N.J. budget proposal stalls in Senate

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, June, 2008 | by Jonathan Tamari and Adrienne Lu Inquirer Trenton Bureau

A $32.9 billion state budget that cuts government spending by $600 million advanced in the Assembly yesterday morning but stalled in the Senate last night as lawmakers wrangled over pension reforms and funding for school construction. The budget deal that appeared imminent earlier in the week was hung up as Democrats in the narrowly divided Senate tried to hash out compromises behind closed doors and labor unions worked to head off pension changes that they believe would unfairly target low-income workers.

Around 8 p.m., Senate Budget Committee members said they needed more time to work out details of the pension and school construction legislation. Some senators have tied their budget support to passage of those bills. Lawmakers planned to reconvene for previously...