Sue Altman of New Jersey Working Families kicked off a budget hearing with a group of 50 progressive organizations and labor unions that were unlike any held in the state's history. And that's not just because it was held over Zoom.

"The New Jersey state legislature has decided not to do public testimony this year for the budget, which is insane," Altman said.

Instead, progressives and labor leaders offered their testimony on Governor Phil Murphy's proposed budget with nary a lawmaker in sight.

This year's budget — and the process to get it passed — has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with a $10 billion budget hole, Gov. Phil Murphy threw out his the proposal he presented to the legislature in February and offered up a completely different plan in late August. Now the legislature only has until September 30th to come to an agreement with the governor for the shortened budget year.

The coalition of activists and labor unions say that's all the more reason to hear comments from the public.

In their remote hearing, a wide range of groups offered up testimony. They want a millionaires tax, and also want the state's estate tax reinstated. The speakers support most of Murphy's proposal, but several said not enough resources are going to support undocumented immigrants who are ineligible for unemployment and many other social services.

Environmentalists and transit advocates oppose the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's plan to hike tolls and spend the revenue on roads. Instead, they want the money put into the NJ Transit budget to help improve the beleaguered agency. 

The legislature is only taking written testimony for this year's abbreviated budget process. 

Correction: This article was changed to reflect a wrong word. The tax that advocates want reinstated is the estate tax, not the inheritance tax which is in effect.