The Democrats of New Jersey budget much like Chris Christie

TRENTON, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when get an economic status through the New Jersey legislature and signed by the Governor had all the drama of the operas of Wagner ring cycle.

And seemed to take the time.

Certainty was banished from the stage. Small crowds of legislators and staff rushed from the floors of the Senate and the Assembly to the Governor's Office and then to their own shelters, proposals and counterproposals.

Deals were cut late into the night and often the budget was not approved until the early morning hours, when the legislators and the handful of journalists who managed to stay awake stumbled home.

No longer as well.

After weeks of quiet negotiations with the Office of the Governor, Democrats in the legislature Thursday on a budget of $32.9 billion that largely the proposal Governor Christie, a Republican, unveiled at the end of February. It is a spare budget that grows a little more than 2 percent and adheres to conservative principles, at least in terms of State spending is concerned.

It hopes that both houses of the legislature to approve the budget on Monday, a week before the deadline on June 30 of the Constitution of the State for the step.

Much of the increase is explained by a spectacular jump in federal Medicaid funding to pay for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, program of President Obama to expand health coverage to people who do not have health insurance.

Christie has been a vocal opponent of the health law, but they agreed to expand the enrollment of Medicaid in New Jersey, one of its main features, because it will be the global share of the State's Medicaid costs.

Why the bonhomie?

Part of it is sturdy popularity of Christie. A poll from the Quinnipiac University published on June 10, Christie gave one about 70 percent favorability rating in his race against State Senator Barbara Buono (d, Middlesex). Christie also has a close relationship with the President of the Senate Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester), who share conservative tendencies of Christie on some issues. But no doubt much of this year is simply this: the legislature is up for re-election, and of course few lawmakers enjoy the idea of explaining to voters why they picked a fight with a popular Governor.

"I think that most democratic legislators recognize that with its own elections to rise, there is little to gain in having a bout of precipitation, drainage for the money with one of the most popular in the country Governors," said Brigid Harrison, Professor of political science at Montclair State University.

Christie has also been smart to cultivate relations with democratic politicians, so much so that some have supported his re-election.

"This is very unique," said Joseph Marbach, Professor of political science at the University of La Salle, of the relaxation of the budget.

Close working relationship of Christie with Sweeney and the idea that they share the conservative budget trends, has been fundamental, Marbach said.

Sweeney and the Governor "have seen eye to eye on much," Marbach said.

It is not to say that there was an absence of dissenting voices on Thursday when the Senate and Assembly budget committees voted to release the budget. Senator Loretta Weinberg (d, Bergen) voted against the Bill, saying that unfair health program of an important woman and not took steps to reduce the burden of taxes on the property of homeowners.

A member of the Committee, Senator Nellie Pou (d, Passaic), wondered aloud how it was that the State could not finance social programmes, but had the money to pay for a special election to replace the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg.

Christie had scheduled the special election for October 16, at a cost of up to $24 million, less than three weeks before general elections scheduled for November 5. Democrats have argued that three elections in a matter of months was a waste of taxpayer money.

But those voices so far have failed to gain much attention.

The great controversy at the beginning of this year was about the income projections of Christie, legislators Democrats and the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services said were exaggerated by some $700 million.

By the time the budget was implemented on Thursday, projections of the Governor remained and democratic objections were silenced. Private Democratic aides acknowledged that although the gap between revenues reached $1 billion, about 2 percent of total spending, it could be accomplished.

The only Rejoinder of budget of the Senate and Chairman of the Committee of appropriations Paul Sarlo (d, Bergen) was the Administration to certify income. If money is short, you will have to find a way to make up the difference.

Please contact Chris Mondics

215-854-5957 or cmondics@phillynews.com. ___

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