Gov. Chris Christie presented his seventh annual budget less than a week after suspending his presidential bid and inviting Democrats to work in a bipartisan way to solve some big issues. It’s a $34.8 billion spending package with no new tax hikes. No property tax relief either. It includes no additional money to make the Transportation Trust Fund solvent or fully fund public worker pensions. But it does include more money for schools, for addiction treatment services and criminal justice reform.
Christie opened his annual budget proposal on a grace note, acknowledging his long absences from the State House in his quest for the White House.
The Democrats offered responses to the governor’s budget address. Safe to say they seemed dumbfounded at the thought there’s no issue with the Transportation Trust Fund. And, one said the governor seemed to believe there were some big problems when he hit the campaign trail but they suddenly were solved when he returned to the state.
NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron and Correspondent David Cruz were in Trenton covering the address.