By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
New Jersey’s FY 2014 budget is headed to Chris Christie’s desk, Save Jerseyans, and it’s a bloated $32.9 billion monstrosity, representing a $1.2 billion spending increase over FY2013.
The spin from the Administration and its allies is that this new budget comes in (1) smaller than the Corzine budget of five years ago while also (2) meeting its goals without raising taxes. “The bipartisan budget agreement shows that legislators can reach across the aisle and deliver a spending plan that is both responsible and responsive to the needs of those who need help” said Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris and Somerset). “For four years, we have followed a blueprint that holds government accountable, relies less and less on fiscal gimmicks and focuses on economic growth. The real winners are the taxpayers of this state who should be encouraged that Republicans and Democrats can work together and tackle the priorities facing our state.”
That hasn’t been entirely true over the past few years, folks. Are we in better shape than under Jon Corzine’s incompetent and corrupt leadership? Of course. But I’d be lying to you if I said Trenton Republicans were doing everything they could to push for larger spending cuts; this year, they’re much more concerned about putting themselves in the best possible position to deflect Democrat campaign arguments that they’re cutting rhetorically popular programs. This property taxpayers thinks it’s a very shortsighted strategy. Governor Christie’s incremental approach to tackling property taxes has been a good thing given legislative realities, but a clearer line could and should have been drawn in the sand over state spending.
Not everyone agrees with the company line under the dome. Still, few legislative GOP’ers were willing to say it out loud and risk the wrath of the front office. Sen. Michael Doherty and Asm. Jay Webber were the lone Republican voices willing to vote against the budget in their respective chambers.
The budget now heads to Chris Christie’s desk for his signature.
