Political infighting continues as state budget deadline nears

Political infighting among New Jersey’s lawmakers continues as the deadline for the state budget approaches.
New Jersey’s leaders have until June 30 to pass the state budget, or risk the second government shutdown in as many years.
Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has been fighting with the Democrat-led state Legislature about raising taxes to pay for the $37.4 billion budget. Murphy wants a higher tax rate for millionaires and a restoration of the sales tax, which decreased under the Christie administration.
Murphy says that these two tax items would bring in $1.4 billion in annual revenue.
The Legislature has constructed its own spending plan, a $36.5 billion budget that relies on a hike in the corporate business tax for two years.
The governor spoke at the Department of Education Wednesday. He said that a plan to boost school aid hinges on a budget deal with "sustainable" revenues.
"This is a cart and horse moment. For too long, Trenton has put the cart first — loading it up with promises, all the while knowing the horse being relied upon wouldn't be able to pull his or her weight,” Murphy said. “If we want this to work, we first need to get a horse strong enough to make it more than one step. We need sustainable funding."
Murphy has said that he would veto the Legislature’s budget.