>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED AND PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

♪ ♪ >>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS" WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, I'M RAVEN SANTANA IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

GOVERNOR MURPHY LAYING OUT WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN A 37-MINUTE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH TODAY.

RIGHT OUT THE GATES ADDRESSING THE WAR AGAINST THE VIRUS AND ACKNOWLEDGING UNDERSTANDING THE FRUSTRATION SO MANY ARE EXPERIENCING AS WE ENTER YEAR THREE OF THIS PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR REDECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC, WHILE TOUTING THAT CLOSE TO 90% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE HAVE AT LEAST ONE VACCINE DOSE, AND 75% HAVE GOTTEN TWO SHOTS.

DESCRIBING THE STATE AS A BEACON OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND SAYING WE WILL NEVER LET THE VIRUS CONQUER US.

THE GOVERNOR EMPHASIZING HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CALLING THE STATE FAIRER AND STRONGER, CLAIMING TO LOWER TAXES 14 TIMES AND PROMISING NOT TO RAISE THEM IN HIS NEXT BUDGET PROPOSAL AGAIN.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO NOTING THAT HE'S MOVING NEW JERSEY FORWARD THROUGH NEW POLICIES IN GUN SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, CRIME REFORM, REVAMPING NJ TRANSIT AND RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $13.

IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS ONE NEW PROPOSAL IN THIS YEAR'S SPEECH A PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY PLAN WHICH HE PLANS TO PRESENT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

FINALLY, ENDING THE SPEECH ENDING RESIDENTS TO WORK TOGETHER SO THAT OPPORTUNITY, AFFORDABILITY AND FAIRNESS MUST BE LINKED FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

HERE IS THE GOVERNOR.

>> MY FELLOW NEW JERSEYANS, OUR STATE CONSTITUTION DEEMS TODAY THE DAY ON WHICH I COME TO REPORT TO YOU ON THE STATE OF OUR STATE.

THAT ACCOUNTING IS CLEAR, THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS RESILIENT AND READY TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS WHO WE ARE AS NEW JERSEYANS.

WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES AND WE BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER AND WE KNOW NOTHING IS BEYOND OUR REACH BECAUSE NOTHING IS BEYOND OUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARD.

UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION I WILL ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RETURNING HERE IN ONE WEEK'S TIME TO REAFFIRM MY OATH AND TO BEGIN A SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

I AM EXTRAORDINARILY HONORED AND HUMBLED BY THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE GIVEN ME AND I AM EXCITED BY THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LAY AHEAD FOR OUR STATE.

AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, I WILL BE BACK SIX WEEKS AFTER THAT TO PROPOSE MY BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

SO OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AND INDEED THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF EACH OTHER.

I WILL DO MY BEST TO NOT WEAR OUT MY WELCOME.

WE BEGIN 2022 JUST AS WE DID 2021, I'M ONCE AGAIN ADDRESSING YOU FROM AN EMPTY THEATER.

OUR STATE REMAINS ON A WAR FOOTING AGAINST A VIRUS THAT HAS NOW TAKEN ON A FORM THAT IS OVERWHELMING OUR COLLECTIVE PSYCHE, AS IT TESTS OUR STATE.

WE ARE ALL FRUSTRATED BY THIS PANDEMIC.

WE ARE ALL TIRED OF IT GETTING IN THE WAY OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

WE ARE ALL READY TO GET ON WITH OUR LIVES, AND I AM COMMITTED TO SEEING US GET THERE.

TO SCHOOLS WHERE OUR KIDS' SMILES ONCE AGAIN LIGHT UP THE HALLWAYS AND CLASSROOMS, TO MAIN STREET STORES AND RESTAURANTS WHERE COMMUNITIES CAN ONCE AGAIN COME ALIVE.

TO SPORTS ARENAS WHERE CHEERS ARE ONCE AGAIN HEARD LOUDLY AND CLEARLY.

