Democrats say they have the votes to pass state budget

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Last updated: Wednesday June 17, 2009, 5:13 PM

BY CLAIRE HEININGER

NorthJersey.com

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

Top Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday they believe they will have enough votes to pass a $28.6 billion state budget on Thursday, nearly two weeks ahead of the June 30 deadline.

Although Republicans are united against the spending plan, Democrats hold majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly. There is a slimmer majority in the Senate -- which Democrats control 23-17 -- and Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) have expressed reservations about voting for the budget.

But Senate Budget and Appropriations chairwoman Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Assembly Budget chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) said Wednesday that the budget is on track for approval.

"Obviously it's not over until it's over, but I'm guardedly optimistic that we'll have the votes tomorrow to pass it out of the Senate," Buono said.

"I'm confident we'll have the votes in the Assembly," Greenwald said. "The state of New Jersey has to make difficult, hard and painful decisions. If people are hanging on for a budget that has everything that they want in it, it's not realistic."

The two budget chairs spoke at a Democratic State Committee joint news conference at the State House to criticize the fiscal promises made by Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie, who is trying to unseat Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.

Corzine's recession-starved budget has been a punching bag for Republicans like Christie, who criticize the governor's moves to raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses and eliminate property tax rebates for all but seniors and the disabled. Corzine says his budget, which is $4.3 billion smaller than last year's, represents "the right decisions" in "tough times," such as preserving funding for schools and seniors.

The governor and his Democratic allies have challenged Christie to back up his attacks on Corzine with specifics on his own fiscal plans -- a message carried by Buono and Greenwald today.

Ticking off Christie's statements on taxes, rebates and federal stimulus money, the lawmakers said Christie's ideas would amount to a $7.4 billion hole in the budget.

"It's disrespectful to the people of New Jersey to make false promises that don't add up," said Buono, who is on Corzine's short list of possible lieutenant governor candidates. In a nod to Christie's background as a lawyer and federal prosecutor, she said: "This is not a courtroom. This is the real world. ...Christie has fallen into the trap of trying to be all things to all people."

Greenwald said Christie's budget ideas lack "transparency," a charge Christie often makes about Corzine.

"Transparency is not always easy. It airs your dirty laundry. It exposes the problems that we face," Greenwald said. "But the reality is it allows the public the opportunity to see the thought process ... by which you attack that problem."

Christie has said he is not ready to provide "concrete numbers" because he doesn't want to make "empty promises" and Corzine's own projections on revenue "change week to week."

The Republican State Committee was quick to come to Christie's defense this afternoon, sending a statement on behalf of Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Burlington) criticizing the Democrats.

“Buono and Greenwald should direct their energy towards rebuilding the shattered lives of New Jersey families," Malone said. "Chris Christie did not build these budgets. Jim McGreevey and Jon Corzine, along with their fellow Democrats, did."

Claire Heininger is a reporter for The Star-Ledger. Email: cheininger@starledger.com