Free Republic

The all-out war South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross III declared against Gov. Phil Murphy this week won’t just be a battle of words. It will be a political firefight. Norcross, who’s at the center of criticism over how his company and other entities tied to him allegedly benefitted from lucrative tax incentives, all but said Murphy can expect to face a Democratic primary challenge in 2021.

George Norcross III, the South Jersey Democratic power broker long at odds with the governor, has declared all-out war on Phil Murphy, calling him a “liar” and “politically incompetent.” After enduring a steady drumbeat of criticism over how his company and other entities tied to him allegedly benefitted from lucrative tax incentives meant to help revive the city of Camden, Norcross went on the attack. He lambasted a special governor’s task force deployed to investigate the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in connection with those tax incentives, as well as the governor.

The other leader of the state Legislature has now rejected Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposal to pour another $250 million into property tax relief for New Jersey residents next year if lawmakers agree to his plan to raise taxes on millionaires. That means Murphy and his fellow Democrats who lead the Legislature could be headed for another tense state budget battle in the coming weeks — and raises the possibility once again of a state government shutdown. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said in a statement obtained by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday night that “I do not share the...

Activists affiliated with Movimento Cosecha today marched from Perth Amboy to the Woodbridge office of Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) in an effort to get establishment Democrats to commit to driver’s licenses for undocumented workers. “Half a million would benefit from this bill in New Jersey,” organizer Carlos Rojas Rodriguez told InsiderNJ, refering A-4743 sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20). He appreciated Coughlin appearing outside his office to greet the marchers. “But it didn’t sound like it was a priority for him for now,” said Rodriguez. “He didn’t give us a solid commitment and timeline to get this done before lawmakers...

The bitter war of words between Democrats that could lead to another state government shutdown in New Jersey raged into the night during the year's longest day. The state's Democrat-controlled Legislature defied Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by passing their own state budget Thursday night, despite the new governor's vow to veto it. And the body's top lawmaker accused Murphy of being dishonest and dictatorial. That came hours after closed-door negotiations broke down, with Murphy standing by his tax hike proposals and alleging his fellow Democrats are foolishly following in the footsteps of the state's previous -- unpopular -- governor, Republican...