nj budget

Sources tell Townsquare Media that a group of nine Assembly Democrats led by Assemblyman Joe Cryan are threatening to withhold their votes on the Democrat-sponsored State Budget unless they are assured that a vote on the controversial Rutgers-Rowan University merger is delayed.

A spokesman for the Senate Democrats says the budget bill and the millionaires’ tax hike legislation will definitely be approved in committee today, tonight or early into tomorrow morning. A spokesman for the Assembly Democrats isn’t sure whether the Assembly Budget Committee will stay until both bills are put to bed or come back tomorrow to allow the panel to vote.

The Senate and Assembly budget committees are scheduled to consider the $32 billion State Budget bill today along with legislation to increase the state sales tax on millionaires. Democrats are sponsoring both measures. They have also added some spending to the plan, almost $130 million.

Do you think New Jersey's approximately 16,000 millionaires should pay more in income taxes so you can pay less in property taxes?

What's the worst that could happen if the State shuts down because lawmakers and the Governor can't agree on a budget deal before the midnight June 30 constitutional deadline?

Sources tell Townsquare Media news that a faction of Democrats in the Assembly are still waging a bitter internal battle over what the final state budget bill should include or not include.

With time running out to get a tax cut deal in place, Governor Christie has launched a new kind of attack against some democratic leaders in the Assembly who are opposing his income tax reduction plan - and insisting on a tax hike for millionaires.

We could be less than one week away from knowing for certain how New Jersey plans to spend your hard-earned tax dollars.

It plays exceptionally well on the national stage when Republican Governor Christie regales crowds with stories of how he gets things done for the State of New Jersey by working with Democrats.

As per the State Constitution, New Jersey must have a signed and balanced budget in place by midnight June 30.