(TRENTON) — Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement Tuesday after Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address:
“Candidate Christie promised to fully restore property tax rebates, but Gov. Christie shattered that promise. And now he’s looking to make seniors and middle-class homeowners wait several months to receive the property tax relief they deserve.
“Gov. Christie is turning vital property tax relief into a budget gimmick.
“Had the treasurer come before the Assembly Budget Committee last summer to discuss the budding shortfall, maybe we could have avoided this gimmick that will cause hardship for our seniors and middle-class homeowners.
“The governor finally needs to stop playing politics with people’s lives.
“Time and time again, he has shown that he does not stand on the side of the middle-class and poor, as evidenced by his insulting conditional veto of our bill to increase the minimum wage and his decision to delay property tax relief payments.
“Democrats believe in the core values that have long helped sustain the middle-class and rise up the poor – a quality education for all children, access to affordable health care for women, responsible tax relief for our middle-class and poor, a livable wage for everyone and safe communities.
“We will be taking a close look to see where this budget needs to be altered and improved so it reflects these core values.”