Update from Sweeney and Coughlin

Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin issued a joint statement today that stands behind the Office of Legislative Services’ revenue projections that were included in the budget passed by both houses of the Legislature on Thursday.

“Yesterday we were in Trenton reviewing the budget we passed on Thursday and discussing the Governor’s revenue estimates.  The Budget Officer from the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services reiterated the revenue estimates included in our budget,” said Sweeney and Coughlin.  “Over the years, OLS has provided the most reliable and credible revenue projections and we have continued confidence in their work.”

OLS has not always received widespread support.  Former Gov. Chris Christie once dubbed OLS budget officer David Rosen the “Dr. Kevorkian of numbers” for offering revenue projections that were less optimistic than his.  Rosen turned out to be right.