TRENTON — Calling the Democrats' attempt to overturn the Governor's budget cuts today an act of cynical politics, Senate Republicans said this morning not one of them would cross the aisle to vote with Democrats. That means the 39 bills Democrats will take up today to restore funding for social service programs cut by Christie will fail because they...
TRENTON — Calling the Democrats' attempt to overturn the Governor's budget cuts today an act of cynical politics, Senate Republicans said this morning not one of them would cross the aisle to vote with Democrats.
That means the 39 bills Democrats will take up today to restore funding for social service programs cut by Christie will fail because they will not reach the 27 votes necessary to override the Governor's vetoes.
State Sen. Kevin O'Toole said the Democrats would squander all of the surplus with their plan.
"If this budget goes through, tomorrow morning New Jersey will file Chapter 11," said State Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex).
After Democrats sent Christie a $30.6 billion budget, Christie took his veto pen to about $1 billion in items, including most aid to struggling cities and social service programs -- cuts that went beyond his original budget proposal.
"The rhetoric that has been used over the last week has done nothing but try to engage in scare tactics among the most vulnerable citizens of our state simply to try to make political gains," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union).
Previous Coverage:
• N.J. Senate Democrats to try to overturn Gov. Christie's budget vetoes
• N.J. Senate Democrats to try to override Gov. Christie's line-item vetoes
• Senate President Sweeney, Democrats plan to override Gov. Christie's vetoes early next week
• Assembly Democrats plan hearings to examine Christie budget cuts