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Phil Murphy’s Office Using Taxpayer Resources to Help Wife’s Bid for Senate
By: Benyamin Davidsons
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has been using taxpayer resources to promote his wife’s bid for a seat in the US Senate, critics say. As reported by the NY Post, Gov. Murphy’s press office has shamelessly released several press releases to appear on the governor’s website — praising First Lady Tammy Murphy. following her announced run for senate. Mrs. Tammy Murphy, 58, who has been married to Gov. Murphy for 30 years and has served as First Lady since 2018, announced on November 15 that she would be running for senate.
On Nov. 20th, the governor’s website published a press release about his wife’s Announcement of an Introduction of Doula Access Bill, which would give “Doulas access to Hospitals and Birthing Facilities to Accompany Pregnant Mothers”. On Nov. 22, there was another release announcing that “Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy Invite New Jersey Residents to Holiday Open Houses at Drumthwacket” at the governor’s mansion in Princeton.
In mid-December, there was a press release on the governor’s page entitled, “First Lady Tammy Murphy today announced that six public members have been appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to serve on the Board of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority”. In January there were three more press releases all starring: “First Lady Tammy Murphy”.
Per the Post, critics say Mrs. Tammy Murphy has been using the position as first lady to push ahead in the contested Democratic primary race where she will faceoff against Congressman Andy Kim and possibly the incumbent whose seat they are vying for, Sen. Robert Menendez. Gov. Phil Murphy has been one of the Democratic voices calling on Senator Menendez to resign, amid bribery and corruption charges.
NJ Republicans have started to speak out against Tammy Murphy’s advantageous circumstance, alleging that her husband is inappropriately utilizing public resources, belonging to the governor’s office, to promote his wife’s campaign, as per the Post. “We finally understand: all of these years Phil Murphy promised that to make things ‘Stronger and Fairer,’ he was talking about his own marital harmony — not New Jersey,” said Alex Wilkes, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Republican Party. “His backwards policies have bankrupted everyone in this state who hasn’t already left, so it makes sense that he’s using the taxpayer dime to support this wife’s campaign: they’re some of the only ones left who can afford to stay here,” said Wilkes.
The office of Gov. Murphy defended the promotion of Tammy’s work on policy issues, especially in maternal health, saying she tackled them as first lady. “First Lady Tammy Murphy is proud to continue the impactful work she started six years ago through her Nurture NJ initiative to tackle our state’s maternal and infant health crisis and make New Jersey the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby,” said Tyler Jones, a spokesperson for the governor’s office. “In January 2021, First Lady Murphy unveiled the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Statewide Strategic Plan with a path and a promise to reduce maternal deaths by 50 percent over five years, and in partnership with thousands, this work must continue. Over the years, she has also worked to incorporate climate change education in K-12 learning standards and support women-owned businesses,” added Jones.
Mrs. Tammy Murphy’s focal point in her Senate campaign is maternal health, launching a “Moms for Murphy” team.
