Here's Why Gov. Murphy Just Spent More Than $1M – And Drew Heat

NEW JERSEY – The state spends billions every year, but it's Gov. Phil Murphy who's drawn the most attention recently for his expenses.

Murphy just spent more than $1 million on a new office and another $18,000 on a trip to India, drawing scrutiny from the media and at least one critic who questioned whether taxpayers were footing the bill.

And if they were, Murphy was asked, why?

Murphy was the subject of a NJ Advance Media report in which he defended the decision to spend at least $1 million in taxpayer money to upgrade a larger satellite governor’s office in Newark.

Despite having his main office in Trenton, Murphy told the media it was important to have a "flag planted" in the state's largest city.

"Newark is our biggest community ... Good things could come out of it," he said. "God willing, that could turn out to be a really smart thing for the state."

Murphy also said the Newark upgrade is cheaper that the $300 million renovation started by former Gov. Chris Christie of the Statehouse in Trenton.

Spokesman Darryl Isherwood said the office space in Newark is currently "fairly small, with only one meeting room, two offices and not many desks."

"To access it, you need to walk through the waiting room of another state agency and there is no space in the office itself for guests to wait when they arrive," he said. "Moving to a new space within the Gateway Center will offer a more functional design that allows for more meeting rooms, additional work areas for staff, and a closer working relationship with our partners at the EDA and Choose New Jersey.”

Murphy took more heat for his economic trip to India — a journey, he said, that helped established partnerships between the nation and New Jersey and helped bring 1,200 jobs to the state. The total cost of the trip was $18,470.

One of those who offered words of skepticism was Senate President Steve Sweeney, who said during a recent interview, according to NJ Spotlight: “We should know who’s paying for it."

The vast majority of expenses for the economic mission were covered by Choose New Jersey, not taxpayers, Murphy's office said.

Choose New Jersey was founded in 2010, and it often funded former Christie’s numerous trade missions during his eight years in office. Among the group’s biggest supporters are major corporations such as Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, PNC Bank and PSEG, according to NJ Spotlight.

Otherwise, a small portion of the trip's costs for four government staffers were paid by the Governor’s Office, including immunization reimbursements, visa charges, economy airfare and partial lodging costs.

The governor and First Lady Tammy Murphy covered their expenses in full.

"The trip resulted in over 1,200 new jobs being brought directly to New Jersey, as well as multiple new partnerships between industries and institutions of higher education in both India and New Jersey that, as they grow, will bring more investment into our state," his office said. "The governor’s mission will ultimately pay dividends many times over."