The proposal would restore money for education, boost tax relief to seniors and the working poor, and prevent steep cuts to Medicaid Watch video
View full sizeAssembly Speaker Sheila Oliver signs the $30.6 billion state budget, after the Assembly passed it this evening, hours after the Senate approved the spending package. The budget now heads to the desk of Gov. Chris Christie. TRENTON — The Democrats' $30.6 billion budget proposal is now headed to Gov. Chris Christie’s desk, but only after a bitter partisan debate lasting hours.
The Assembly approved the bill in a vote along party lines early this evening. The vote was 46-32. The Senate passed an identical bill earlier today.
The Democrats' proposal would restore money for education, boost tax relief to seniors and the working poor and prevent steep cuts to Medicaid. It's also $1 billion larger than Christie's proposal.
The governor has already said he won't sign the bill, calling it "pie in the sky, fantasy budgeting."
Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) urged Republicans to join Democrats and "take this state back for the poor and working families."
Republicans fired back, saying there's not enough money to boost spending.
"I urge everyone in his house to vote for fiscal responsibility," said Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth), the Republican budget officer.
The debate on the bill tested the patience of Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (R-Essex), who had to cut off several Republican lawmakers who said the bill should not be voted on because it's illegal.
Republican lawmakers and the Christie administration have said the Democrats' proposal is unconstitutional and based on false revenue estimates. Democrats are relying on a revenue projection that is about $400 million larger than the one Christie approved.
Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, in a letter sent Wednesday night to Democratic leaders, said Christie could use his "full range of constitutional remedies" to pare down the budget.
As governor, Christie has the power to veto individual items from the budget. He could also modify the legislation, sending it back to the Legislature for another voter.
More from Trenton:
• N.J. Assembly approves millionaire's tax, Gov. Christie expected to block bill
• In budget proposal, N.J. Democrats now agree with Christie's savings estimates
• N.J. Democratic budget proposal restores funding to Medicaid, provides $50M to public safety fund
• Gov. Chris Christie rips Democrats' budget proposal, warns of more modest revenue projection