(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) released the following statement on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget vetoes:
“The governor’s failure to fully fund our pension obligation will push New Jersey closer toward fiscal disaster, and his rejection of tax relief for working families and continued support for tax breaks for millionaires is once again disappointing. The ramifications will unfortunately be adversely felt by taxpayers for years to come.
“Democrats presented a reasonable and responsible plan, and New Jerseyans can take some solace in the fact Assembly Democratic priorities such as increased funding for cancer research, domestic violence and rape crisis programs, nursing homes, Equal Opportunity Funding and vocational education remained. I would have preferred the governor sign the budget as presented, but the Democratic plan at least gives New Jersey a better budget for the middle-class and poor than the one proposed by the governor.
“With many difficult decisions still to come, it’s time for everyone to finally begin working together without slogans and sound bites. The focus from here on out must be on serious discussion and reality.”