TO LIVING ROOMS WHERE WE CAN ONCE AGAIN FREELY GATHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WHETHER FOR A HOLIDAY, A BIRTHDAY OR JUST ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

AND TO WORKPLACES THAT ARE, AGAIN, FULLY SAFE AND HUMMING WITH THE PROMISE OF A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.

IT HAS INDEED BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARILY LONG TWO YEARS, YET AS INCONVENIENT AS LIFE IS FOR SO MANY OF US, IT PALES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT SOME HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOSS THAT HAS HIT SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE WILL FOREVER HONOR THE TREMENDOUS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF ALL OF THE WOMEN AND MEN WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES, ESPECIALLY THE DOCTORS, THE NURSES AND STAFF ACROSS OUR ENTIRE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

HARD WORK, EVEN IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGE, DOES NOT DETER US AS NEW JERSEYANS.

HARD WORK ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGE DEFINES US.

JUST AS WE THOUGHT WE HAD FINALLY GOTTEN AHEAD OF COVID, THE OMICRON VARIANT CAME ALONG.

OMICRON IS DOING ITS BEST TO STOP US IN OUR TRACKS AND PUSH US BACK.

WE WILL NOT LET IT.

WE ARE SEEING NEW CASE COUNTS THAT DWARF ANYTHING WE HAD SEEN TO THIS POINT, UPWARDS OF FOUR TIMES AS MANY NEW JERSEYANS HAVE COVID TODAY THAN DID ONE YEAR AGO.

30,000 NEW CASES A DAY.

MORE NEW CASES DAY TO DAY THAN EVEN AT THE PANDEMIC START.

EVEN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ILLNESS FROM OMICRON CAN BE LESS SEVERE IS OF LITTLE SOLACE AS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF CASES EVEN WITH THE LOWER PERCENTAGE CHANCE OF HOSPITALIZATION THAT COMES WITH THEM MEAN THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN OUR HOSPITALS TODAY THAN AT ANY POINT SINCE THE SPRING OF 2020.

AND IT MEANS THAT MORE OF OUR FELLOW NEW JERSEYANS ARE LEAVING US ALL TOO SOON.

IN CONSULTATION WITH MY PARTNERS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I HAVE TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEP OF REDECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TO ENSURE WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD, GUIDED BY FACTS AND SCIENCE, AND THAT WE KEEP DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BEAT BACK OMICRON AND PUT COVID BEHIND US.

IN YOUR DAY TO DAY LIVES THIS STEP WON'T BRING REALLY ANY CHANGES, BUT IT IS VITAL TO ENSURING OUR CONTINUED AND COORDINATED RESPONSE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND PUT COVID BEHIND US.

A RESPONSE THAT KEEPS OUR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND ECONOMY OPEN, AND ALLOWS US TO GET BACK TO A REAL AND LASTING SENSE OF NORMAL.

A RESPONSE THAT ENSURES CRITICAL TESTING SUPPLIES AND VACCINES CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED AND GIVEN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO MOST NEED THEM.

A RESPONSE THAT PROTECTS THE ABILITY OF OUR HOSPITALS TO CARE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF NEW JERSEYANS ENTERING THEM BECAUSE OF COVID EVERY SINGLE DAY.

A RESPONSE THAT ENSURES WE ARE GETTING THE DATA WE NEED FROM ACROSS OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO MAKE SMART AND FORWARD-LOOKING DECISIONS.

A RESPONSE THAT KEEPS STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES WORKING TOGETHER.

AND A RESPONSE THAT ENSURES WE KEEP FOLLOWING SCIENCE AND FACT AND NOT POLITICS SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND WE MUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER.

BUT TRY AS IT MAY TO KNOCK US BACK AND FURTHER DIVIDE US, ONE THING IS CERTAIN, OMICRON HAS NOT KNOCKED US DOWN.

TODAY NEW JERSEY IS WORKING AGAIN FOR THE MANY, NOT THE FEW.

WE HAVE GREATER TAX FAIRNESS.

