Gov. Phil Murphy and top legislative leaders met privately Thursday morning to discuss a potential budget compromise and plan to meet again this afternoon, the first glimmer of hope in nearly a week as the state heads toward a possible shutdown.
Murphy met with state Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin for an hour or two inside the governor’s office on West State Street, according to several lawmakers and officials familiar with the discussions. They broke just before noon and expect to resume their talks around 3 p.m. Sources said no deal was cut.
The state Senate and Assembly, both of which are starting voting sessions, plan to hold off on passing the $36.5 billion budget legislative leaders introduced earlier this week. Murphy has promised to veto the plan, which would raise some $805 million from a higher tax rate on corporations.