Star-ledger predicts phil murphy will toughen covid-19 restrictions, launch vaccine passport after the election
COVID-19 vaccination passport in mobile phone for travel, tourist holds smartphone with health certificate app, digital coronavirus pass. Concept of corona virus, immunity passport and tourism.

Star-Ledger predicts Phil Murphy will toughen COVID-19 restrictions, launch vaccine passport after the election

October 25, 2021

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is in a pickle. The progressive liberal side of him wants to lock everything down and roll out a vaccination passport statewide. That side of the governor also wants stricter penalties for COVID-19 workplace violations and ways to force more New Jerseyans to get vaccinated. It wants to create more roadblocks for the unvaccinated.

The problem is, in 7 days, Murphy has to win an election and all of those policies make for bad politics, even in the Democrat stronghold of New Jersey.

Many have speculated that Murphy will begin his second COVID-19 crackdown days after next Tuesday’s election, should he win.

Now, the Star-Ledger editorial board, who recently met with the governor one on one for their pre-election news coverage appears to let the cat out of the bag.

Phil Murphy is going to roll out a vaccine passport shortly after the election.

In an editorial by the newspaper’s editorial board about vaccination passports, the newspaper predicts Murphy will get back to his old self and return to being New Jersey’s COVID-19 Protector-in-Chief.

“We should not expose more of them to this virus, while using them as an excuse not to do something political. Here’s a prediction: We’ll get passports after the election,” the editorial board wrote.

The board also criticized Murphy’s decision to hold off on rolling it out before the election campaign politics.

“So, if a gap still exists, why not take a page from these cities, and fix it, instead of using it as an excuse to sit around and do nothing on vaccine passports. This reeks of politics, a safe play during an election campaign. And that’s bad public health policy,” the board said.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

As the founder of Shore News Network, Stilton oversees editorial operations, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage while working closely with journalists, public officials, and community leaders. His reporting has covered municipal government, state politics, federal policy, public records investigations, emergency management, and major news events affecting local communities.

Stilton is committed to factual reporting, source verification, transparency, and providing readers with accessible, accurate information that helps them better understand the issues shaping their communities. Through Shore News Network, he continues to focus on delivering trusted news coverage and original reporting to audiences across New Jersey and beyond.

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