TRENTON — For the second day in a row, Senate Democrats failed to override Gov. Chris Christie’s budget cuts to programs important for their constituencies. Democrats today could not muster the 27 votes needed to cancel 13 of Christie’s vetoes, including $139 million in aid for struggling cities, $3 million for an after school program for inner city children,...
TRENTON — For the second day in a row, Senate Democrats failed to override Gov. Chris Christie’s budget cuts to programs important for their constituencies.
Democrats today could not muster the 27 votes needed to cancel 13 of Christie’s vetoes, including $139 million in aid for struggling cities, $3 million for an after school program for inner city children, $6 million for child care for low-income residents, $48 million in tuition aid grants and $50 million in public safety funding for municipalities.
Each attempt failed by a party-line vote of 24-13. Democrats failed to override 15 vetoes on Monday, and could attempt to cancel 11 more at a yet-to-be-scheduled session.
The biggest vote was to restore the transitional aid funding for 21 struggling cities. Although it failed, it does not necessarily mean the funding is gone for good. Democrats and the Christie administration have said they’re open to negotiating restoring the funds.
State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) noted Trenton is dominated by state office buildings that pay no taxes.
“If any other company did the same, they would be evicted or their property would be put up for a tax sale,” she said. “The City of Trenton has to take care of 22,000 employees every day traveling in and out of the city for work.”
State Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) said cities may have to declare bankruptcy if the funds are cut. “What we’re talking about, literally, is the survival of our major urban centers,” he said.
But state Sen. Steven Oroho (R-Sussex) said the program was supposed to be temporary.
“We would all like to have more money. There’s probably not one town or county or municipality that would say no I don’t need anymore,” he said. “You have a temporary program and it’s now become permanent.”
On the after school program, which Democrats said serves 5,000 students, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak said it’s another hit at the working poor.
“Take away their earned income tax credit, take away their health care, and now ask single working mothers to choose between keeping their jobs or the safety of their children,” he said. “That’s not a Hobson’s choice. That’s a Sophie’s Choice.”
Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts said Democrats knew the deal with the cut to begin with.
“The truth about the NJ After 3 program is that funding was provided to the program in last year’s budget with the understanding that the program would finally transition to its intended purpose – financial independence through philanthropic fundraising without an ongoing state subsidy,” he said.
"Now, in an election year, Democrats are distorting reality in a cynical and disingenuous manner merely for political gain.”
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Democrats fail to override 15 of Gov. Christie's budget cuts
• N.J. Democrats try to override Gov. Christie's vetoes, with little success so far
• N.J. Senate Republicans say they won't help Democrats override Gov. Christie's vetoes
• 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