News Article

Budget Bill Advanced By Assembly Panel

By Phil Gregory, WBGO News
Trenton. June 22, 2012

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Assembly Budget Committee (photo by Phil Gregory)

It’s now up to the full Legislature to decide whether to approve the New Jersey budget proposed by majority Democrats.

Just like their counterparts in the Senate, members of the Assembly budget committee voted along party lines to advance the $31.7 billion dollar budget bill.

All of the Democrats on the panel supported it.

Assemblyman Troy Singleton says it’s a responsible budget that sets aside money for a tax cut when revenues improve.

“We’ve done our best to provide in the constraints of this budget some relief for our taxpayers.”

All of the Republicans including Assemblyman Jay Webber voted against the budget bill.

“That we can’t manage to find a way to provide immediate tax relief in this budget with this budget deal is a true disappointment. I think it’s a failure.”

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick does not expect any Republicans will support the budget bill when it comes up for a vote in the full Assembly on Monday.

“We got to stay competitive. We have to be more competitive and unless the Democrats are willing to put a tax cut in there I don’t see Republicans joining the Democrats.”

Republican Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon says Governor Christie will not sign the Democrats budget plan .

 “I think the governor will turn the document into one that he can live with or will work very hard to do that. You have to see what his options are once he sees the final language. So anything is on the table.”

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