TRENTON – It’s budget season and the hearings will keep rolling on.
Senate lawmakers will have their opportunity Monday to question the state treasurer, Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, and the Office of Legislative Services on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014.
Last week, Sidamon-Eristoff and OLS’ budget officer, David Rosen, appeared before Assembly lawmakers and told officials the state’s economy is growing. However, both men painted slightly different pictures of revenue for the coming months.
Rosen, who has been caught in the governor’s cross hairs, warned the state could be staring down the barrel of a $637 million shortfall. Not quite, argued Sidamon-Eristoff, who told Assembly Budget Committee lawmakers that the state’s “economy is clearly growing.”
Now, both men will appear before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Monday for another round of questioning.
The committee’s chairman, Sen. Paul Sarlo, (D-36), indicated to State Street Wire last week that onlookers can expect little in the way of fireworks during the hearing.
“It’s really too early to tell,” he said at the time, adding that while “top lines [of the budget] look good right now,” the real discussions won’t take place until Sidamon-Eristoff certifies the final numbers in mid-May.
Sarlo’s statement is a good indication that things will start off slow and steady – albeit not without some pointed questioning.
“Clearly, some of the issues that are still out there – revenue certifications, growth for the budget next year and school funding – are all issues that we’re going to be focusing on,” he told SSW.
Gov
Christie is back on the go this week and is expected to have several press and public availabilities.
The Republican seeking re-election is sailing high in the polls and will step in front of cameras this week with little in the way of controversy over his FY 2014 budget and trailing revenues in the remaining FY 2013 months.
And of course, there’s Rutgers University.
If Friday’s afternoon news conference at the college was any indication of things to come, we can expect Monday questions for the governor to focus on the controversy of former coach Mike Rice.
Monday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
10 a.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Office of Legislative Services, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
1 p.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Treasurer, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Boards and Commissions
10 a.m., Medical Assistance Advisory Council, Auditorium, N.J. Forensic Science Technology Center, 1200 Negron Drive, Hamilton
10:30 a.m., Public Health Council, Department of Health board room, 369 S. Warren St., Trenton
Tuesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Assembly
9:30 a.m., Budget Committee, Education, higher education and local government issues, Center for Law and Justice, second floor, Rutgers-Newark, 123 Washington St., Newark
Boards and Commissions
9:30 a.m., N.J. Noise Control Council, Rm. 101, operator training center, Cook College Campus, College Farm Road, New Brunswick
10 a.m., N.J. Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, Fourth floor, building 4, Station Plaza, South Clinton Avenue, Trenton
Daily Events
2:15 p.m., American Health Care: The Policy and Politics of the Affordable Care Act, lecture by John Lawrence, former chief of staff to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Douglass Campus Center, 100 George St., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Eagleton Institute
Wednesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
11 a.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Economic Development Authority, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
12:30 p.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Comptroller’s Office, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
2 p.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Department of Banking and Insurance, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Boards and Commissions
9 a.m., Local Finance Board, Department of Community Affairs, 101 S. Broad St., Trenton
Daily events
7:30 a.m., N.J. League of Municipalities, Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey, “A New Era in Purchasing,” Trump Taj Mahal Casino, Atlantic City
8 a.m., N.J. Business and Industry Association, Meet the Decision-Makers, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Speaker Sheila Oliver, Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Drive, Monroe
Thursday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Assembly
10 a.m., Budget Committee, Department of Education/SDA, Rm. 11, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
Daily events
7:30 a.m., N.J. League of Municipalities, Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey, “A New Era in Purchasing,” Trump Taj Mahal Casino, Atlantic City
Friday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Boards and Commissions
9:30 a.m., N.J. Pinelands Commission, Richard J. Sullivan Center, 15C Springfield Road, New Lisbon
Daily events
8 a.m., N.J. League of Municipalities, Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey, “A New Era in Purchasing,” Trump Taj Mahal Casino, Atlantic City
8:30 a.m., N.J. Business and Industry Association, Hot Legal Topics for HR Professionals, Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Drive, Monroe