WE HAVE CUT TAXES FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR SENIORS 14 TIMES, AND I COMMIT TO YOU NOW THAT THE STATE BUDGET I PROPOSE IN A FEW WEEKS WILL NOT RAISE TAXES.

WE HAVE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE, STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MORE AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION.

OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING AGAIN.

ACROSS THE NINE YEARS BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, NEW JERSEY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH RANKED 47th AMONG ALL AMERICAN STATES.

TODAY WE RANK FOURTH.

FROM 47th TO 4th, THAT IS REAL PROGRESS, DESPITE ALL WE'VE OPINION THROUGH AND ALL WE STILL FACE.

OUR STATE IS GROWING AGAIN.

FOR YEARS WE WERE FED A LINE THAT NO ONE WANTED TO BE A PART OF OUR NEW JERSEY FAMILY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

OUR POPULATION IS GROWING.

OUR REAL ESTATE MARKET IS STRONG.

AND WE'RE MAKING MORE PROGRESS AGAINST PROPERTY TAXES THAN ANY ADMINISTRATION BEFORE US.

THROUGH THE POLICIES WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE, OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS SLOWED THE RATE OF PROPERTY TAX GROWTH MORE THAN ANY OF THE PREVIOUS FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS.

A RECORD THAT, BY THE WAY, INCLUDES FOUR OF THE LOWEST YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES ON RECORD.

OVER THE NEXT SIX OR SO WEEKS OUR ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE UNDERTAKING THE WORK OF CRAFTING OUR PROPOSAL FOR THE FISCAL 2023 STATE BUDGET.

THAT DOCUMENT IS WHERE THE VISION WE SET OUT TODAY IS BROUGHT NOT JUST INTO RELIEF, BUT BROUGHT TO LIFE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON A BROAD-BASED ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST A LUCKY FEW.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAKING NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.

WE WILL CONTINUE SEEKING FAIRNESS FOR OUR MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYERS AND WORKING FAMILIES AND SENIORS TO DELIVER FOR THEM WITH CONCRETE BENEFITS THAT MAKE THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER.

AS I MENTIONED, THE BUDGET I PUT FORWARD WILL NOT COME WITH ANY TAX INCREASES.

WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK TAKING ON THE ONE ISSUE THAT HAS STOOD IN THE WAY OF TOO MANY NEW JERSEY FAMILIES FOR FAR TOO LONG, PROPERTY TAXES.

FOUR YEARS AGO WE SET OUT TO BUILD A STRONGER AND FAIRER NEW JERSEY THAT WOULD WORK FOR EVERY FAMILY AND IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

WE SET OUT TO MAKE A MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE RESPONSIVE NEW JERSEY.

WELL, WE ARE WHO WE SAID WE WOULD BE, BOLDLY PROGRESSIVE, BUT ALSO PRAGMATIC.

AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING BOTH.

NOTE THAT I SAY ACCOMPLISHING, NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

WE STILL HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO.

WE ARE STILL CLEARING AWAY THE LONG FALLEN BRUSH THAT HAS BLOCKED THE PATH TO OPPORTUNITY FOR TOO MANY NEW JERSEYANS.

SO THIS IS OUR SHARED TASK FOR THE YEAR AHEAD, A STRONGER NEW JERSEY WHERE WE CREATE OPPORTUNITY AND INCREASE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE YOU WANT NEW JERSEY TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.

A FAIRER NEW JERSEY WHERE WE WORK FOR TAX FAIRNESS AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, BECAUSE YOU WANT A FAIR SHOT AT A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE AND AT YOUR AMERICAN DREAM.

AND A NEW JERSEY WHERE WE CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC TOGETHER.

THIS IS WHAT YOU EXPECT.

MOREOVER, THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH AND WITH COMMON PURPOSE.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T OR EVEN CAN'T DISAGREE, BUT IT SHOULD MEAN THAT COMPROMISE AND COMMON SENSE ARE NOT DIRTY WORDS.

