But the work to convince skeptical lawmakers in his own party has only just begun.
"This is not a tax that will be paid by anyone in the middle class. Period. Full stop," said Murphy.
It's a pre-emptive strike from the governor against what Republicans will argue during the upcoming assembly elections. But it's also a message for Democrats like Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Steve Sweeney - they sat behind Murphy and did not clap for his millionaires tax that would rope in more than just those making over $5 million as it does now.
"Our taxpayers overwhelmingly support this, across party lines and across the state. We should listen to them and do this together," Murphy said.
Murphy's budget finds more than $1 billion in savings, mostly from changes to state workers' health benefits. And he boasts of growing reserves.
"I ask you to find the last time we had consecutive years of billion-dollar-plus surpluses in the state of New Jersey," he added.
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Murphy is jonesin' for more cash, courtesy of legal recreational marijuana.
"I know we're not across the finish line yet, but we are closer than ever before," Murphy said.
He calls for no fare increases on NJ Transit. Other sources of revenue include a new penalty on some businesses that don't provide health insurance to employees.
He also wants to raise to $50 what's currently a $2 gun purchase permit.
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Assembly Republican Leader John Bramnick said "higher taxes are not the answer. "
Democrats who control the state senate and assembly say Murphy's plan "takes meaningful steps in the right direction." But Sweeney says he's against the governor's proposed millionaires tax expansion.
The deadline for a budget deal is June 30.