N.J. Gov. Chris Christie swiftly vetoes "millionaires tax"
By Statehouse Bureau Staff
May 20, 2010, 7:40AM
It took about two minutes from the time Senate President Steve Sweeney certified the
passage of the millionaires tax package for Gov. Chris Christie to veto the bills at his desk.
"While I have little doubt that the sponsors and supporters of this bill sincerely believe that the
state can tax its way out of this financial crisis, I believe that
this bill does nothing more than
repeat the failed, irresponsible and unsustainable fiscal policies of the past," wrote Christie in
his veto statement. "Now is not the time for more of the same. Ultimately, another tax increase
will punish the state?s struggling small businesses and set our economy further back from recovery."
Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerThe Assembly voted to pass the "millionaire's tax" bill 46-32, but
Gov. Christie vetoed it soon after.After the state Senate passed the bill, which had already
passed the Assembly, Sweeney walked the bills down the hallways of the Statehouse, from
the state Senate chambers to the governor's office. Once inside, he handed the bills to Christie,
who was waiting.
"What took you so long ?" asked Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak.
Christie sat at a wooden desk emblazoned with the seal of the state of
New Jersey and swiftly signed vetoes.
"We'll be back, governor," said Sweeney.
"Alright, we'll see," said Christie.
Democrats would need two-thirds majority in both houses of the Legislature to override the veto.
"This is something we're not going away on," said Sweeney. "This isn't theater, this isn't a gimmick."
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