Democrats fail to override governor’s veto of “millionaires tax”

Democrats in the New Jersey Assembly have failed in their effort to override Republican Governor Chris Christie’s veto of a tax surcharge on millionaires.

Democrats in the New Jersey Assembly have failed in their effort to override Republican Governor Chris Christie’s veto of a tax surcharge on millionaires.

The vote was strictly along party lines. All 47 Assembly Democrats voted in favor of the override. All 33 Republicans voted against it.

The surcharge would have provided money to restore property tax rebates for senior citizens and the disabled.

Democratic Assemblyman Paul Moriarity led the push for the override.

“It’s very disappointing,” says Moriarty, “that we couldn’t find seven Republicans to join us in restoring rebates to 600,000 seniors and disabled folks who really need a lifeline.”

Assembly Republican Conference leader Jon Bramnick says New Jersey is already overtaxed.

“There’s a message we want to send to people in New Jersey,” says Bramnick. “There’s not going to be any more taxes with this new Governor, and the Republicans in my caucus we’re not voting for new taxes no way, no how, under no circumstances, nada, never. It ain’t happening.”

Republicans claim the vote was just political theater because Democrats knew they did not have any GOP support for the override to succeed.