Ciattarelli blasts budget, Sherrill won’t say if she’d sign it

The two candidates to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy offered contrasting views on New Jersey’s $58.8 billion state budget, with Republican Jack Ciattarelli lambasting spending and tax increases and Democrat Mikie Sherrill offering some praise of her party’s budget while sidestepping whether she would sign or veto it.

“This budget takes some important steps forward, like fully funding the pension system, fully funding our schools, and delivering record property tax relief,” Sherrill said.  “But as so many are struggling to pay for housing and rent, utilities, and Trump’s tariffs, we cannot afford more tax increases.”

Murphy, a Democrat, signed the record budget at 11:42 last night.  All 25 Democrats in the State Senate voted yes, along with 51 Democrats in the Assembly who are up for re-election in November.

Sherrill wants the legislature to return after the summer to make some fixes to the budget they just approved.

“I strongly encourage leadership to come back to the table this fall to find a solution within the collective bargaining process to provide health benefits savings for public employees and taxpayers,” the four-term congresswoman said.  “As governor, I will make sure that every future state budget protects the collective bargaining rights of New Jersey’s public employees.”

The budget cut $100 million from state employee health benefits, and hikes taxes on gambling, tobacco, and high-dollar real estate sales.

Ciattarelli sided with his fellow Republicans.

“In the middle of the night Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats crafted a budget that once again adds billions in state spending — up 70% in eight years — and raises taxes on both working families and small businesses while doing nothing to address the real problems we face: the highest property taxes in the nation, worst state in the country to do business, a failed housing policy that’s over paving our suburbs while ignoring our cities, and schools that are failing our students,” he said.  “No wonder the majority of New Jerseyans think our state is headed in the wrong direction.”

The GOP nominee, a former three-term assemblyman, pledged to “reduce the size and cost of our state budget, cut your taxes, and won’t sign a budget until you see it.”

Sherrill warned that “costs are only going to keep rising as the Trump/Ciattarelli price hike bill is signed into law.”  Ciattarelli suggested that a Sherrill governorship would be the equivalent of a third Murphy term.