TRENTON &mdash On the day the Legislature is scheduled to vote on a $29.4 billion budget, last-minute changes are still being made to sew up all necessary votes – including killing a bill that would raise filing fees on businesses, Republican lawmakers said. Gov. Chris Christie and the Democratic leaders of the Legislature struck a deal last week that...
David Rosen, Legislative & Budget Finance Officer (top) confers with Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) (left) and Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) (right) during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting in this file photo.TRENTON &mdash On the day the Legislature is scheduled to vote on a $29.4 billion budget, last-minute changes are still being made to sew up all necessary votes – including killing a bill that would raise filing fees on businesses, Republican lawmakers said.
Gov. Chris Christie and the Democratic leaders of the Legislature struck a deal last week that would require all Republican lawmakers to vote for the budget package, though cracks began showing late last week when Republicans in both houses began splintering off.
One of those lawmakers, Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), said today he was satisfied by the elimination of a bill that would bring in $5 million by raising the fees businesses pay to incorporate and file annual reports by 25 percent.
“I’ve always supported the budget, and I’m going to vote for a couple of the supplemental bills that previously I had concerns about,” Doherty said. “One of them was removed – the business filing fee – one was amended, and I have more information on the other two.”
With Doherty back on board, all Republican Senators are expected to support the budget and the related bills, but doubts remain about the Assembly, where two Republican members have had concerns since last week.
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said in a statement she would need more information. The Speaker controls which bills come up for a vote in the Assembly, and revenue-raising bills - such as any increase in filing fees - must start in that house.
"Democrats agreed to a constitutionally balanced budget with a surplus of $303 million," she said in a statement. "We would ask the governor to detail exactly how he would responsibly account for any change."
At least a dozen high-ranking Republican legislators filed out of the treasurer's office at around 9:30 this morning.
Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Burlington) said everything was just fine, saying they had coffee and donuts.
"Things will work out," he said. "You can't have a budget without some suspense."
With many new faces among Trenton leadership this year, a tough budget and an ideological split about raising taxes to pay for services for seniors and people with disabilities, there had been some concern earlier this year about a government shutdown, which last happened in 2006 under then-Gov. Jon Corzine and a Democratic legislature. The budget must be in place by Thursday's deadline.
Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff described himself as the "anxious father" in the "maternity ward" of the Statehouse as he dashed back into his office.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno said she thought it would be a "short day."
Follow the latest coverage on The Star-Ledger's Statehouse page throughout the day for breaking news from the busy day in Trenton and a breakdown of how the spending plan will affect you and other New Jersey residents.