Dems strategize on budget plans as N.J. deadline nears

One of the Democratic leaders in the Legislature says negotiations are getting under way in hopes of reaching a budget deal to meet a looming deadline.

The New Jersey Constitution requires that a new state budget be in place by the end of June.

Democrats will try to add some of their own initiatives to the Christie administration’s $32.9 billion budget proposal, said Assembly Budget Committee chairman Vinnie Prieto.

If that doesn’t work, he said, Democrats could introduce their own budget plan and risk the governor cutting it back with the line-item veto.

“You could put a lot of good of things, a lot of good initiatives, a lot of good programs,” said Prieto, D-Hudson. “Then last time, I don’t think he took a pen to it, I think he took an ax to it. And I think he even went beyond and cut some of his own things. So that’s a risk that you take.”

Prieto said the Legislature will try to get a budget passed as soon as possible so lawmakers can take their summer break.