Sarlo expects budget to narrowly pass Senate

State Sen. Paul Sarlo said be budget will the 21-vote threshold needed to pass in the senate with one or two votes to spare.

“There could be issues, just internal issues — specific issues. You never get 26. You’ll end up about 22, 23,” said Sarlo, who is chair of the Senate Budget Committee.

Lawmakers in both chambers are set to vote on the appropriations bill on Thursday. It’s expected that they’ll send their budget to Murphy’s desk without much issue.

It’s less clear what will happen once it’s in the governor’s hands.

Murphy has suggested he will line-item veto the budget once it reaches his desk, though he’s stopped short of clearly saying as much, often pronouncing that “all options” remained on the table.

In a letter sent to Murphy after the governor issued his clearest veto threat of this budget season, Senate President Steve Sweeney suggested legislators could override portions of a line-item veto that struck at legislative priorities.

“I think it’s going to go to the governor, and I’m hopeful that the governor signs the legislation,” Sarlo said. “He needs to certify the revenues, and if he can’t certify the revenues, he will cut some additional spending that he feels the revenues don’t meet.”