The N.J. budget standoff: Sum it up in 6

Once again, Chris Christie is locking horns with New Jersey Democrats over the state budget.

Facing a July 1 deadline, Gov. Christie signed the $31.7 billion budget, but not without some changes.

Christie slashed $361 million from the spending plan Democrats sent him before signing it into law.

“The budget I am signing today reverses irresponsible funding decisions, establishes funding levels based on realistic and responsible revenue assumptions, and increases our surplus to a healthy level that paves the way for continued economic growth,” Christie said in a statement.

Sum up in six words or less your thoughts about the NJ budget process.

Tell us in the comments below.

NJ Spotlight outlined Christie’s three options for the budget earlier this week:

Use his line-item veto power to cut $55 million in spending favored by Democrats and then call the Legislature to a special session to demand that they act on a tax cut.
Veto another tax bill, rewrite it as a tax cut, and send it back to the Legislature to vote on it before he will approve the budget bill.
Killing the budget entirely and demand that the Legislature deliver an acceptable budget by Saturday night — or risk government shutdown.

Now that Christie has made his call, tell us what you think about the decision.