TRENTON – Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver on Monday announced that they have reached a compromise with Gov. Chris Christie on a state budget that will restore cuts to some programs that impact the state’s most vulnerable residents.
“The budget we will introduce is far from perfect and will still be a tough sell among Democratic lawmakers, but the Governor should be commended for working with us to take the sting our of some of its most harmful cuts,” said Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “Most importantly, this budget will be signed on-time, and all the rumors of a shutdown will remain just that.”
“The improvements we’ve made make this budget plan the best it can possibly be amid this difficult economy,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “No one is excited about what this budget does, but it at least has taken several steps toward protecting working class New Jerseyans. I appreciate the willingness of all sides, including Gov. Christie, to make the changes needed to improve this budget.”
The Senate and Assembly budget committees will convene later this week to clear the measures, with final votes scheduled for Monday, June 28.