TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Phil Murphy told TV viewers Wednesday that millionaires “like me” should pay more in taxes as part of his push to increase rates on people earning more than $1 million.
Lawmakers are balking at the proposal, saying raising taxes isn’t the answer to New Jersey’s fiscal woes.
The first-term Democrat, who is a former Goldman Sachs executive, appeared in the 30-second spot as part of a campaign by New Direction NJ, an advocacy group headed by his allies. That could raise some eyebrows since Murphy recently vetoed a bill that would have required groups like New Direction to disclose donors who gave more than $10,000.
Murphy said the measure could run afoul of the U.S. Constitution. The bill’s Democratic sponsors didn’t say whether they would try to override the veto.
Murphy says he’s open to working with lawmakers on a compromise.
The issue came to light after New Direction had earlier said it would disclose its donors before reversing that decision. This week the state’s largest teacher’s union, New Jersey Education Association, said it had donated millions to the group. The disclosure came after a report in Politico identifying NJEA as a donor.
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