In his speech, Murphy claims the state budget is bigger because “that’s what happens when you finally pay your bills and you actually meet your obligation to the people.”

New Jersey’s current budget of $56.6 billion is $2.3 billion more than Murphy’s previous budget. It is also $758 million larger than the governor’s original proposal because Democrats in the Legislature tacked on hundreds of pork projects worth over $700 million. 

“Frivolous spending is not paying your bills,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) responded. “The budget is $20 billion dollars bigger than when he took office. The state of Georgia has 11 million people compared to New Jersey’s 9 million. Their budget is 40 billion dollars versus our $56.6 billion dollar budget. The state doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending program. You get your spending under control and you can lower the budget, which means it lowers our taxes.”

Get more speech highlights and Sauickie’s sharp critique in this episode of the reaction couch, “The Grim Reality Behind Murphy’s Fairy Tale.” 

WATCH: The Grim Reality Behind Murphy’s Fairy Tale | GOP Reaction Couch

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