A look back: Gov. Murphy reflects on first year in office

The governor says that the year has been filled with lots of successes and a few failures.

News 12 Staff

Dec 20, 2018, 2:00 AM

Updated 2,160 days ago

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It’s been nearly one year since Gov. Phil Murphy took office in the state of New Jersey.
The governor says that the year has been filled with lots of successes and a few failures. Murphy held an event at Newark’s St. James AME Church Wednesday to lay out what he believes are his top achievements in office this year.
He says one of his top achievements are policies affecting urban community, including the new equal pay law.
“Every woman of color will make $1 for every $1 a man makes,” Murphy said.
Murphy also cited increased funding for education, and free community college for qualifying students beginning next year among his administration's other accomplishments.
“More students and a more diverse group of students importantly, can prepare for good jobs in the innovation economy,” he said.
The governor also signed a variety of gun reform bills over the year – in an effort to quell gun violence in the state. One of his more controversial gun bills limits the amount of ammunition inside a magazine from 15 to 10 rounds.
Murphy just updated that law this week, allowing police officers to carry weapons with 17 rounds when they are on or off duty.
But the governor did acknowledge that there are some things that he did not accomplish this year, including getting $15 per hour minimum wage or legalizing recreational marijuana. Murphy also said that he is personally troubled by the ongoing difficulties at New Jersey Transit.
Murphy said that he plans to address all of these issues in 2019.