Dems In NJ State Senate Force More Votes On Veto Overrides, Without Success
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - It was another long day, short on results, for New Jersey state senate Democrats trying to override line-item vetoes made by Governor Christie in the new budget (see previous stories).
Democratic state senators, needing some Republican support to override the governor's vetoes, got none. They struck out more than Babe Ruth, without all the home runs to ease the pain.
One of the measures would have restored close to $150 million in funding to poor cities like Camden.
"What do you do when you lay off half your cops?" Democratic senator Donald Norcross wondered aloud about Camden. "Do we say, sorry, just throw the hand grenades, senator? I'm waiting to hear 'Let them eat cake!' That's how absurd some of these statements are."
But Republican senator Gerald Cardinale was unmoved.
"This is the wrong kind of program," he said. "We should be rewarding communities that lift themselves up, not communities that put themselves further and further into the hole."
Democrats say, however, that many poor communities have little taxable property.
Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060
