PERTH AMBOY — Gov. Chris Christie and Assembly Democrats choreographed separate events today to offer competing visions of how the recently enacted budget changes lives across the state. After weeks of criticism over his budget cuts, Christie visited the home of an 84-year-old retiree from Perth Amboy, Sultana Kizides, to boast about how the state gave her more than...
PERTH AMBOY — Gov. Chris Christie and Assembly Democrats choreographed separate events today to offer competing visions of how the recently enacted budget changes lives across the state.
After weeks of criticism over his budget cuts, Christie visited the home of an 84-year-old retiree from Perth Amboy, Sultana Kizides, to boast about how the state gave her more than $2,400 through separate property tax rebate programs that were increased in the budget.
"It’s good to see seniors are better off today under the program we put in place in the last 18 months than they were before," said Christie, who met privately with Kizides for nearly 40 minutes before opening the meeting to the press.
In the meantime, about 40 miles away, Assembly Democrats invited several people to speak before the Assembly Budget Committee, and they offered wrenching testimony about how the disadvantaged fared under Christie’s budget cuts.
Shea Rhonda Drew, a recent college graduate who has been in a wheelchair since age 18, credited her success to the Cheshire Home, an adult day care center whose state reimbursement was cut.
"I came to the Cheshire Home and I was only 18 when I got hurt," Drew said, fighting back tears. "I didn’t know where else to go, but they helped me to accomplish all the goals that I accomplished today."
The two scenes encapsulated the partisan tone in Trenton in recent weeks as Republicans and Democrats traded accusations over the budget.
Christie noted that Kizides had a check for more than $2,000 from the state’s Senior Freeze program, and said she will receive $415 under the homestead rebate program, far above what she got last year.
Kizides said she quickly deposited the Senior Freeze check, "because we never know what’s coming, and what has to be paid back to the city and the state."
The increase in the Senior Freeze program was one of the few items Democrats introduced in their budget that was not vetoed by Christie. The governor did not increase funding in his initial February budget proposal.
Christie blocked Democratic attempts to restore funds for nursing homes and adult day care centers, saying there was not enough money. Operators said the cuts will result in a loss of services and jobs.
Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) said, "We understand the budget difficulties, but our responsible plan made caring for our most vulnerable seniors a priority, as it should always be."
By Jarrett Renshaw and Tom Haydon/The Star-Ledger
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Christie sends Legislature bill to restore $139M in aid to distressed cities
• Outrage and disappointment follow Gov. Christie's line-item veto of Democrats' $30.6B budget
• Sweeney unleashes his fury as N.J. budget battle turns personal
• Assembly Democrats plan hearings to examine Christie budget cuts