Party would restore $1B in aid for poor, kids, working class Watch video
TRENTON — Democrats all but sat on the sidelines last year as Gov. Chris Christie’s spartan budget sailed through the Legislature. This year they’re digging in their heels, and yesterday advanced their own spending plan that stands in sharp contrast with the governor’s.
The proposal to spend $30.6 billion — $1 billion more than Christie’s plan — would restore money for education, boost tax relief to the working poor and prevent steep cuts to Medicaid. It cleared the budget committees in the Senate and the Assembly yesterday, and the Democrat-controlled Legislature is expected to approve it tomorrow, two days before the deadline.
“This budget says New Jersey’s priorities are its working families, its seniors, its kids and those who are working hard to not be pushed off the margins of society,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen).
But the Democrats’ attempt to shift millions of dollars to traditional liberal causes, a rallying cry for the party’s more combative wing, can be easily nixed by Christie, who has the power to veto individual items from the budget.
The Republican governor has already said he won’t sign the Democrats’ budget, which he called unconstitutional because it exceeds the revenue estimate he approved.
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), the Republican budget officer, hinted at Christie’s veto authority by saying the governor “will probably rectify some of the problems.”
Even though Democrats won’t be able to override Christie’s vetoes without Republican help, which is unlikely, Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) said it’s important for the party to make a political statement with their proposal.
“(The proposal) is a reaffirmation of the principles we believe in,” he said. “We have to step up and make sure we voice our commitment to working families.”
With all 120 seats in the Legislature up for election in November, Democrats have been drawing stark contrasts between their budget proposal and Christie’s.
The biggest difference is an additional $574 million for school districts that haven’t been fully funded through a statewide formula. Democrats also want to stop Christie from cutting $300 million from Medicaid.
The Democrats’ proposal also includes $50 million for police and fire departments in cash-strapped cities, provides $7.5 million for women’s health centers and restores $46.9 million in urban economic development.
“We’re finally back in the business of helping people,” said Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Hudson). “What I hear is not concern about the size of government — it’s a cry for help.”
Christie blasted the Democrats’ proposal on Friday as “unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky fantasy budgeting.”
He has also promised to veto the millionaire’s tax, an income-tax surcharge on residents making more than $1 million a year, which Democrats are pushing in a bill separate from the overall budget. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak called it yesterday “the same old tax-and-spend policies of New Jersey Democrats.”
Details on the Democrats’ proposal have leaked out over the last week, and the plan was formally introduced yesterday.
Senate Republicans accused Democrats of hypocrisy for including a projected $323 million in savings from the health care overhaul that will be signed by Christie today. Months ago Democrats blasted Christie for including the same figure in his own proposal, and the state treasurer has already downgraded the projected savings to $10 million.
Republicans said they didn’t have enough time to review the budget bill released by Democrats yesterday, just hours before the budget committees were asked to vote on it.
“That’s not the way we should be operating,” said Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (RMorris). “In the end, it causes chaos and confusion.”
Susan K. Livio and Salvador Rizzo contributed to this report.
By Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Megerian/Star-Ledger Staff