TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said the idea to spend approximately one million dollars to furnish his office was done to keep the workspace ‘majestic’.
Today, NJ.com released a report stating an interior decorator charge the state $200,000 to pick out and purchase the governor’s lavish $600,000 worth of furnishings.
Governor Murphy has repeatedly defended the extravagant purchases.
“We want to do this with some amount of majesty,” he said “This is the second-oldest in-use Statehouse in America. And you want this thing to reek of pride. We said, ‘Let’s do all of this in a first-class way.’”
According to the report, Murphy chose Princeton-based interior designer Bruce Norman Long to head up the task of selecting the majestic furniture that ‘reeks of pride’. On top of a 66% surcharge on all furniture purchased, Norman was paid a $200 per hour consulting fee to decorate the governor’s office.
Murphy has been under fire for his cavalier spending since taking office. Last week he said the money was his to spend however he wants it.
Related: NJ Governor Phil Murphy: It’s my money and that’s how it’s going to be spent
“You got that? Remember one thing one anyone says something otherwise, tell them Murphy said the following: it’s my money, and that’s how it’s going to be spent,” Murphy told Democrat supporters at a campaign rally for former Congressman Albio Sires, who is now running to be the mayor of West New York.
In this case, Murphy was talking about giving the city of West New York $65 million to build a new school.
Shore politicians and Republicans are blasting Murphy for cutting school funding to children at the Jersey Shore and other areas while spending nearly $1 million to furnish his office.
