Murphy transition: A spat with Christie followed by Cabinet picks

Gov.-elect Phil Murphy began his week with an informal indoctrination into politics in the Chris Christie era: winding up on the receiving end of one of the Republican governor's patented lacerating counter-punches. It's a position any critic, politician or reporter who's hung around the State House for some time knows well. But Murphy brushed it off and moved on in what was an otherwise busy week in which he filled major Cabinet posts and planned to set off for storm-ravaged Puerto Rico. Details on his active week follow. 

Budget clash with Christie 

The tension between Murphy and Christie leaked into public view at the beginning of the week when correspondence between the two disputing the health of state finances was published by Politico New Jersey.

Murphy had identified more than $1 billion in budget shortfalls and wrote to Christie asking him to follow a series of steps, which he said were identical to the ones Christie had asked of outgoing Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine nine years ago, to "ensure that these budget challenges are not worsened during this transition period." The steps included freezing spending on multiple fronts, putting certain accounts in reserves and to notify him and his staff of major transactions. 

Murphy personally signed the letter, "Chris — Deep appreciation for this and for all!" 

Christie responded with a four-page letter disputing Murphy's figures line by line. He said he could "only wish to have inherited a budget in the shape that I am passing to you" and said Murphy was relying on "obviously inaccurate, second-hand information." 

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Christie also dug into Murphy and his transition operation wherever he could, calling his staff inexperienced and obliquely criticizing the Democrat's use of non-disclosure forms with his transition members. 

"As you might imagine, I was shocked to be informed that your personal letter to me (along with a wonderful handwritten note at the bottom), has come into the possession of the press before before I was even able to craft a reply," Christie wrote. "I assume you were not involved in this action; it just must be a fault of your elaborate non-disclosure agreement process which I am confident you will attend to immediately." 

Later in the week Christie condemned the leak of the correspondence and said he hopes that it doesn't signal a plan of "governing by leaking." 

Filling the Cabinet

With a heavy emphasis on diversity, Murphy named the next attorney general and treasurer. Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal is his selection for the state's top law enforcement position, while Democratic Assemblywoman Elizabeth Maher Muoio was tapped for treasurer. If they are confirmed, Grewal would be the first South Asian attorney general in the country and Muoio would be the second female treasurer in state history. 

That makes three Cabinet selections Murphy has made so far. The other is Lt. Gov.-elect Sheila Oliver, who will lead the Department of Community Affairs. He has 20 more spots to fill. 

Sticking to the plan

In an interview with The Record, Murphy said he is moving ahead with his financial agenda despite identifying budget uncertainties and seeing signals from Democratic leadership that portions of his plan will move through the Legislature. He has plans to raise revenues by about $1.3 billion a year through various taxes. 

Murphy said his biggest financial worry heading into office is the Republican tax overhaul in Congress, which many analysts and even Republican lawmakers say would harm property owners in New Jersey. He said at the beginning of the week, as federal lawmakers worked to reconcile different versions of the bill, that he was working with the state's delegation to defeat it even though it's "two outs in the ninth inning." But by the end of the week there was a runner in scoring position, after Republicans announced they had agreed on a plan to send to President Donald Trump by Christmas. 

Murphy did not say in the interview if he had a Plan B if the tax plan passed. 

Transition promises 

Murphy spoke to a ballroom full of transition members on Thursday in a brief speech intended to pump them up about their roles in helping to create the "stronger and fairer" economy he's been promising since he first launched his campaign last year. 

The committees will create reports to be delivered to Murphy, and he promised they will not just gather dust once he takes office. As an example, Murphy said he'll create a governor's jobs and economic opportunity council, modeled after the economic councils under presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The council will be charged, Murphy said, with "developing and reviewing policy, budgetary actions and legislation to create jobs, strengthen New Jersey's education and workforce development strategies, and take the lead on maximizing federal funding and coordinating philanthropic partnerships." 

Another example comes from the transition environment and energy committee, which recommended a statewide initiative to reduce lead poisoning. He said that "within the first 100 days" he will direct the appropriate state agencies "to coordinate efforts to reduce exposure to lead poisoning in our schools and in our homes and get services to children who are already affected by lead." 

The reports, he hopes, will help guide him and Oliver to "revolutionize the way our state operates." 

Day trip to Puerto Rico 

Murphy had planned a Friday trip with his wife, Tammy, and a delegation of New Jerseyans to Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory decimated by a pair of hurricanes several weeks ago. Murphy's itinerary included a meeting with Gov. Ricardo Rossello and his wife, Beatriz, a visit to Bayamon Regional Hospital with Secretary of Health Rafael Rodriguez Mercado and a visit to a shelter.

Nearly two dozen people were scheduled to join Murphy on the trip, including Sens. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Nellie Pou and Teresa Ruiz, and Assemblywomen Annette Chapparo and Annette Quijano, as well as incoming Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez. Ralph Izzo, president and chief executive of Public Service Electric & Gas, was also a member of the delegation. The group was scheduled to return Friday night.