By Matt Arco and Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Associated Press
Wednesday will mark 100 days since Democrat Phil Murphy took over for Republican Chris Christie as New Jersey governor.
So how's he done so far?
We asked a bunch of people in the know — state lawmakers, political scientists, a union official, an environmental leader, and Murphy himself — to give his first few months a letter grade. Here's what they said.
And we want to know what you think. You can give him your own grade below.
Former Gov. Tom Kean is shown in Madison last month.
Photo by Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
TOM KEAN
New Jersey governor 1982-90
GRADE: Incomplete
Kean, a Republican, gives Murphy "an A for aspirations."
"I think he's got the right priorities and this has been a time to set priorities, and I wish him well. The tough period is coming and that's what he'll be judged on and whether or not he's got an agenda, which I like, but then he has some proposals to pay for it that most people don't like. So there has to be some compromise."
Kean noted that Murphy's plan for free community college can "help with income inequality."
"A high school education is not enough, and some people just can’t afford county college. Enabling more people to have that chance is, of all the things you can do, that's probably one of the best things you can do to address income inequality across the country."
Kean said preschool for all children — another Murphy proposal — "is proven to be effective"
"But I don't think you can do it through all taxes. I think he's going to find some spending reductions." (Murphy proposes a new tax on millionaires, increasing the sales tax from 6.625 percent to 7 percent, taxing ride-sharing services like Uber and home-sharing services like Airbnb, and legalizing and taxing marijuana).
"He has wonderful, wonderful priorities. But if he doesn’t come through with them or does them all by raising taxes, I’ll give him a failing grade."
File photo
BRIGID HARRISON
Political science professor, Montclair State University
GRADE: B-/C+
Harrison said Murphy is "checking off policy boxes to placate constituencies who have felt neglected over the course of the Christie administration."
"And he is succeeding at doing that. But I also feel like he is missing the big picture in terms of his relationship with the state Legislature. And in doing so, he's potentially setting himself up for longterm failure."
Harrison noted that what Murphy should be doing now is "fostering a relationship" with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, the state's top lawmaker. Instead, Murphy and Sweeney have been off to a rocky start.
Working with Sweeney, Harrison said, is "the way to get funding for his policy initiatives passed, to avoid a government shutdown, and to get a budget favorable to his worldview or his view of what the state should look like."
"I think it's also in the best interests of the (Democratic) party and for the constituencies of New Jersey."
State Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, appears at a Murphy campaign event in North Brunswick in November.
Photo Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
RICHARD CODEY
Former governor and current state senator, D-Essex
GRADE: A
Codey, a close Murphy ally and the longest-serving state lawmaker in New Jersey history, said he'd give the governor an even greater grade if it weren't for one of his fashion choices.
"I'd give him an A+, but he's had his hat on backwards," Codey joked.
"He's shown he's a leader, and he's also shown he's a gentleman."
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (left) and Gov. Phil Murphy (right).
File photos
PATRICK MURRAY
Director, Monmouth Polling Institue
GRADE: Incomplete
Murray said so far, he can grade Murphy only on his style and work ethic.
"He's been able to sign a few bills, but they haven't been major. And it's not clear what his working relationship is going to be with the legislative leadership — in particular Steve Sweeney."
Murray said Murphy has shown "he wants to meet many of the promises he made to his constituent groups — including progressive causes and state workers unions — he's given every indication he's going to do that."
"If I were in those folks' shoes, I'd give him an A."
"But in terms of playing well with others in Trenton, his work so far has been unsatisfactory. And he's got a lot of work to do there."
JEFF TITTEL
Director, New Jersey Sierra Club
GRADE: C
The state chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the nation's oldest and largest environmental advocacy groups, were among Murphy's earliest supporters. And Tittel said compared to Christie, Murphy is "so much better."
"There's an old blues line: 'I've been down for so long, it all looks up to me.' After Gov. Christie, we have someone who actually believes in climate change and protecting the environment"
Tittel noted that Murphy has "done some very good things" — such as banning offshore drilling in New Jersey waters and picking a state Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Catherine McCabe, with a "strong background."
"But on the other side, there is real concern," he added.
That includes diverting more than $136 million in clean-energy funds to help give more money to beleaguered NJ Transit in his first state budget proposal, cutting the DEP budget, and opposing an appeal of a controversial $225 million pollution settlement between New Jersey and ExxonMobil.
