Democrats' $35.3B budget proposal headed for a floor vote

A Democratic budget that includes tax hikes but also makes a nearly $3 billion public pension payment is now headed for a vote before the full Legislature. But if it reaches his desk, Gov. Chris Christie

News 12 Staff

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Jun 24, 2015, 3:45 AM

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Updated 3,514 days ago

A Democratic budget that includes tax hikes but also makes a nearly $3 billion public pension payment is now headed for a vote before the full Legislature.

But if it reaches his desk, Gov. Chris Christie is expected to use his line-item veto to remove the more than $1 billion in tax increases and replace the pension payment with a $1.3 billion cash infusion.

The Senate and Assembly budget committees both approved the $35.3 billion spending blueprint Tuesday along party lines.

Republicans question the Democrats' efforts because similar proposals last year were vetoed. Democrats say they are living up to an obligation created in a 2011 law laying out pension payment requirements.

A floor vote is expected in both chambers on Thursday. A new budget is required by July 1.