State legislature passes $35B budget for 2017

New Jersey lawmakers have passed a nearly $35 billion budget, sending it to Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

The Democrat-led Assembly and Senate passed the spending plan on Monday, three days ahead of the end of the fiscal year.

The budget is only $300 million greater than Christie's own plan. The biggest changes include $45 million for a tax credit benefiting seniors, $25 million for the expansion of state-funded preschool and $7.5 million for family planning, which Christie has cut in the past.

Unlike previous years, Democrats did not propose raising taxes on millionaires or offer to make a greater pension payment.

Christie can use the line-item veto to cut the Democrats' spending increases, if he chooses.

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