THE RESPONSE TO AN IDEA WITH WHICH WE DISAGREE SHOULDN'T BE NO, PERIOD, BUT RATHER NO, BUT, MEANING AN OPENNESS TO COOPERATION AND NEGOTIATION.

TO GIVE AND TAKE NOT A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

LET'S ALWAYS BE MINDFUL OF THE WORDS OF THE LATE JOHN LEWIS, AND I QUOTE HIM, WE'RE ONE PEOPLE, WE'RE ONE FAMILY, WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE.

WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON ACROSS THE NATION, AND AS WE WORK TO BRING OUR STATE OUT FROM UNDER THE CLOUD OF COVID, THESE WORDS RING TRUE IN NEW JERSEY.

LET'S PLEDGE TO PUT THE NEEDS OF EVERY NEW JERSEYAN BEFORE THE WANTS OF OUR PARTY OR ANY SINGLE PERSON IN IT.

LET'S STOP SHOUTING DOWN EACH OTHER AND GET BACK TO TALKING WITH EACH OTHER.

LET'S PROVE THAT OUR WORDS HAVE ACTUAL VALUE AND MEANING, AND LET'S PROVE THAT OUR BEST DAYS AREN'T IN OUR REARVIEW MIRROR.

LET'S GRAB THAT MORE AFFORDABLE NEW JERSEY, A NEW JERSEY RICH WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WILLING TO WORK HARD, WHICH IS JUST AHEAD OF US.

THANK YOU ALL.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES WITH A HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

>> AND THAT WAS GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY DELIVERING HIS FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

JOINING ME NOW TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN IS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUZ, SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR COLLEEN O'DEA AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL ARON.

SO WHAT ARE EVERYONE'S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE SPEECH?

COLLEEN, I WILL START WITH YOU.

>> YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED MORE LIKE A FOUR-YEAR SPEECH THAN A SINGLE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

YOU KNOW, HE WENT BACK AND TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER HIS FIRST TERM AND MAYBE THAT'S APPROPRIATE GIVEN HE IS FINISHING HIS FIRST TERM, BUT THERE WASN'T AN AWFUL LOT OF NEW STUFF IN THERE, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF MEAT THERE I DIDN'T THINK.

>> AND, DAVID, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YEAH, I WAS KIND OF TAKEN BY THE LACK OF PROPOSALS IN THE SPEECH AS WELL.

I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SADDLED WITH FIGHTING A PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE SECOND YEAR OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, SO THAT'S BEEN THE FOCUS AND RIGHTLY SO OF HIS LAST COUPLE OF STATES OF THE STATE ADDRESS, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AFFORDS A GOVERNOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BULLY PULPIT AT HIS DISPOSAL AND TO MAYBE BRING OUT SOME PROPOSALS THERE THAT HE CAN THEN PROMOTE FOR THE WEEK AFTER THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, BUT I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR SPEECH STOOD OUT TO ME BECAUSE IT REALLY HAD A LACK OF ANY NEW PROPOSALS.

AS COLLEEN SAID, SEEMED TO RECAP, YOU KNOW, THE FOUR YEARS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE SPEECH MAY BE THINKING, WELL, THAT'S BEEN A GREAT RUN, WE JUST REELECTED YOU, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?

>> RIGHT.

GOOD POINT.

AND, MICHAEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> I HAVE SEEN ABOUT 40 STATE OF THE STATES, USUALLY THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE OF THE STATE IS GOOD, OR THE STATE OF THE STATE IS EXCELLENT.

THIS GOVERNOR SAID THE STATE OF THE STATE IS RESILIENT.

OBVIOUSLY AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE PAIN WE'RE ALL FEELING THROUGH THIS CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.

MY COLLEAGUES ARE RIGHT, THERE WERE VERY FEW PROPOSALS FOR ANYTHING GRAND IN HIS SECOND TERM, BUT THIS IS A SLIGHTLY MORE MODEST MURPHY WHO IS PRESENTING HIMSELF NOW.

THIS IS THE MURPHY WHO ALMOST LOST REELECTION AND HAS BEEN SHAKING THAT OFF EVER SINCE.

