Wisniewski Statement on Christie Budget Address

February 26, 2013

For Immediate Release
February 26, 2013

Wisniewski Statement on Christie Budget Address

(Trenton)- This afternoon, Governor Chris Christie gave his yearly budget address in Trenton.  Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, released the following statement:

“I’m disappointed by Governor Christie’s lack of leadership when it comes to New Jersey’s budget.  

Last year, Christie proposed a fiscally irresponsible tax cut, spent six months crowing about a ‘Jersey Comeback’ that never materialized, and we are now facing a $473 million shortfall for the 2013 fiscal year.  Until we can close that budget gap, it is fiscally irresponsible to propose a tax cut.  We won’t just take Christie’s word that he’ll figure out how to balance the budget and cut property taxes.  That said, if his math is actually right for once, then of course the legislature will gladly work with him to enact the Democratic proposal from last year.  

Governor Christie’s decision to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid is good news for New Jersey.  But Christie showed an appalling lack of leadership by waiting for eight fellow Republican governors to accept the funding and give him political cover, while Christie’s constituents have been demanding his action on Medicaid for months.  

In a speech focused so heavily on Sandy recovery, it was especially disappointing that Christie ignored the impact that sequestration will have on New Jersey’s budget for the coming year.  Republicans in Washington have made it clear that they will allow sequestration to occur which may cost our region $3 billion in Sandy relief aid.  In order to balance the 2014 budget, Christie is relying upon federal funding for Sandy relief that may not be available.  His unwillingness to address this economic reality does not make it any less real.  

For all Christie’s boasts about straight talk, we sure didn’t hear much of it in today’s speech.”

###