Phil Murphy
Phil Murphy

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has dropped the $200K military lobbying outlay from his proposed budget.

His predecessor Chris Christie earmarked that funding for the state’s Dept. of Military and Veterans’ Affairs for lobbying DC on defense issues, especially to protect Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst against military base closures.

The Christie administration hired Cassidy & Assocs. in 2015 to serve as its Washington representative.

The Pentagon closed Fort Monmouth in the 2005 round of base shutdowns.

It also consolidated Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Lakehurst into the country’s only tri-service facility.

The joint base contributes $7B to the Jersey’s economy. It employs more than 40K people.

Jersey’s Legislature may restore the military lobbying funds under a revised budget. The budget must be approved by July 1.