N.J. Dems plan vote to override Gov. Christie's 'millionaires tax' veto

TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers will push forward with their attempt to increase taxes on millionaires, and are planning a vote to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto despite a slim chance of success, the party's top official said today. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said both houses of the Democrat-controlled Legislature are scheduling sessions to vote on the proposal, which...

Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerThe Assembly voted to pass the "millionaire's tax" bill 46-32, but Gov. Christie vetoed it soon after. Seven Assembly Republicans would need to switch their votes in order to override the veto.TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers will push forward with their attempt to increase taxes on millionaires, and are planning a vote to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto despite a slim chance of success, the party's top official said today.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said both houses of the Democrat-controlled Legislature are scheduling sessions to vote on the proposal, which was swiftly vetoed by the Republican governor after it passed by a party-line vote last month. Two-thirds of the members of both houses must vote to override a veto, meaning four Republicans in the Senate and seven in the Assembly would have to switch their votes.

Sweeney acknowledged Republican lawmakers are unlikely to balk Christie, but challenged them to "pay attention to their constituents" — senior citizens who would benefit from restored property tax rebates under the Democrats' proposal. "These are the ultra-rich people," he said of the 16,000 millionaires who would be subject to the one-year higher rate. "We're not demonizing them or villainizing them at all — it's just they have the ability to pay."

Sweeney said an unsuccessful override attempt would not show Democrats to be powerless.

"It'll prove that the Republicans in the Legislature are not an independent group of people, and they only go in the direction the governor directs them to go in," he said, referring to Christie's order that GOP members remain unified against the proposal. "We're going to go forward with it."

Sweeney and a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) could not give the precise date of the planned votes tonight.

Christie has refused to raise taxes to balance his $29.3 billion proposed budget. He vetoed the two bills within minutes of their passage May 20.

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak criticized the Democrats' override plans.

"The only thing it would prove is that Sen. Sweeney and the current majority party cling hopelessly to the failed tax and deficit-spending policies that created the fiscal crisis we are trying to fix," he said tonight. "A little help from Democrats would be most appreciated, but I guess that's just wishful thinking."

The governor said late last week that the millionaires tax "issue is over."

"Is there anybody in New Jersey who believes government doesn't have enough money?" Christie said during a television appearance. "The Legislature can attempt to override the veto, they won't be able to, and we're going to move on."

The Democrats' bills would temporarily raise the income tax rate from 8.97 percent to 10.75 percent on all personal income over $1 million. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services estimated that would yield $637 million next year.

The bills said the additional tax revenue would be spent to restore rebates and other programs for seniors and the disabled. Twenty-four hours before the first vote, Christie announced he had found $55 million to reverse controversial proposals to raise fees on state-supplemented drug programs for seniors.

Tom Hester Jr., the spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), said no decisions have been made about an override vote in the Assembly.

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