N.J. budget stalemate between governor, Assembly speaker continues
Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says that he won't sign a state budget unless it's presented to him along with his proposal to overhaul the state's largest health insurer and a plan to dedicate lottery revenue to the state's underfunded public workers' pensions. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The New Jersey Senate has approved legislation backed by GOP Gov. Chris Christie as part of budget negotiations to overhaul the state’s largest health insurer and transfer the state lottery to the public pension.
The Democrat-led Senate approved the bills on Thursday around the time that Christie acknowledged for the first time that they were conditions he put on Democrats to approve their $34.7 billion budget proposal.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said he agreed to the lottery proposal but will not post the legislation affecting Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Prieto earlier on Thursday halted a vote on the budget because he was shy of the votes needed to pass it.
Christie has called on Prieto to post the Horizon proposal in order to avert a shutdown.
The state Constitution requires a budget be enacted by July 1.
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