Senate Democrats have failed to find the three Republican votes they needed to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto of $139 million in aid for struggling New Jersey communities.
Christie surprised Democrats by eliminating all but $10 million budgeted for the program to help cities and towns in financial distress. He said it was because Democrats reduced the amount for oversight. The year before, Christie cut $30 million from the program.
Democrats tried Tuesday to restore the funding, but the vote fell short when no Republicans joined them.
The League of Municipalities has urged the Legislature to reverse cuts totaling $240 million that the organization says will adversely impact the ability to provide property tax relief in individual towns.
Attempts to overturn cuts in the budget for college tuition grants, nursing homes and the Urban Enterprise Zone program also failed Tuesday.
Christie shaved $1.3 billion in spending, including $900 million in Democrat add-ins, before signing a $29.7 billion state budget into law.
In two days of meetings, the Senate considered 28 of a total of 39 of Gov. Christie’s line vetoes. The remaining 11 Christie vetoes may also be considered by the Senate.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
The Assembly will also hold hearings on the budget cuts sometime this summer.
