PRESS RELEASE: Camden County GOP Chairman Breaks Silence On Murphy-Norcross Fight

This afternoon, via press release, Camden County Republican Chairman Richard Ambrosino weiged in on the war between Governor Phil Murphy and George Norcross. Ambrosino’s press release follows:

CHERRY HILL – Saying, “While it’s been fun to sit back and watch two heavyweight Democrats publicly tear each other apart, I can no longer remain silent” Camden County Republican Chairman Rich Ambrosino weighed in on the Democratic Party civil war between Governor Phil Murphy and George Norcross today.

“While this fight has shown us the Governor now sees Camden County as more than just a place to dump brine and rock salt, if this public fight were only about tax incentives I might continue to sit on the sidelines and watch,” Ambrosino said. “We can argue all day about whether tax incentives are good or bad, but this particular program, instituted under former Governor Chris Christie was a good idea gone bad. The program went bad as soon as someone decided it was a good idea to use these tax incentives to move companies and their tax dollars from the suburbs to Camden City.”

Ambrosino asked, “When did it become fair to rob tax dollars from one community to attempt to build up another?”

“As to the fight between Murphy and Norcross we all know it’s about control of their party and not just tax incentives,” Ambrosino said. “And, at least in Camden County, Democrats, be they part of the machine or the insurgent column 4 Democrats, have no one to blame but themselves.”

“Both the insurgent Democrats and the machine Democrats have been voting for the Norcross machine for 28 years,” Ambrosino continued. “One need only look at a May 2006 Philadelphia Magazine article to learn two of the three ‘Three Amigos,’ state Senator Jim Beach and freeholder Jeff Nash, Norcross’ original 1991 ‘dream team,’ still hold office in Camden County.”

“After 28 years of doing the same thing over and over it’s time for folks to spare us the phony outrage,” Ambrosino said. “In Camden County the past 28 years have corrupted the democratic process and led to a public fight with the state’s governor. To restore law, order, ethics and transparency to local government it’s time for Camden County voters to stop voting the way they’ve voted for nearly three decades and end the status quo.”

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Phil Murphy Loves Tax Incentives, Unless They Involve One Of His Political Enemies

Gov Phil Murphy

Just last week I wrote in the blog that Republicans probably shouldn’t get too excited over the war between Governor Phil Murphy and Democratic power broker George Norcross and some of my fellow Republicans thought I was nuts. We said the same thing on the radio show and callers to the show weren’t happy with us.

We’ve been accused of defending Norcross and/or siding with him. We’re defending nor siding with either side in this conflict. Like many others, we’re simply interested observers.

But there’s a reason, several reasons actually, that both Bob and I have said Republicans shouldn’t get too excited over this war. While we do understand the theory of “my enemy’s enemy is my friend,” we also understand Murphy is never going to be helpful to Republicans.

And just this morning the folks at the Bergen Record made that point for us pointing out that Murphy is a big, giant hypocrite because he wants Republican appointees to the Economic Development Authority to resign even though “Murphy's Democratic Cabinet members and appointees chosen by Democratic legislative leaders — voted in lockstep with the Republican appointees…”

Here it is from NorthJersey.com:

Gov. Phil Murphy is demanding that some of the political appointees on the Economic Development Authority board resign, saying it is a moment to "turn the page" at an agency that approved nearly $11 billion in tax breaks that the state comptroller said lacked adequate controls and oversight. 

But it appears Murphy is not trying to turn the full page in his unsuccessful bid to remake the troubled agency's board. 

Since Murphy took office in January 2018, all of the authority's members — including Murphy's Democratic Cabinet members and appointees chosen by Democratic legislative leaders — voted in lockstep with the Republican appointees he wants to resign on every occasion to approve 37 projects, according to a NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey analysis.

And then, later in the article, the Bergen Record drove home the point that Murphy is a hypocrite:

The incentives approved under Murphy totaled $470 million, according to the analysis of Economic Development Authority documents. That's separate from the nearly $11 billion awarded since 2005 which are under investigation, but the voting record does not seem to align with the logic behind Murphy's attempt to restock the board with like-minded leaders.

So, while I still think it’s fun to watch the Murphy-Norcross war please don’t ever think Murphy is going to be helpful to Republicans. And, don’t think Murphy, win or lose his personal war with Norcross, will ever put an end to tax incentives.

Murphy loves tax incentives! The “Snooki Amendment” gave $425 million of tax incentives to the film industry. Murphy happily accepted $165 million in tax incentives for Goldman Sachs to build a tower in Jersey City and tried to shake down NYC for tax incentives while the Jersey City tower was being built.

And, don’t forget, Murphy practically begged Amazon to come to North Jersey by offering up $5 billion in tax incentives.

It’s obvious Phil Murphy loves tax incentives – unless they involve one of his political enemies.

For Republicans, the best course of action is still not to take a side. Just sit back and see who wins the Murphy-Norcross war. It’s still fun to watch.

Press Conference in Camden At 1PM Today To Complain About Problems Those Holding The Press Conference Have Only Themselves To Blame For

Now that surrogates are lining up to fight in the war between Governor Phil Murphy and George Norcross don’t expect the fight to end any time soon.

Last week Camden’s mayor, two former governors, corporate and union leaders got together to praise the tax incentives that are at the center of the Murphy-Norcross war.

Thanks to the folks over at InsiderNJ I learned there will be a press conference in Camden at 1PM today featuring “The Camden We Choose Coalition, Camden residents, NAACP, National Action Network, Camden Teachers Union, Camden Parents Union, CWA, Camden High Alumni association, Concerned Black Clergy, and others.”

I get it, lots of folks, both Democrats and Republicans are using the Murphy-Norcross war to take shots at Norcross. Pretty much everybody the Norcross machine has defeated hates the man. Why not use the opportunity?

What I don’t get is they all know Murphy is a terrible governor. Why praise the man? The folks holding today’s press conference heaped praise on Murphy, saying in their release:

The Governor is more than welcome in Camden, and in fact we invite him here. 89% of Camden residents voted for Governor Murphy in 2017, and he’s been a strong supporter of the City since his election. We look forward to working with him to make Camden even stronger.

In what world has Governor Murphy been a “strong supporter” of Camden? I didn’t think Murphy even knew South Jersey exists. I may not have always agreed with former Governor Chris Christie and definitely didn’t like some of his visits to Camden, but like it or not, Christie did more for Camden than Murphy ever will. I won’t mention his name, but I do recall during the last gubernatorial election being told by a Camco freeholder that he was voting for Christie in his reelection because he did more for Camden than any other governor.

So, these folks are going to join Murphy’s side in this war. I’m also willing to bet at least some of the column 4 insurgent Democrats will appear at today’s press conference. And, this press conference will change nothing. The column 4 Democrats will lose in the June primary and then come November they will vote for the very people they are running against.

I don’t mind the Murphy-Norcross war, it’s likely going to yield some good issues for Camco Republicans to run on. What I do mind is that it will change nothing come November. Camden voters will vote the same as they’ve done for longer than I’ve been able to vote – straight Democrat.

83 years with a Democrat as mayor. 46 years with a Democrat in the state Senate and the state Assembly. 44 years with a Democrat in Congress. The same people holding this press conference are responsible for the issues they’re complaining about. They have no one to blame but themselves.