Joined by the Democratic members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, Governor-elect Phil Murphy denounced as “desperate” efforts by President Donald J. Trump to GOP tax plans right now moving through the halls of Congress, as Republican rival U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3) set up opposing Southern operations.

Trump wants Republicans to repeal the healthcare requirement provision in the Affordable Care Act, while cutting the top individual income tax rate to 35% with “all the rest going to middle income cuts,” the President wrote earlier today in a tweet.

“A devastating blow for New Jersey and an assault on the middle class and an assault on seniors,” said Murphy, standing today in the Robert Treat Hotel with U.S. Representatives Bill Payne, Albio Sires, Donald Norcross, Bill Pascrell, and Frank Pallone.

“It’s bad no matter how you slice it,” said Murphy. “They’re desperate to get something down and they’re making stuff up. This is not Republican or Democrat, this is what’s good for New Jersey versus what’s bad.”

The plan reflects “desperate leadership on the Republican side of the aisle,” Murphy said.

Trump “couldn’t get healthcare, and now they’re desperate to get this done.”

The governor-elect huddled with the New Jersey Democratic congressman at the same time that MacArthur (R-3) hosted Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump for a discussion on tax reform and efforts to overhaul America’s tax code.

The departure of Governor Chris Christie from the governor’s office at the end of this year has put the vocal MacArthur in a prime position to define himself as a GOP alternative to the emergent Murphy, and a possible future statewide office contender, possibly for governor in 2021.