While 30 of 40 senators voted to restore $7.5M in June, GOP lawmakers say they will not defy Gov. Chris Christie's veto
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View from above the Senate Chamber dais in this January 2010 file photo.TRENTON — When the state Senate voted to restore $7.5 million in family planning funds in June, 30 of the 40 senators supported it — more than enough to override Gov. Chris Christie if he vetoed the measure.
Christie did veto the bill, and Democratic lawmakers Tuesday will kick off their effort to override it in a Statehouse news conference.
But GOP leaders say their members will not defy the Republican governor.
"There will not be enough votes in the Senate to spend money that we don’t have," Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) said today. "This is the time for fiscal discipline, and the members of the Republican caucus recognize that."
Of the seven Republican senators who voted yes on the family planning bill, three told The Star-Ledger they will not vote to override the veto, and the other four either could not be reached for comment or would not say today.
Democrats won’t be able to get the 27 votes needed for a Senate override if one more Republican who supported the bill opts against opposing Christie.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who with Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Union) will launch the Democrats’ override campaign today, said she holds out hope at least one Republican can be swayed in the upper house, which would vote first.
"Tom Kean can come out with whatever statements he wants. I don’t believe that he’s going to be able to control all the good people in his caucus," said Weinberg.
Christie did not reference abortion when he vetoed the bill, but the issue looms large among conservatives in the party because 29 or the 58 clinics the bill would have funded are run by Planned Parenthood.
The bill specifies the money can’t be used to pay for abortions. Christie, who opposes abortion, said the state does not have the money for the program.
"If they’re telling us there’s no money I think it would be irresponsible to vote for it," said state Sen. Sean Kean (R-Monmouth), who originally voted yes.
In addition to Kean, state Sens. Christopher Connors (R-Ocean), Robert Singer (R-Ocean) said they would switch their votes to no in an override attempt.
State Sens. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset), Jennifer Beck (R-Monmoth) and Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean) either would not say or could not be reached for comment.
Democrats say they found $7.5 million for the pogram in what they said was an over-budgeted state employee prescription drug program.
The Treasury Department, however, disputes that.
"The real key factor is it is fictitious money," said Singer.
Weinberg, however, noted that Christie found money to restore several more expensive programs.
"When people raise their voices about worthwhile programs, somehow the governor waves a magic wand and money is available. Except for this one," she said. "This is ideological, not financial."
Democrats may also try to override Christie’s vetos of a $100 million for a homebuyers tax credit and the $25 million for FamilyCare, a state-funded health insurance program for low-income residents.
Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) said it’s likely every Assembly Republican will follow the governor on the bills.
"I don’t think they’ll want to go against their own governor when he explains to them we can’t afford it," he said.