Peterson blasts Gov. Murphy for constant power grabs

Peterson blasts Gov. Murphy for constant power grabs

Erik Peterson

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Erik Peterson has been one of the staunchest opponents of the governor’s executive powers. He calls the most recent public health emergency the action of a tyrant.

“An old political truth that has reinforced the need for democracy, for checks and balances, is that absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Peterson (R-Hunterdon). “Governor Murphy has gotten a taste of absolute power because Democrats don’t want a public show of infighting, even though he completely disregarded the agreement that his executive orders would only be extended with legislative approval.”

In June, the legislature passed a bill extending many of the Murphy administration’s executive orders until January 11, 2022 unless the legislature passed a resolution extending those orders. The bill was jettisoned once it was made clear Murphy would declare another public health emergency anyway without consulting legislative leaders.

“This is the action of a tyrant. Murphy continues to abuse the health emergency statute to further his personal political agenda that he cannot get Democrat-controlled legislature to pass. It all comes down to Murphy doing what his NJEA masters tell him to do,” Peterson remarked. “This is a terrible precedent. Governor Murphy’s abuse of his authority deteriorates the protections of checks and balances promised to the people in our State Constitution and disenfranchises voters in all forty districts. The worst part is that Democrats in the legislature are letting this happen.”