Tittel also said there are unresolved issues like whether Murphy will sign the controversial nuclear bailout bill.
"We see the positives. But for almost every positive, there's been some negative. That's why I can't give him a better grade."
RONALD RICE
State senator and chairman of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, D-Essex
GRADE: B
Rice, a lawmaker for more than three decades who opposes the governor's plan to legalize marijuana, said Murphy has so far "kept his commitments" regarding "concerns for communities, particularly minority communities" by adding diversity to the administration and at state agencies, "where all the money is passing through for infrastructure and state contracts are being awarded where women and minorities are being discriminated against."
"I think from the black community perspective, we delivered 94 percent of the vote, and the commitment was that we would get the vote out, but in return he would keep his commitment that there would be diversity."
BEN DWORKIN
Director, the Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship at Rowan University
GRADE: B
Dworkin said Murphy has "clearly shifted the direction of Trenton from the Christie administration," including restoring funding for women's health, nominating a historically diverse cabinet, and more.
"Those were things who wanted a different direction in this state wanted, and he's doing it."
He also noted that a recent Monmouth University poll found Murphy has a 44 percent approval rating — higher than Christie and Jon Corzine at this point
But Dworkin said he can't give Murphy an A because there have been "some hiccups" — including the press complaining about access and growing pains that any new administration would have to deal with "to figure out the Trenton ecosystem."
CARL GOLDEN
Former press secretary for Republican Govs. Tom Kean and Christie Whitman
GRADE: C
Golden said Murphy's grade is "dragged down a bit" because of his differences with Sweeney and because the "centerpiece of his campaign" — his tax plan — has "gotten an extremely cool reception in the Legislature."
"What's interesting to me is: He doesn't have, outwardly anyway, any sense of urgency about this," Golden said, noting the governor is acting "as if it will all work out in the end."
Democrats, who control the state Legislature, must agree with Murphy on his tax plan before the state budget is due June 30. But so far, many have expressed doubts.
"He seems to talk in cliches 'I've got your back.' 'Help is on the way.' 'I'm mad as heck.' And there just doesn't seem to be much in the way of substance."
"I don't give him a C because of his ideas. He's got some ideas, he's got an agenda. But he doesn't seem to be out there selling the agenda."
SHIRLEY TURNER
State senator, D-Mercer
GRADE: A
The veteran lawmaker — who has served in the Legislature for 24 years — said she's been impressed with how Murphy has been trying to fulfill his campaign promises.
"Which is refreshing," Turner said.
That, she said, includes making sure his cabinet "reflects the diversity of New Jersey."
"And you certainly can't say he's not working," Turner added. "He's working very hard. He's like the Energizer Bunny. Every day he's out there. He's not like Donald Trump."
JON BRAMNICK
State Assembly minority leader, R-Union
GRADE: "F for affordability, B on hot-button social issues"
"He goes around the state and he concentrates on hot-button political issues and ignores the fact that people are leaving the state because they can't afford to live here," said Bramnick, the Assembly's top Republican. "And he's raising taxes."
MATTHEW HALE
Political science professor, Seton Hall University
GRADE: B-/C+
Hale said Murphy "hasn't made any major mistakes."
"He certainly hasn't hurt himself. He's done solid, adequate work in kicking off a progressive wish list."
But Murphy "hasn't really tackled the tough problems" — such as fixing school funding and public-worker pensions and instituting a millionaires tax and legal marijuana.
"All of the big-ticket items that are really gonna make things go, he hasn't gotten around to. He's done the pre-work. He's done the initial homework. But he's still got the big essay at the end of the course."
ANALILIA MEIJIA
Executive director, New Jersey Working Families Alliance
GRADE: A-
Mejia, whose group is an organization that pushes to help working families across the state, said she wants to give Murphy "a high mark" because he's fulfilling his campaign promises — such as instituting automatic voter registration, equal pay, and more.
"But I'm kind of hesitant to give him an A because I'm thinking about Barack Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize too early," she said with a laugh.
"I'll be honest: From our perspective, he definitely gets an A. But I also know that there needs to be more collaboration in terms of working with the Senate and Assembly. But it's unfair to grade him poorly on it because it's an open secret it's not for lack of effort."
"I'll give him an A- just because I want to keep him working hard."
Then-stat Sen. Raymond Lesniak (left) and then-candidate Phil Murphy (right) appear on the campaign trail in Princeton last year.
