While New Jersey tries to thaw out from a blizzard, Gov. Chris Christie is taking broad steps to freeze state spending to close a $2.2 billion budget hole.
Christie says the state is in a financial crisis and the current budget is in “shambles.”
Christie plans to freeze $1.6 billion in unspent money. That includes $475 million in school aid, $62 million for universities, and $12.6 million in hospital charity care.
The Republican will also freeze nearly $16 million in unused grant money from the Division of Youth and Family Services and $158 million from the Clean Energy Fund.
Christie told a joint session of the Legislature, “higher spending is the road to ruin.”
Copyright AP - Associated Press
