Murphy defends appearing in ad to push millionaires tax in N.J. It's not 'poking the bear,' he says.

New Jersey’s top two state lawmakers have condemned a new TV ad featuring Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, pushing his proposal to increase income taxes on the state’s millionaires. One of them accused Murphy’s allies of using the commercial to divide lawmakers heading into likely tense state budget negotiations.

So is Murphy poking the bear by appearing in the ad?

The governor doesn’t think so.

“I don’t view it as poking the bear,” Murphy told reporters after an event in Lavallette to kick off Memorial Day weekend. “I don’t think this is controversial at all. They’re incredibly upbeat commercials.”

Plus, he said, his millionaires tax plan is a “no-brainer” supported by most New Jerseyans.

Read more: https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/05/its-not-poking-the-bear-murphy-defends-appearing-in-ad-to-push-millionaires-tax-in-nj.html