Guadagno calls on Murphy to intervene in budget showdown

Kim Guadagno

With New Jersey’s state government on the verge of shutting down because the Democrat controlled legislature has failed to pass a budget, Lt.Governor Kim Guadagno, the GOP nominee for Governor, has called on her Democrat opponent, former Goldman Sachs banker Phil Murphy, to intervene in the impasse.

“What is happening with the state budget is a disgusting display of Trenton politics that threatens to grind our state to a halt,” Guadagno said. “With so many problems in New Jersey from property taxes to healthcare, our leaders should be communicating with each other to pass a budget that puts the taxpayers of New Jersey first and separate the Horizon bill from negotiations so it can be thoroughly reviewed. Phil Murphy – as the head of his party – should immediately call his political bosses who are orchestrating this and tell them to stop playing politics with the lives of the people who will be hurt by a government shutdown.”

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Legislature won’t pass budget Thursday as Assembly speaker digs in

TRENTON — The state Legislature won’t pass a budget on Thursday as talks over key components of a deal remain deadlocked. That brings New Jersey right up against the midnight Friday deadline for a state budget. Without a spending plan, Gov. Chris Christie has the option to shut down state government. More than half of the… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie says there’s no reason for a government shutdown

TRENTON — The clock is ticking for lawmakers and Gov. Chris Christie to hash out a compromise on a state budget by the end of the week or else New Jerseyans will be staring down the barrel of the first state government shutdown since 2006. At odds are the differences within the Democratic-controlled Legislature over a… Read the rest of this entry »

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Increasing Fiscal Transparency by Tracking, Reporting on Unspent Funds

While Democratic legislative leaders are negotiating a budget with Gov. Chris Christie this week, lawmakers are also moving toward final passage of a bipartisan bill that would bring a new level of transparency to how taxpayer dollars are spent by state government each year. Both houses of the Legislature are expected to approve later today a… Read the rest of this entry »

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Interactive Map: Charting the Ups and Downs of Dems’ School-Aid Plan

You can toggle between districts by type — elementary, regional HS and K-12 — by clicking in the Visible layers box (K-12 are shown by default). To find a district, zoom in and move the map, or use the search box (with the magnifying glass). Hover over or click on a district for information. A day… Read the rest of this entry »

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Beck: School Funding Should Be Fair and Transparent

Senator Jennifer Beck

By Senator Jennifer Beck

The biggest issue facing our state is property taxes.  And the biggest impact on that issue is school taxes.

Over the next several weeks, a new plan for school funding will be debated in Trenton.

There aren’t a lot of details being provided on this plan or its methodology, but estimates suggest that it could end up costing Monmouth County schools over $100 million in state school aid.

This plan, if estimates are true, isn’t a fair or equitable solution to our school funding crisis.

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O’Scanlon: Trenton Dems to blame for NJ’s credit downgrades

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, the Republican Assembly Budget Officers responded to Democrats’ suggestion the New Jersey’s declining credit rating is solely the fault of the Christie Administration by suggesting Democratic leadership look in the mirror.

O’Scanlon cited downgrade reports from Moody’s and S&P:

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Christie issues Executive Order to fund transportation projects from the general state fund

file photo

Governor Chris Christie announced this afternoon that he has ordered the State Treasurer to fund transportation projects that are absolutely essential for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey, or that are required to ensure the receipt of federal funding.

The Governor’s announcement comes as the Transportation Trust Fund is on the verge of running out of money.  The legislature failed to pass a funding mechanism for the fund by June 30th.  Christie subsequently shut down all non-essential projects and those not at risk of losing federal funding.

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N.J. avoids credit rating downgrade despite pension, road funding woes

TRENTON — A Wall Street ratings agency on Monday left New Jersey’s credit rating unchanged though it’s “cautious” on the state’s ability to meet its revenue forecasts this year. Fitch ratings noted that despite the state’s more conservative revenue forecasting in recent years — a departure from years of overly optimistic estimates that left big holes… Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. could be in big trouble if another recession hit

TRENTON — A new study cast doubts on whether New Jersey can withstand another economic downturn. It’s the second such study this year to find that the state, which has lagged behind the rest of the nation in recovering from the Great Recession, is particularly vulnerable and unprepared for yet another. New Jersey is among 10… Read the rest of this entry »

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