December 30, 2008
 | DECROCE SAYS CORZINE HAS WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO REVEAL HIS BUDGET PLANS GOVERNOR WANTS TWO MORE WEEKS TO PREPARE BUDGET IN HOPES OF BAILOUT |
Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce released the following statement to news that Gov. Jon S. Corzine plans to push the budget introduction deadline from Feb. 24 to March 10 because officials are behind schedule trying to plug a $1.2 billion deficit and are waiting to see how much money New Jersey may get from a federal stimulus package.
“For three years, Gov. Corzine has put off the tough decisions the state’s beleaguered taxpayers need him to make,” DeCroce, R-Morris said. “Now, he wants to ask the Legislature for another two weeks in hopes that the new president will send him help to fill the state’s cavernous deficit. This budget, in this crumbling economy, is too important to delay because of the governor’s paralysis. It’s time for Corzine to govern and meet his constitutional obligations.”
“Although two weeks may seem insignificant, this budget will likely include painful cuts that will require extra consideration by the Legislature and vetting by the public. Every minute is crucial in this financial crisis,” DeCroce said. “It’s especially troubling that Corzine would consider a delay when he still hasn’t shared with the public any thoughts he has to cut state spending when sputtering revenues will require budget cuts in the billions of dollars.”
