Phil Murphy in 2019 Governor's State of the State speeches


On Corporations: Incentive programs for business need reform

Tax incentive programs should be about the best of what we do in government--creating good jobs by investing taxpayer dollars with integrity, and subject to real oversight. That's the test. And, it's the test our system spectacularly failed. I do not oppose tax incentives. Carefully crafted, properly enforced, and transparent tax incentives have a place in a successful economic program. Incentives do help. But we need to do this the right way, the smart way, and the honest way.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Drugs: Legalize adult-use marijuana; undo past convictions

By legalizing adult-use marijuana we can reverse the inequality and unfairness left from years of failed drug policies and shift public safety resources to where they can do the most good. We must ensure that those with a past mark on their records because of a low-level offense can have that stain removed, so they can move forward to get a stable job or an education. But it will also allow us to broadly benefit from creating an entirely new and legal industry.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Education: Invest in pre-K & free community college

We invested hundreds of millions of dollars in our schools and pre-K. Now, 4,000 more three- and four-year-olds are attending a high-quality pre-K program. And, starting this semester, 13,000 worthy students are attending community college tuition-free. We were able to make these investments by asking those with incomes over $5 million to pay a little more, and by ensuring a more equitable distribution of school aid.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Energy & Oil: Wind farm smarter than drilling for oil

We are emerging as a global leader in offshore wind energy, where each dollar of investment will return nearly double to our economy, and where we are working to create thousands of good-paying union jobs. The Board of Public Utilities recently closed the first solicitation for potential partners in building an 1,100-megawatt wind farm off our coast. I don't think it's a stretch to say that realizing our offshore wind-energy potential is much smarter than drilling for oil off the Jersey Shore.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Government Reform: Easier voter registration; online voting & early voting

Let's work together to allow residents to register to vote online and at the polls on Election Day. Let's enact true early, in-person voting for our residents. Let's allow 17-year-olds to register and vote in our June primaries if they will turn 18 by the November general election. Let's restore voting rights for individuals on probation or parole, so we can further their reentry into society by allowing them to exercise the most sacred right offered by our society--the right to vote.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Health Care: Protected ObamaCare; enacted sick leave

While some in Washington continue their assault on our health care, we protected health care for hundreds of thousands of residents, by restoring funding for Planned Parenthood and women's health care, enacting paid sick leave protections for 1.2 million residents who couldn't take a day off, and safeguarding the Affordable Care Act--an effort that resulted in a more than nine percent reduction in premiums on the individual market.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage to $15

Our minimum wage workers got a 25-cent per hour increase on January 1--a scant $10 more on a 40-hour work week. That's completely inadequate. A $15 dollar an hour minimum wage will give more than one million families a stronger foothold in the middle class and allow those who aspire to enter the middle class the means to do so. The people this will help are the same people all of us rely on - maintenance workers, child-care workers and home health aides, security guards, and many more.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

On Principles & Values: Quality of life more important than tax breaks

The bottom line is that being competitive isn't a race to give out the biggest tax breaks. It's about leading the way on education, infrastructure, and diversity and inclusion. Companies want to stay and grow and locate in a state that allows them to flourish and for their workers to prosper in all parts of their lives. That is a vision of true success that can be shared by every family. That is how you build a stronger and fairer New Jersey.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature Jan 15, 2019

The above quotations are from 2019 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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Page last updated: Apr 02, 2019