New Jersey lawmakers unhappy with the governor’s budget offer alternative

New Jersey legislative leaders are pressing ahead with their own state budget plan even after Gov. Phil Murphy said he’d veto it.

Murphy said the budget Democratic leaders are advancing is based on gimmicks.

“I will not sign any budget based on numbers that I do not believe are sound and sustainable,” he said. “As we have reviewed the legislature’s proposals, I do not believe theirs are.”

Senate President Steve Sweeney said lawmakers have been open to compromise and won’t be bullied into doing what the governor wants.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin expects the Legislature will pass the leaders’ plan on Thursday and hopes Murphy will carefully consider it.

“I think it’s incumbent upon the governor to take a look at what we actually put forth and I’m hopeful that when he does he recognize that 95 percent of the things that he’s looked for are included in that budget,” said Coughlin.

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick believes there will be a state government shutdown if Gov. Murphy and majority Democrats in the legislature can’t agree on a new budget enacted by the June 30 deadline.

“With all due respect to the governor, his inexperience is showing in this budget fight,” Bramnick said. “You need to talk to the other side and you need to compromise. He’s not doing that.”