The state Republican Party and a group of small business owners have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Phil Murphy over his executive orders.

State Republican Chair Doug Steinhardt announced the lawsuit minutes before the governor’s daily coronavirus press briefing. The small business owners involved in the suit include the owners of a barbershop, equestrian training center, a golf course and a brewery.

The governor dismissed the suit at Thursday's briefing.

“We make the decisions based on data, science, fact and health,” he said. “Sorry if folks don’t like the distinctions with regard to essential/nonessential, but it’s in line with what’s used regionally and nationally.”

The suit seeks to throw out the governor’s executive orders closing nonessential retail. The business owners say that they and others “face the imminent threat of insolvency despite the existence of willing customers.” The owners say that Murphy has exceeded this authority with unconstitutional orders.

They also allege that the governor has given “unbridled authority” to New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan.

The suit says, “all businesses should remain open so long as they can adhere to reasonable health and safety restrictions.”

Murphy’s cabinet defended their handling of conditions resulting in the thousands of deaths at nursing homes and continuing delays in making unemployment payments.

“We hear the stories of our claimants – hard-working people on unemployment for the first time and people who have exhausted their benefits,” says Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.

Over 1 million New Jersey workers are out of a job and have filed for unemployment since mid-March. Workers eligible for the 13-week federal unemployment extension can now file starting on Sunday.

State officials say that the people will get the resources that they deserve.

Murphy’s office is encouraging all business owners and nonprofits to fill out a survey on economic reopening, which can be found on the state’s website.