal clear, in my own voice, in the executive order from myself or from Judy Persichillii, about the protocols for anybody returning to their residence who have been positive for COVID.”

Steve Adubato asks Governor Murphy about taxes people pay in New Jersey and the current situation with homeowners. The Governor says, “We have been laser focused especially on the middle class, those who dream as I did, my family who look up and want to someday get into the middle class. So when we talk about affordability, whether it’s income taxes, property taxes, healthcare, how much college costs, how much access to childcare, that’s what we’ve been attacking from moment one.”