The Budget: What Will The Governor Do Next?

The Senate and Assembly have now passed the budget. Rather than at the last minute or actually stopping the clock as has happened in the past, the budget is ready for the Governor four days (or five days if you count Saturday) before the June 30 constitutional midnight deadline. Was it a bad idea to leave so much time for the Governor to bluster and threaten, or a good idea to allow necessary time for negotiation?

There might not be much basis for negotiation as the budget has about 90% of what the governor wanted. Even Christie's much desired tax reduction of $180 million, in the form of property tax relief, is included. It  is subject to the Governor achieving all or much of his tax revenue forecast in the forthcoming months. And when even the Treasury Secretary forecasts a revenue shortfall of over $700 million it would seem to make sense to hold back and see whether we can afford the relief.

It is ironic that Democrats now appear more fiscally responsible than either the Republicans or Christie. Rather than increase the Governor's budget as the Democratic legislators did last year, they are actually reducing the budget by some $400 million from what the Governor requested. Who would have thunk it?

So what will the governor do next?