TRENTON — Assembly Republicans say the drama is over: each and every member will cast a yes vote for the budget and all of its ancillary bills. “Let me put it this way: the entire caucus is with the governor on this,” said Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union), the body’s second highest ranking Republican. Gov. Chris Christie spent part of...
A March 2010 file photo of the Assembly Chamber.TRENTON — Assembly Republicans say the drama is over: each and every member will cast a yes vote for the budget and all of its ancillary bills.
“Let me put it this way: the entire caucus is with the governor on this,” said Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union), the body’s second highest ranking Republican.
Gov. Chris Christie spent part of the day persuading two reluctant conservative Assembly members — Allison Littell McHose (R-Sussex) and Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) to support the budget. Both took issue with the way the budget distributes cuts to school funding.
“There have been discussions all day, which is understandable,” said Bramnick.
Republicans in the state Senate had to soothe similar objections from some members. Meanwhile, Democrats in both houses have pledged to give Christie the minimum number of votes needed in each house to pass his budget.
"For three weeks, they ran around (saying) 'We have 17 and 33,' without even batting an eye," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester). "Actually I feel a little bit good that there's a pulse over there and that they're opposing some things.
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