IT'S JUST UNCLEAR WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE THE STATE NEXT, EXCEPT KEEP ON KEEPING ON WAS KIND OF THE THEME OF THIS SPEECH.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE LISTENING TO THE SPEECH I REALLY ONLY HEARD ONE NEW PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY PLAN.

I MEAN, DID ANYONE HEAR ANYTHING NEW?

COLLEEN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, RAVEN.

AND WE REALLY GOT VERY LITTLE DETAIL OTHER THAN HIS SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CENTERED AROUND MAKING PRICES MORE TRANSPARENT.

SO THAT'S ALL WE HEARD ABOUT THAT.

I PRESUME WE WILL BE HEARING MORE IN THE DAYS TO COME.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE INNOVATION EVERGREEN FUND AND THAT'S GOING TO START DOING ITS THING THIS YEAR.

IT'S A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING TECH STARTUPS, BUT ACTUALLY THAT DATES BACK A FEW YEARS INTO HIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT HE SAID IS THAT HE WAS GOING TO REDECLARE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THOSE WERE THE THREE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME AS BEING NEW.

>> DAVID, THIS IS NOW HIS FOURTH STATE OF THE STATE, CLEARLY DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT FROM HIS FIRST SPEECH, BUT WAS THIS DIFFERENT FROM HIS LAST ONE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DEFY ANYBODY TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE IF WE RAN LAST YEAR'S SPEECH AND THIS YEAR'S SPEECH.

I MEAN, I KID THE GOVERNOR, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, COLLEEN BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT IN TALKING ABOUT THE STUFF THAT WAS NEW IN THERE.

REDECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE THE FIRST POINT WHERE THIS GOVERNOR WILL COLLIDE WITH THE NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP IN THE SENSE THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO REAUTHORIZE THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS AND SO THE GOVERNOR IS KIND OF, IT APPEARS TO BE BYPASSING THEM AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM SOME FOLKS IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE THINKING THAT THIS IS A FRESH NEW EMERGENCY DECLARATION, WITH ALL NEW POWERS THAT ARE INHERENT IN AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE INTERPRETS THAT THE SAME WAY AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTENTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> AND, MICHAEL, YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THESE SPEECHES, AS NOTED BEFORE, FOR YEARS.

SO WAS THIS SUCCESSFUL AND DID HE HIT THE RIGHT NOTE?

>> IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN A MODEST WAY.

HE HIT THE RIGHT NOTES.

I HAVE ONE QUIBBLE, EITHER TWO OR THREE TIMES HE SAID THAT NEW JERSEY HAS GONE FROM 47th IN ECONOMIC GROWTH WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE TO 4th TODAY.

HE DIDN'T GIVE A CITATION ON THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ACCORDING TO WHOM.

IS THAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" GIVING US THAT MUCH CREDIT OR IS IT SOME THINK TANK WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF?

IT WAS NOT AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH, IT WAS -- IT WAS A SPEECH IN PROSE NOT POETRY.

IT DID ITS JOB AND NOW HE HAS TWO MORE SPEECHES TO HAVE TO WRITE AND READ, AN INAUGURAL SPEECH AND A BUDGET SPEECH.

>> COLLEEN, MICHAEL AND DAVID, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING ME.

AND FOR THE FULL SPEECH, REACTIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE AND ADDITIONAL REPORTING, HEAD TO NGSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG.

>>> AS WE HEARD FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HE IS REDECLARING A PUBLIC EMERGENCY, ONCE AGAIN GIVING HIMSELF BROAD POWERS ON PANDEMIC-RELATED ISSUES LIKE TESTING, VACCINES AND MASKS, INCLUDING AN EXTENSION OF MASKING REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLS AND DAY CARES.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES A DAY AFTER STATE LAWMAKERS DECLINED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MURPHY'S REQUEST TO EXTEND MORE THAN 100 OF HIS EMERGENCY POWERS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

MURPHY LIFTED THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY LAST JUNE BUT STATE LAWMAKERS AGREED TO KEEP ABOUT A DOZEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN PLACE.

