Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Gov. Phil Murphy speaks with NJBIZ as his final days in office approach
- Discussion covers his legacy, the pandemic, budgets & major initiatives
- Murphy remains active during lame duck, signing bills and awarding grants
- Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill will be sworn in Jan. 20 at NJPAC in Newark
As the clock rapidly winds down on his time in office, NJBIZ caught up with Gov. Phil Murphy this week.
The wide-ranging discussion, which will be featured in the Jan. 12 issue of NJBIZ, hit on a number of subjects including the pandemic, budgets, economic legacy and key initiatives, his thoughts on his successor and more about his eight years in office.
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill takes the baton from the term-limited Murphy at noon Jan. 20, with her inauguration taking place at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Despite just days left in office, the governor has stayed quite busy – as he pledged to run through the tape. The last week alone included signing a major bill that will ban cell phones in schools next school year; announcing a next round of medical debt relief as well as historic low gun violence in 2025; codifying the New Jersey Innovation Authority; and awarding grant funding in areas such as campus infrastructure upgrades for colleges/universities, to clean tech startups and for strategic innovation centers.
There will be more bills to sign as the lame duck session comes to a close Jan. 12.
The next day, as the next New Jersey legislative session begins – the 222nd Legislature – Murphy delivers his final State of the State Address in Trenton.
Riding the wave
“What are you feeling right now as your time in office comes to a close?” NJBIZ asked Murphy during the Jan. 7 interview.
“I said to somebody yesterday – I don’t think I’ve been busier as governor than I am right now. It’s crazy,” Murphy told NJBIZ. “So, we obviously have a lot of bills coming our way. We’ve got more clemency initiatives. We’ve got medical debt relief. We’re rounding out appointments. Some farewell activity. State of the State Address next Tuesday.
“Just a tidal wave of stuff coming at us.”
He noted that because of that reality, he has not had as much time as he thought to reflect.
“But clearly, also beginning to get a little nostalgic – with 13 days to go. And that’s not surprising,” said Murphy. “I’m proud of what we’ve done – but know that we’re going sprint through the tape with a lot more to do.”
Highs and lows
“What are the parts of the job that you’ve really, truly enjoyed the most – and what are the parts of the job that maybe you’re not going to miss so much?” NJBIZ asked.
“Well, it’s overwhelmingly the former over the latter,” said Murphy. “If you were to force me to put a number on it – 95 to 5. The part I love the most is being with the residents of the state; with people whose real lives are being lived and impacted by some of the things we’re doing.
“I’ll give you an example. Just tomorrow, I’m getting prepped to go up to Ramsey in Bergen County to do a bell-to-bell cell phone bill signing,” he continued, referencing the Jan. 8 event referenced above, which NJBIZ reported on. “Which is a huge deal – that will change mental health outcomes for our young people dramatically for the better.
“So, just being at that school, at Ramsey High, and signing the bill and being with students and teachers and administrators . That’s one example of many I could give you. That’s the part that I love the most – being in the mix with our residents.”
He continued, “The stuff that’s not as much fun – there are tedious things from time-to-time. But that goes with every job. I think the ratio of gratifying or good to ungratifying or bad – I’ve had a lot of different jobs in my life. This is as wide a margin for the good as in any job I’ve ever had.”
Please stay with NJBIZ for the next part of this discussion hitting Jan. 12 – and for further coverage looking back on Murphy’s two terms as New Jersey’s governor.
