Late night N.J. budget deal cuts $820 million

The New Jersey legislature has passed a budget that cuts $820 million in aid to schools and poor people.

The New Jersey legislature has passed a budget that cuts $820 million in aid to schools and poor people.  It is a victory for Republican Governor Christie, who promised to reduce government spending to deal with declining tax revenues.

Assembly Republican leader Alex DeCroce calls it a reform budget.

“It’ll be a new beginning for New Jersey,” he says. “You can see, by virtue of the polls, people are absolutely in favor of less spending and lower taxes and that’s what we’re doing.”

Democrats provided enough votes to enact the Republican sponsored budget and avert a potential government shutdown. Still, many Democrats spoke out against the budget.

Majority leader Joe Cryan says it unfairly attacks the middle class.

“For those of us who pay property taxes, for those of us who worry about social services, for those of us who worry about education opportunities for our kids, this is a terrible budget,” he said.

Many lawmakers from both parties say the budget was the best that could be achieved considering the drop in revenue during the recession. The governor will sign the $29 billion budget later today.