State Senate Democrats unveil their proposed budget, sans millionaires’ tax

The New Jersey Senate Democrats have unveiled their proposed state budget – one that is lacking a number of Gov. Phil Murphy’s top priorities.

News 12 Staff

Jun 18, 2019, 12:47 AM

Updated 1,773 days ago

Share:

The New Jersey Senate Democrats have unveiled their proposed state budget – one that is lacking a number of Gov. Phil Murphy’s top priorities.
The governor’s proposed budget included a tax on income over $1 million, along with other tax increases – increases Senate President Steve Sweeney has opposed.
“The state needs to be fixed before you have any conversation about raising taxes,” says Sweeney. “And the governor's refusal to address some of the biggest problems that exist here is just not acceptable.”
Lawmakers say that their proposed budget does not have any new taxes and no broad-based taxes have been raised. This includes Murphy’s millionaires’ tax.
The Senate Democrat’s budget includes $50 million for NJ Transit - $25 million more than the governor requested. It also includes more funding for pre-K programs, which the governor supports.
The Senate budget proposal also eliminates fee increases on gun licenses and permits that Gov. Murphy proposed.
“All in all, our budget’s not that far off the budget he presented, and that's how it works. The administration presents a budget and the Legislature works to craft a budget to put on his desk,” Sweeney says.
Budget Committee chairman Sen. Paul Sarlo says that several Republican lawmakers told him that the Senate budget was an improvement over Murphy’s proposal.
“I do applaud the efforts of the Senate president, [Assembly] Speaker [Craig] Coughlin and yourself to eliminate the ridiculous and unnecessary tax increases the governor was calling for,” Republican state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon told Sarlo.
Murphy was not a fan of the Senate's proposed budget, saying, "It leaves us without the stable and sustainable revenues to secure the investments we seek to make in our people and our state. It makes unnecessary cuts to valuable programs while increasing spending on non-vital ones and eliminates our first deposit in a decade into the state's empty Rainy Day Fund."
A budget vote is expected on Thursday. The governor will have to approve a budget before midnight on June 30 or a government shutdown will occur.
 


More from News 12
2:16
‘One of our worst corridors in terms of accidents.’ Goal Zero aims to make Route 9 safer

‘One of our worst corridors in terms of accidents.’ Goal Zero aims to make Route 9 safer

1:14
Plenty of sunshine today with cooler temps for New Jersey; freeze watch until Friday

Plenty of sunshine today with cooler temps for New Jersey; freeze watch until Friday

1:44
NJ Transit rail service into and out of Penn Station New York now operating on or close to schedule

NJ Transit rail service into and out of Penn Station New York now operating on or close to schedule

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

1:38
PSE&G celebrates Take Your Child to Work Day

PSE&G celebrates Take Your Child to Work Day

0:30
NJ Forest Fire Service: 510-acre wildfire in Wharton State Forest now 100% contained

NJ Forest Fire Service: 510-acre wildfire in Wharton State Forest now 100% contained

0:05
Baseball's oldest living major leaguer, former Yankee Art Schallock, is turning 100

Baseball's oldest living major leaguer, former Yankee Art Schallock, is turning 100

1:50
Threatening message found at Dwight-Englewood middle school

Threatening message found at Dwight-Englewood middle school

0:24
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial

2:27
How to protect spring plants from frost and freeze

How to protect spring plants from frost and freeze

0:25
Asbury Park man sentenced to 40 years in prison for 2021 home invasion, sex assault

Asbury Park man sentenced to 40 years in prison for 2021 home invasion, sex assault

0:26
Union police searching for missing 60-year-old man last seen at Whole Foods parking lot

Union police searching for missing 60-year-old man last seen at Whole Foods parking lot

0:24
Fanwood police warn of possible concert ticket scams on Facebook

Fanwood police warn of possible concert ticket scams on Facebook

0:36
New Jersey Instagram fraudster 'Jay Mazini' sentenced for his crypto scheme that preyed on Muslims

New Jersey Instagram fraudster 'Jay Mazini' sentenced for his crypto scheme that preyed on Muslims

Ready to explore the great outdoors? These 14 tips can help you stay safe while hiking

Ready to explore the great outdoors? These 14 tips can help you stay safe while hiking

Your Road Trip Close to Home adventure guide for April 25

Your Road Trip Close to Home adventure guide for April 25

1:13
The East End: Shou Sugi Ban House in Watermill

The East End: Shou Sugi Ban House in Watermill

2:54
Longtime Democratic US Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65 following heart attack

Longtime Democratic US Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65 following heart attack

0:56
Passaic to get $1.6M in federal funds to reduce flash flooding where 2 people died

Passaic to get $1.6M in federal funds to reduce flash flooding where 2 people died

2:56
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend New Jersey woman's life

Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend New Jersey woman's life