THOSE ORDERS WERE SET TO EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

MURPHY ANNOUNCED AT A COVID BRIEFING YESTERDAY THAT HE INTENDED TO KEEP THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS IN PLACE, A MOVE THAT ANGERED OUTGOING STATE SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEETIE AND OTHER LAWMAKERS WHO SAID THE GOVERNOR DID NOT INFORM THEM OF HIS DECISIONS AHEAD OF TIME.

AT NOON TODAY ALL 120 MEMBERS OF THE 220th STATE LEGISLATURE WERE SWORN IN, PICKING OFF A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S A CLEAN SLATE FOR LAWMAKERS AND MEANS ANY BILLS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK IN THE LAST SESSION WILL GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

IT ALSO MEANS THERE WILL BE SOME NEW FACES IN THE HALLS OF THE STATE HOUSE FOLLOWING A TUMULTUOUS ELECTION THAT SAW A NUMBER OF LONG-TIME LAWMAKERS LOSE BIDS TO KEEP THEIR SEATS.

DEMOCRATS STILL HOLD THE POWER IN BOTH CHAMBERS, BUT THERE'S SLIMMER MAJORITIES THIS TIME AROUND AND THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY IS MAKING SURE ITS VOICE IS HEARD.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, SENATE PRESIDENT SKATARI.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Reporter: COLLEAGUES APPLAUDED AFTER DEMOCRAT NICK SKATARI TOOK THE OATH AS THE BRAND-NEW SENATE PRESIDENT SIGNALING A MAJOR SHIFT IN LEADERSHIP.

HE SUCCEEDS STEVE SWEENEY WHO RAN THE UPPER HOUSE FOR A SOLID DECADE.

HE WILL PRESIDE WITH ONE LESS DEMOCRAT, BUT A 24/16 MAJORITY AND PROMISED COOPERATION ON PRIORITY ITEMS.

>> GOOD PAYING JOBS, HEALTHY AND VIBRANT EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AND AN ECONOMY RESURRECTED FROM THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.

TO MY FRIENDS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I VOW TO BE AS BIPARTISAN AS POSSIBLE.

TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY NEED, WHICH IS TO FIND COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACING THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: HE DID FACE OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRAT NIA GILL A MEMBER OF THE BLACK CAUCUS WHO DEPLORED THE LACK OF DIVERSITY AMONG SENATE LEADERSHIP.

>> WHEN POWER IS CONCENTRATED IN THE HANDS OF THE FEW MILLIONS ARE DISENFRANCHISED AND THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT ARE SILENCED.

>> Reporter: SCATARI SWON ON A VOICE VOTE.

CRAIG COUGHLIN WILL DEMAND A 12-VOTE MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY.

WE WILL FACE HOW TO APPROACH GOVERNOR MURPHY'S DECLARATION OF ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AFTER OUTGOING SENATOR SWEENEY YANKED BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED HIS EMERGENCY POWERS FOR 45 DAYS.

LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OBJECTED AFTER MURPHY UNILATERALLY MAINTAINED HE WOULD CONTINUE ENFORCING A SCHOOL MASK MANDATE.

>> WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

WHY PICK THAT FIGHT?

WHY NOT HAVE THAT DISCUSSION?

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VOTES FOR IT ON THE D SIDE.

HE DIDN'T.

DEMOCRATS -- DEMOCRAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AND OTHER DEMOCRATS NOT IN LEADERSHIP WERE RIGHTLY PISSED OFF AND DECIDED TO PULL THE BILLS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG CHAFED ABOUT LACK OF INPUT ON MURPHY'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND MANDATES FROM VACCINATIONS TO MASKS.

THEY DECRIED ANOTHER EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

>> HAVE US COME BACK AND DO A MORE PIECEMEAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT CAN GET BIPARTISAN VOTES.

THAT WOULD BE TREATING US LIKE A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

HEAVEN FORBID.