Aristide Economopoulos
RAYMOND LESNIAK
Former state senator, D-Union
GRADE: B
"He's doing a lot of good things, but the heavy lifts are yet to come," said Lesniak, who ran unsuccessfully against Murphy in last year's primary for the Democratic nomination for governor.
HOLLY SCHEPISI
State assemblywoman, R-Bergen
GRADE: B-/C+
Schepisi said she "wholeheartedly" disagrees with many of Murphy's policies, but she credits him for being "able to move forward" on some of them — such as expanding voting rights.
"The most important items that he pledged to get done, it appears he'll either not have the votes for or has not been able to move those initiatives forward. We're going to see a very long and hard budget process that is probably going to keep us at the Statehouse maybe past where we were last year."
RALPH CAPUTO
State assemblyman, D-Essex
GRADE: B+
The veteran Democratic lawmaker praised Murphy for being "very bold" about his policy proposals.
"He was very clear about it. He needs to get the support of our legislative leadership. Hopefully, they'll be able to come together on stuff."
GORDON MacINNES
President, New Jersey Policy Perspective
GRADE: B
MacInnes, a former state lawmaker who now runs this liberal think tank, said Murphy has "delivered promptly and energetically on his major campaign promises and themes" — such as "progressive taxes, rebuild NJTransit, lend a strong hand up for struggling working families via earned sick days, higher minimum wages, funded women’s health care and college aid for undocumented students."
"He’s adopted sensible, forward-looking proposals on clean energy and environmental protection. He’d get an A if he repaired his relations with legislative leaders and agreed to an essential, progressive revenue stream to begin Jersey’s climb out of the Christie-dug hole in education, transportation and environmental investments."
TOM BRACKEN
President, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
GRADE: Incomplete
The head of the state's business advocacy group said Murphy has spent the first 100 days "getting his message out there and saying hello to people and trying to change the dialogue between the governor's office at the population."
"And I think it's very premature to judge him on that goodwill tour that he's on," Bracken said.
He added that Murphy has done a good job "calming the state down" after Christie.
"He's coming in a little more user-friendly than the previous governor," Bracken said. "All that's positive."
"But as far as giving him a grade, he's talked about his stronger and fairer economy," he added. "And I think by his own admission, he's focused more on the fairer economy versus the stronger economy. But it's still early. All of us are hoping there will be more balance — that the stronger economy will come into play and balance it out over time."
Photo by Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
HETTY ROSENSTEIN
State director, Communication Workers of America
GRADE: A
The head of New Jersey's largest state workers union — which has long been a Murphy supporter — gave the new governor a number of top grades.
"A for the most outstanding and diverse cabinet New Jersey has ever seen," Rosenstein said.
"A for maintaining his commitment to what he campaigned on: women's health, equal pay, Dream Act, paid sick leave, Port Authority, voting rights."
"A for taking on (President Donald) Trump's attacks on New Jersey."
"A on building a coalition with other states on gun violence and working with New York on the Port Authority."
"A- for the budget. Excellent job on a presenting a first balanced budget that restores some taxes on millionaires so that we can make our economy stronger. Only an A- because he still has to see it through."
"B+ for a very good front office staff. They will get better with experience."
"A+ for not being Chris Christie. The governor is a tough but fair boss and he is respectful of everyone and cares about New Jersey instead of himself."
"A+ for being married to the smart, substantive and brave first lady, Tammy Murphy. Great kids, too."
JACK CIATTARELLI
Former state assemblyman, R-Somerset
GRADE: "Not a passing grade"
Ciattarelli, who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for governor last year and is considering running again in 2021, said Murphy has "done a number of things that may very, very popular with the Bernie Sanders loyalists."
"But I can't give him a passing grade when his first budget, in my mind, totally ignores New Jersey's fiscal crisis. His first budget is basically a status quo on school funding, pensions, and the property tax crisis."
Photo by Mel Evans | The Associated Press
GOV. PHIL MURPHY
Governor of New Jersey
GRADE: None
Yes, we asked the governor himself. He said his administration is "headed in the right direction, with still a lot to do."
"I don't want to spike any footballs," Murphy said Monday during an unrelated event in Newark.
But no letter grade?
"I don't believe in letter grades. I feel like we've gotten a lot done — more than I expected we get done. But again, I'm not spiking any footballs. We have a ways to go."
WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE PHIL MURPHY?
Now you get the chance to grade Phil Murphy and give him your report card!
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.
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