February 1, 2023

It's enough to make a grown man cry when you hear the words, "New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy."

Murphy is the guy who thought it was a dandy idea to ban plastic bags in grocery stores. Shoppers didn't.

And now, one day before Groundhog Day, apparently groundhogs can't cross interstate lines to enter the Garden State because of a state law.

The Jersey town of Milltown lost their groundhog last year, and sought to replace Milltown Mel. But no dice. 

"The new groundhog we originally scheduled to have made his debut is currently not allowed to be here according to a state of New Jersey statute," the Groundhog Day organizers wrote on Milltown Mel's Facebook page.

The particular statute wasn't referenced, so we don't know what it is. And we don't know why groundhogs can't cross the southern border, like everyone else. Be that as it may, it all seems like a mess and a terrible shame.

Especially since a lot of New Jersey-ites have groundhogs right in their back yards...

Chalk another one up for Phil Murphy. Even if it isn't his fault.

Hang tough.