AND WE WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.

>> Reporter: STEVE ARAHO WILL LEAD SENATE REPUBLICANS, SOME SWEPT IN BY FURIOUS CONSTITUENTS ANGERED OVER MANDATES.

>> OVERARCHING GS DECLARATIONS, WE'RE HEARING FROM PARENTS AND MANY PEOPLE AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S DIVIDING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THE FEELINGS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG.

>> PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, NOBODY SHOULD BE MAKING DECISIONS FOR ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.

SO WE DO DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

WE DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY ADDITIONAL MANDATES.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHAT HELPED PROPEL ED DOOR INTO SWEENEY'S FORMER SEAT AND HE WANTS TO SEE TRANSPARENCY.

>> IT'S REAL.

>> IT'S REAL.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY LET ME COME IN HERE AND BE A SENATOR.

I GET THEY CAN'T CHANGE THEIR MIND NOW.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

>> I FEEL REALLY GOOD.

I'M VERY HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: BOTH SIDES SAY THEY WANT TO HE CAN TO US ON MAKING NEW JERSEY MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MIDDLE CLASS RESIDENTS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A NEED FOR MORE CIVILITY.

LONG A CREW SIDE BY JOHN BRAMIC.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATURE GATES THESE ISSUES.

WE DON'T WANT ONE PERSON TO MAKE ALL THE ISSUES.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH SAYS TODAY THE POLITICKING ENDS AND THE GOVERNING ENDS.

THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY WILL DEMAND PART OF THAT PROCESS.

I'M BRAND DA FLANAGAN, "NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS."

>>> DOZENS OF BILLS PASSED YESTERDAY IN TRENTON ARE NOW WAITING FOR MURPHY'S SIGNATURE.

THAT INCLUDES A PLAN TO EXPAND NEEDLE EXCHANGE ACCESS BY GIVING THE STATE THE SOLE POWER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE CENTERS, A PROPOSAL TO DEAL WITH SCHOOL STAFFING SHORTAGES BY MAKING IT EASIER FOR RECENTLY RETIRED TEACHERS TO REENTER THE WORKFORCE AND THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND A MEASURE THAT WOULD ENSHRINE INTO LAW THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN NEW JERSEY.

AS THE VOTES WERE BEING CAST IN THE STATE HOUSE, MURPHY SIGNED A PREVIOUSLY-PASSED BILL THAT CODIFIES MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN NEW JERSEY INTO LAW.

UNTIL NOW THE LEGALITY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE STATE HAS BEEN PROTECTED BY STATE AND FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS WHICH COULD THEORETICALLY BE OVERTURNED.

THE STATE REPORTED MORE THAN 21,000 NEW COVID CASES TODAY MARKING TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS OF AT LEAST 20,000 NEW CASES EACH DAY.

THE STATE ALSO REPORTED 142 NEW COVID-19 DEATHS, MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 IN NEW JERSEY AND NATIONWIDE WE HAVE REACHED RECORD LEVELS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS PEAK OF JANUARY LAST YEAR.

TESTING WILL BE CRITICAL TO TRACKING AND CONTAINING THE VIRUS SO THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE, ANNOUNCING THOSE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE WILL HAVE THEIR OVER THE COUNTER TESTS COVERED BY INSURANCE STARTING SATURDAY.

SO LONG AS A TEST IS FDA APPROVED.

AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS ORDERING 600,000 DOSES OF MONOCLONAL, AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT TO BETTER FIGHT THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>>> AND HERE IS A LOOK AT WALL STREET TRADING FOR THE DAY.

>>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR YOU TONIGHT, BUT HEAD OVER TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG AND CHECK PUT OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WHERE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE GARDEN STATE.

I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

THE PEG FOUNDATION, AND BY THE FEW MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

>>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME A TEACHER TO GIVE MY TEACHERS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE.

A CHANCE TO BE YOUNG AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA CROMPTON AND I'M PROUD TO BE AN NJEA MEMBER.