The full Assembly is expected to vote on the budget on Monday in advance of the July 1 deadline
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union) looks in on the Assembly budget committee at the Statehouse this morning. TRENTON — The Assembly Budget Committee narrowly approved Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed $29.4 billion budget this evening, sending it on for a vote Monday in the full Assembly in advance of the July 1 deadline for final passage.
The committee voted 5-4, with Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) casting the lone Democratic vote that tipped the balance to move the bill along.
“Today, I’m going to extend my hand in bipartisanship so we can move this budget forward. I’m going to vote for this budget because the reality is shutting the government down is not the answer," said Coutinho, who added voting for it is "not the best political move" considering his urban, heavily Democratic district.
Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, struck a deal with Christie to provide the minimum number of votes necessary to pass the budget in exchange for some restorations to programs for the students, the poor and disabled. But the most sweeping cuts in the budget, including $820 million from school aid and $848 million from property tax rebates, remained intact.
Three Democrats who normally sit on the committee – Assemblymen Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex) and Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) — did not show up. The five Democrats who did attend traded off on being the lone yes vote on the budget and its related bills.
Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joe Malone (R-Burlington) struck a bipartisan tone, thanking the committee's Democrats for working with him to come up with a compromise to pass the budget.
"Today was probably the most unusual day I’ve ever had here, and I think fate has pushed us together to do some things that none of us want to do," said Malone.
Previous coverage:
• Tempers flare as N.J. Assembly panel passes budget bills
• Republican Senate leaders push ahead with votes on $29.4B N.J. budget deal
• N.J. legislators scramble to ensure budget deal support
• Gov. Chris Christie's $29.4B budget proceeds to full Senate vote
• Frustrated N.J. lawmakers negotiate last-minute budget deals
• N.J. budget compromise is reached between Gov. Chris Christie, lawmakers