N.J. Assembly preps for long-shot bid to rescue millionaires tax

Override of Gov. Chris Christie's veto is considered unlikely, but eyes are on 2011 elections

TRENTON

— The New Jersey Assembly today is set to make a longshot bid to try to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto of the millionaires tax.

Christie vetoed the tax minutes after the Legislature passed it along party lines last month.

The proposal would raise about $600 million by increasing the income tax by nearly 2 percent on the state's 16,000 highest wage earners.

Democrats want the money to restore property tax rebates to senior citizens and the disabled. They also want to put Republicans on the record of voting against the proposal twice.

Seven Assembly Republicans would need to join the Democrats for the override to advance to the Senate, where four GOP votes would be needed.

It's unlikely a single Republican will vote for the tax.

Previous coverage:

• N.J. Democrats may not override 'millionaires tax' veto, but could profit politically in 2011 elections

• N.J. Dems seek override of Gov. Chris Christie's veto of 'millionaire tax'

• N.J. Gov. Chris Christie swiftly vetoes 'millionaires tax,' property tax rebate bills

• Complete coverage of the 2010 New Jersey State Budget

Christie rejects Democrats' rich tax proposal, calls it a 'one-year fix'

Democratic lawmakers advance ‘millionaires tax’