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Politics & Government

Christie Cuts Nearly $1 Billion from Democratic Budget

NJ Spotlight: Senate president characterizes Republican budget as "cruel and mean-spirited," vows to fight back.

Gov. Chris Christie yesterday wielded his veto pen to carve out close to a billion dollars -- including the bulk of new school aid -- from the Democrats’ spending plan approved the day before. He then signed the $29.7 billion state budget for the fiscal year starting today.

As expected, he also flatly vetoed the Democrats’ proposed millionaire’s tax, which was contained in a separate bill that even its sponsors didn’t think would survive.

While the governor's signature ended the 11th hour drama as to whether the state government might shut down, his aggressive line-item vetoes hardly brought peace to the Democratic-led legislature.

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Gone was any of the good will of just two days ago when Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) stood together to sign landmark pension and health benefit bills.

"This is the most disappointing day since I’ve been in the legislature," Sweeney said in a press conference following Christie’s late-afternoon budget announcement. Sweeney, who said he had not spoken with Christie, would not say for sure if the Democrats would seek to override any of the cuts. But Sweeney sounded like someone preparing for yet another battle.

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"This budget is cruel and mean-spirited and only to prove a point that he’s in charge," Sweeney said. "But we will fight back."

The Senate is expected back in Trenton next week, likely Thursday, and Sweeney said he would speak with other legislative leaders first before deciding next steps.

Continue reading this story in NJ Spotlight.

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.

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