Governor Chris Christie says economic conditions in New Jersey make a tax cut more urgent.

Christie says a tax cut is needed to make New Jersey more competitive with neighboring states. He’s urging the Democratic controlled legislature to move ahead with a tax reduction.

“If they don¹t think we have enough money for a tax cut, I disagree with them, but if they think they don’t, then come forward with a set of budget cuts they’re willing to do from the budget that would pay for the tax cut. If they’re not willing to do that then you know that they don’t want to cut your taxes.”

Senate budget committee chairman Paul Sarlo says Democrats also would like a tax cut but want to wait until January to see if revenues, which have been missing targets, improve.

“We’re going to be talking about budget cuts before we could talk about  tax cuts. I would love to be talking about tax cuts and we’re going to get there. Unfortunately we’re struggling here. Our revenues are not coming in. Unemployment is on the rise.”