My favorite photo from Phil Murphy signing the equal pay exec order (nope not this “official” one, the other photo)

We don’t have to wait to make our economy stronger and fairer, to attack income inequality, and to protect and grow our middle class. That’s why, later today, in one of my first official acts, I will sign an executive order promoting equal pay for women.
– – Gov. Phil Murphy Inaugural Speech, this afternoon

In a room crowded with jubilant New Jersey women, Phil Murphy just made the first official act of his three hours-old administration, signing an executive order barring state workers from asking applicants for state jobs about their previous salaries. That order is intended to boost the chances job-seeking women won’t be lowballed on salary. Asking about salary histories perpetuates the wage gap between men and women by allowing employers to keep offering low salaries to women. Murphy says this action will help close the wage gap between men and women in New Jersey. But Murphy’s not leaving it there; he’ll make this state law if lawmakers send him a bill extending that rule to the private sector too.

That’s the official photo above from Murphy’s just-launched Gov Twitter account @GovMurphy. But I like this below even better, showing (soon) 83-year-old Loretta Weinberg, who came up through the women’s movement in California & New Jersey to now runs her party as Senate Majority Leader in New Jersey – and who once told me, as Christie was again killing funding for women’s healthcare, “I can’t believe we have to fight this ____ all over again.” This photo was taken by Hetty Rosenstein (thanks, Hetty!), showing Murphy getting a hug from Loretta.