Governor Phil Murphy, the Senate, and the Assembly signed one of the most progressive and sound budgets in recent New Jersey history. It includes additional funding to keep our schools among the best in the nation, much needed investment in public transportation upgrades, makes the biggest pension contribution in recent memory, and tax credits to offset the dangerous GOP tax scam, which seeks to further weaken the working and middle classes in order to fill the coffers of corporate interests and billionaires. It does all this and more with a budget surplus. The days of Chris Christie era credit downgrades are finally over.

The members of the Young Democrats of Atlantic County have been motivated to see more young people want to get off the sidelines and get involved. We need solutions, which is something legislative Republicans lacked during the budget negotiations. That is why it was disappointing to see the newly appointed chair of the Young Republicans, Brian Fitzherbert, so quickly to condemn this budget as one of the new organization’s first acts. It seems that Fitzherbert just wants to send out a press release to keep himself relevant. We get it though, keeping yourself and Senator Chris Brown relevant when you are playing second and third banana to the disgusting words and actions of Republican Congressional nominee Seth Grossman is really difficult. Is that really the wisest move for a failed candidate who was given a pet project, perhaps out of sympathy?

Governor Murphy is fulfilling his campaign promise to make a stronger and fairer New Jersey. It is refreshing to finally have a governor who uplifts the working class, empowering the middle class, and asks wealthy corporations and CEOs to pay their fair share. Investments made today will pay off dividends over the next few years. The only difference is that this being done for the public good, not just for the wealthy.

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