U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders took to Twitter on Tuesday to wade into New Jersey’s budget showdown and lend his support for Gov. Phil Murphy, who’s locked in a battle with top Democratic lawmakers.

Murphy, a Democrat and progressive like Sanders, is pushing to raise taxes on the Garden State’s millionaires to bring another $536 million into state coffers next year. But Democrats who lead the state Legislature are pushing back.

Sanders, a Vermont independent who once again is running for the Democratic nomination for president, retweeted the largest state workers union, the Communications of America. The union is organizing support for Murphy’s millionaires tax proposal and opposition to cuts to employee health care and retirement benefits being pushed by Democratic state Senate President Stephen Sweeney.

While Sanders didn’t mention Murphy by name is his tweet Tuesday, it’s clear whose side he is on.

“Politicians must make it clear which side they are on: are they with workers or wealthy CEOs? I call on New Jersey legislators to side with workers and reject pension and health care cuts,” Sanders wrote, adding that he stands with the CWA and the New Jersey Education Association.

Politicians must make it clear which side they are on: are they with workers or wealthy CEOs? I call on New Jersey legislators to side with workers and reject pension and health care cuts. I stand with @NJEA and @CWA_NJ. https://t.co/xijyeRQ7DR — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 11, 2019

Members of both the CWA and the NJEA — the powerful state teachers union and frequent foe of Sweeney — are targeted for cuts in Sweeney’s plans to lower spending at the state and local level.

Sweeney, D-Gloucester, wants to make all employees’ health care plans less generous and shift teachers and other non-public safety workers from a pure pension to a combination of a pension and a 401k-style retirement plan.

Sweeney and state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, have rejected calls for a millionaires tax, which involved expanding the top tax rate of 10.75 percent to all income over $1 million. They have argued government reforms should come before taxes.

Murphy and lawmakers have until June 30 to reach a budget agreement. Otherwise, the governor can shut down state government.

Lawmakers plan to introduce their own budget proposal June 17 and pass it June 20. Should they pass their own budget, Murphy could sign it or veto it in whole or in part.

The New Jersey governor’s authority to make line-item vetoes is a powerful tool, though the Legislature can override if it musters a two-thirds majority in both houses.

Sanders tweeted his support as Murphy was in Iowa campaigning New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, one of Sanders’ opponents in the 2020 Democratic presidential race.

It’s not totally surprising that Sanders would back Murphy’s plans. He is known to rail against corporate America and supports many of the same progressive causes.

Sanders also hired as his political director New Jersey’s Analilia Mejia, the former executive director of the progressive New Jersey Working Families Alliance.

The Democratic presidential hopeful is also not the first well-known figure to champion Murphy’s causes on social media. Former Vice President Al Gore and New Jersey-born comedian Chelsea Handler backed Murphy in a similar budget fight last year.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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