TRENTON — After passing dozens of bills ranging from a new state budget and a cap on property taxes to delaying implementation of the state's medical marijuana law and allowing motorcycles to be sold on Sunday, bleary-eyed lawmakers ended the longest session of the year at 3:36 a.m. this morning. Their last action: A bit of bookkeeping that followed...
The assembly listens as Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) speaks before the budget vote. The N.J. Senate and Assembly considered the budget during a marathon session in Trenton from Monday night into Tuesday morning. TRENTON — After passing dozens of bills ranging from a new state budget and a cap on property taxes to delaying implementation of the state's medical marijuana law and allowing motorcycles to be sold on Sunday, bleary-eyed lawmakers ended the longest session of the year at 3:36 a.m. this morning.
Their last action: A bit of bookkeeping that followed an Assembly vote on a bill that would create a Fort Monmouth Revitalization Authority.
In the wee hours, there were debates on everything from how property tax caps worked in Massachusetts to whether or not more women's health dollars would fund abortions. The Assembly voted to soften unemployment tax increases on businesses and prevent some people fired for gross misconduct from getting unemployment benefits.
And then the lower house motored through 25 "consent" bills where Democrats and Republicans had previously agreed to support.
But even though there were no more floor fights, the act of reciting the bill, asking the sponsor to move the bill, taking the vote and announcing it — and repeating that two dozen times — took up a good amount of time.
There were scattered cheers from the sleepy chamber when Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) uttered the two words that means everyone could go home: "Routine Business!"
Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) celebrated by blowing a vuvuzela, made famous by the World Cup. Overtime at the Legislature was officially over.
Coverage of N.J. Assembly budget vote:
• Funds restored for family planning clinics
• Delaying start of medical marijuana
• Customized team license plates
Coverage of N.J. Senate budget vote:
• Funds restored for family planning clinics
• Vow to veto developers fee moratorium bill
• N.J. groups protest 'outrageous' budget cuts
• Use of saved funds to avoid teacher layoffs
• $175K salary cap for local officials
• Interdistrict school choice program
| Assembly democrats criticize budget |
| N.J. Senate President Sweeney weighs in on the state budget plan |
| Protesters offer their suggestions to try and close the 13 billion budget gap |
| Vuvuzelas have Brazilians and Portuguese in Newark tooting their own horns for upcoming match |