TRENTON – It’s budget month.
The time has come for lawmakers and the state’s executive to come to the table and hash out a plan for closing the state’s books ahead of the end of the fiscal year.
Gov. Chris Christie said on 101.5 FM’s Ask the Governor last week that the budget process was moving along. Christie explained he and legislative leaders had yet to sit down at the table and talk budget directly, instead he said discussions were still at the staff levels.
But the regular budget negotiations were moving along, Christie said.
Now, lawmakers will ramp up behind closed door discussions in an effort to either craft their own budget or settle with the governor.
The state Treasurer recently said that the administration was knocking another $132 million off its pending spending plan – which had already been revised down by about $400 million in recent months. The administration’s projections came after the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services told lawmakers the state could expect a more than $700 million shortfall through the next fiscal year.
What’s more, Christie said publically since the Treasurer’s latest hearing that he still plans to lobby for a tax cut he’s yet to budget for in his latest spending plan.
The moving pieces are in the beginning stages of taking shape as lawmakers work to pass an election year budget before the end of the month.
Monday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Senate
10 a.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Education Department, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
10 a.m., Environment and Energy Committee, Rm. 10, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
1 p.m., Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, Rm. 1, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
1 p.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Judiciary, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton
1:30 p.m., Budget and Appropriations Committee, Rm. 4, Statehouse Annex, Trenton Boards and Commissions
Boards and Commissions
4 p.m., Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board, Department of Environmental Protection, 401 E. State St., Trenton Daily Events
10:30 a.m., Tele-town hall, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Majority Leader Sen. Loretta Weinberg, and AARP, livestream.com/aarpnj
Tuesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Wednesday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Boards and Commissions
11 a.m., State Board of Education, River View Plaza, Building 100, Route 29, Trenton
Thursday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Boards and Commissions
9 a.m., Schools Development Authority, 1 W. State St., Trenton Daily Events
8:30 a.m., N.J. League of Municipalities, How to Restore Civility in Public Discourse, Conference Center, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
Friday
Gov. Chris Christie
Not yet scheduled
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno
Not yet scheduled
Legislature
Nothing scheduled
Daily Events
8:30 a.m., N.J. Chamber of Commerce, Breakfast Roundtable with Assembly Executive Directors Bill Caruso and Mark Duffy, Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Drive, Monroe
