Wisniewski says Christie is 'scapegoating' by blaming public union workers for state's financial problems
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) says his party will be more aggressive in resisting Gov. Christie's proposed cuts to schools and services.TRENTON — Last year, Gov. Chris Christie got most of what he wanted in his proposed budget from the Democratic Legislature. But Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), the Democratic state chairman, said the governor will be met with more resistance this time around.
“I’m not going to predict outcomes, but I will tell you that this year’s budget process will not be like last year’s budget process,” he said at a press conference before his party’s lawmakers are briefed on the budget.
Wisniewski said Democrats would be more aggressive this year in pushing back against the governor’s budget proposals, saying his party gave Christie “the benefit of the doubt” last year, but have since become “chagrined” at school funding and social service cuts.
Last year, Democrats who control the Legislature provided the minimum number of votes necessary to pass the Republicans’ budget bills.
Wisniewski also said the state is blaming its financial ills on public sector workers, which he said were caused by deregulation of the financial industry and “the absolute greed of Wall Street.
“What he’s really just engaging in is scapegoating. He’s finding someone else to blame for the problem that he really, over the past year, has failed to address,” he said.
Wisniewski said attempting to reinstate the so-called “millionaires tax” on the state’s high income earners is “something we ought to look at,” although Democrats have not committed to doing it and the governor has pledged to veto it if they do. He also criticized Christie for boasting of closing nearly an $11 billion deficit, when this year's structural deficit is projected by the Office of Legislative Service to be $10.5 billion — only $200 million less than last year's.