Sweeney said, 'It's worth a shot. Seniors and the disabled are worth fighting for'
The New Jersey Assembly debate and vote on NJ's "Millionaire's Tax" bill at the Statehouse in Trenton.
TRENTON — Although Senate President Stephen Sweeney has pledged to keep fighting for a tax on residents earning at least $1 million annually, his fellow Democrats today were skeptical of the plan.
"The governor has made it clear he's not going to sign it," Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said. "I don't know what the exercise will actually accomplish."
Last month the Democrat-controlled Legislature passed the so-called millionaires tax, but it was swiftly vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services estimated that would yield $637 million next year, money Democrats want to use to restore property tax rebates and some programs for seniors and disabled.
"I think we've already gone down that road, haven't we?" Sen. Nicolas Scutari (D-Union said). "He sided with multi-millionaires over seniors. I think that position has already been made."
Sweeney wants to override Christie's veto, which would require two-thirds of the members of both houses. That means four Senate Republicans and seven Assembly Republicans would have to buck the governor and support the override.
Sweeney said some Republicans want to vote for the bill despite the governor's efforts to maintain party unity.
"Legislators are getting phone calls," Sweeney said. "It's worth a shot. Seniors and the disabled are worth fighting for."
But other Democrats called that unlikely, if not impossible.
"We all know it's not going to pass," Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) said. "If one Republican peels off, we'll have to put him in a witness protection program."
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said her caucus has not yet reached an agreement on whether to push for an override.
| N.J. Democrats call for millionaires to contribute to 'shared sacrifice' in tax hike proposal |
| 'Millionaires tax' bills pass both houses, but are vetoed by Gov. Christie |