Last year, New Jerseyans were among the first in the country to send the message that they were deeply unhappy with the status quo. From affordability issues that have long plagued the Garden State to new concerns over rising crime and government bureaucrats taking the place of parents in schools, voters here responded with sweeping gains across the state and a stunning rebuke of Democratic leadership.
Despite Republicans’ historic gains here in New Jersey and Virginia, Democrats like Governor Phil Murphy and President Joe Biden have been slow to respond to the basic demands of voters – if they have at all. It’s not a Republican or Democrat issue to want to be able to afford a tank of gas, live in a safe neighborhood, or have a say in what your kids learn in school.
Instead, however, Governor Murphy’s recent actions seem to suggest that he views his uncomfortably slim margin of victory as an invitation to run for President as a possible replacement for Biden in 2024.
President Joe Biden, whose poll numbers are so bad that he should hope they are as bogus as Murphy’s supposed 10-point Election Day lead, has completely bungled his opportunity to bring Americans together after a difficult few years. Thanks to Biden’s continued leftward lurch, we are living in an America that is barely recognizable to us. His massive spending plans have sent inflation into overdrive making it more difficult put gas in your car to get to work and to put food on the table for your families; his Administration’s ineptitude has contributed to a baby formula shortage so severe that children are being hospitalized for malnourishment; and his open border policies are allowing lethal drugs to flow freely into our communities.
With his presidential aspirations in mind, Phil Murphy has also imposed his disastrous “progressive” vision on us all.
For New Jerseyans concerned about the high cost of living, Governor Murphy is continuing to burden taxpayers with his radical energy “Energy Master Plan.” The plan – at a cost he refuses to disclose – will force taxpayers to adopt the far-left green agenda and get rid of their gas stoves at their own expense.
Remember last year when Murphy ridiculously blamed the spike in crime on the humid Jersey summer? Crime has now become so pervasive that cars are now being stolen out of driveways with children inside. Murphy may have begrudgingly rolled back a “no-chase” policy for suspected thieves that should have never been repealed in the first place, but he is still releasing dozens of criminals onto our streets using COVID as an excuse.
And if you were just as appalled as we were when sample lesson plans were released in Westfield that complied with new state standards that Murphy and Senate Education Chairman Vin Gopal pushed through during the pandemic, you’re not alone. The backlash from parents was so strong that when Murphy promised a “review” of the standards we thought for a moment that he might be serious. It turns out that he just outsourced the decision to buy time, and the State Education Board has since decided to take no action.
Clearly, Phil Murphy did not hear voters when they said they wanted him to pump the brakes on remaking New Jersey into the California of the east.
The bottom line is that Murphy and Biden are running to their extremes to appeal to a far-left Democratic primary base, leaving us to deal with the consequences. Supporting Republican candidates starting in this month’s primary will show Democrats both in the legislature here and in Washington, D.C., who aid and abet these policies, that voters are paying attention and ready to hold them accountable.
_
Bob Hugin is Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee (NJGOP)
