It’s over:
Assembly passes NJ budget, three days after deadline. Dems give @VincentPrieto standing ovation: 53-23-1 pic.twitter.com/cwkCvdKZCz
— Katie Jennings (@katiedjennings) July 4, 2017
The ayes have it. Assembly finally approves state budget, clearing way for @GovChristie to sign and state to reopen. pic.twitter.com/7LCe5PyrNB
— David Cruz (@DavidCruzNJ) July 4, 2017
—
This is the part where they all congratulate one another for doing their jobs… albeit poorly.
The rest of us will keep paying for Trenton having solved a crisis of its own creation.
How much?
$34.7 billion for FY 2018.
There’s a ton to unpack (including the Horizon angle) but Asw. Holly Schepisi (R-39) likely spoke for most of the 1/3 who voted NAY very early Tuesday morning:
And we are back. Happy 4th of July everyone. Government will reopen today. Just to put it out there, I voted no on the 2018 budget as it increases spending by over $300 million, money that the state does not have. Many of the programs included in that spending are programs that I personally support yet no one has been able to identify where the money is coming from. Indeed there is an increase of approximately $1 million total coming back to our District’s schools however I believe there is a real possibility that the $1 million will ultimately cost the people I represent many times that amount through additional taxes which will have to be raised to pay for the increased spending.”
Michael Patrick Carroll (R-25) was even more direct.
“Query whether this ‘deal’ is worth the price tag the taxpayers will be paying … essentially forever,” the Morris GOP’er opined on Facebook. “$325M or so is a lot of dough.”
Happy Fourth, folks. Now go get some sleep.
___
