N.J. Senate budget debate focuses on 'truth' vs. 'wrong choices'

Gov. Chris Christie's $29.4B budget gets described as 'Nightmare on State Street'

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerSenate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) (center left) speaks with Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Union) (center right) before the start of the Senate session at the Statehouse this afternoon. Also seen conversing are Senatros Nicholas Scutari (D-union) (left) and Senator Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) (right).

TRENTON -- The state Senate is debating Gov. Chris Christie's $29.4 billion budget tonight, with commentary primarily split along party lines as one senator called the document "the truth" and another said it's a compilation of "the wrong choices."

"I've heard what this budget isn't, but let's talk about what it is," said Sen. Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex). "For the first time in a very, very long time, it's truth. We are on the front page of Time Magazine. The world is watching us."

But Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) lamented items that were scratched, including cuts to school aid.

"The governor's got the right idea when it comes to cutting," Buono said. "He just made the wrong choices."

Another senator referred to the Statehouse slashing with a movie comparison.

"You've all heard of 'Nightmare on Elm Street,'" said Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer). "Well, this budget is 'Nightmare on State Street.'"

Turner noted layoffs loom and said nothing has been set aside for the endangered state workers pension fund. Evoking Christie's mantra of "shared sacrifice," she added, "it's not shared sacrifice when people who are making the least are paying the most."

The fiscal year 2011 budget must be in place by Thursday. Democrats have derided the budget as unfair because of its cuts to programs for seniors, the poor and disabled, but most Republicans have praised it as tough but necessary to close a $10.7 billion deficit. It cuts $848 million in property tax rebates for seniors and the disabled, $820 million in school aid and almost $450 million in municipal aid.

Earlier today, the Senate passed a 2.9 percent cap on property tax growth. That cap is a Democratic alternative to Christie's proposed 2.5 percent constitutional cap but with exceptions for pension, health care and utility costs.

The state Assembly is also in session tonight but has not yet taken up the budget.
Unlike most years, when budget day means the end of lawmaking for the summer, legislative leaders say there will be more action in Trenton during the hot months.

While they haven't set schedules yet, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said legislative committees will start meeting again either later this week or next week.Both houses plan hearings on Christie's 33-bill "tool kit" package to reform civil service and collective bargaining.

Another big initiative to abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing, which has passed the Senate, will not advance in the Assembly this summer, Oliver said.

"It will not get a vote in committee ... but we hope to get it to a point where we can vote on it in the fall," she said.

By Matt Friedman and Peggy Ackermann/Statehouse Bureau

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