TRENTON — The Senate budget committee voted to send Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $29.4 billion budget on to a full Senate vote, clearing one hurdle necessary for final passage before the July 1 deadline. The 272-page bill, double-sided, spells out the Republican governor’s first spending plan, including $848 million cut from property tax rebates, $820 million cut from schools...
Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo addresses Republican members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee during a committee meeting at the Statehouse Annex in Trenton today. The committee sent the budget to the full senate for a vote. TRENTON — The Senate budget committee voted to send Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $29.4 billion budget on to a full Senate vote, clearing one hurdle necessary for final passage before the July 1 deadline.
The 272-page bill, double-sided, spells out the Republican governor’s first spending plan, including $848 million cut from property tax rebates, $820 million cut from schools and billions more in cuts across state programs, departments and grants.
Only two of the committee’s Democrats voted for the bill, the minimum number necessary to move it along. That followed a pattern seen all day, when Democrats provided two votes for most other bills necessary to implement the budget.
“It's not a Democrat bill, it's not a Republican bill," said Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May). "In that spirit of bipartisanship, I vote yes."
Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson) provided the second Democratic vote on the budget bill (S-3000), as he did today on several other bills. Stack is also the popular mayor of Union City, which relies heavily on state aid.
Previous Coverage:
• Two GOP Assembly members press for changes in $29.4M N.J. budget deal
• Frustrated N.J. lawmakers negotiate last-minute budget deals
• How much N.J. will save after Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts
• N.J. budget compromise is reached between Gov. Chris Christie, lawmakers
• Christie's cabinet is ordered to prepare for state shutdown in case of budget standstill
• Complete coverage of the 2010 New Jersey State Budget
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