NJ legislators pass covid funding bill; NJ GOP sues; NJ Supremes Immediately take case
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a controversial measure authorizing the state to borrow up to $9.9 billion to plug a massive revenue shortfall resulting from the pandemic-induced lockdown that had shut off many tax revenue streams since early March. An expected lawsuit challenging the legislation quickly followed, and on Friday the Supreme Court announced it will exercise jurisdiction over the lawsuit and hear arguments next month.
“The passage of this legislation is an important step in New Jersey’s recovery from the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Murphy said in a release sent out just after 6 p.m. “While this is by no means a silver bullet, the ability to responsibly borrow is essential to meeting our with fiscal needs in the coming year.”
Earlier the Senate and Assembly approved the same bill after some debate in each house, while the New Jersey Republican State Committee made good on its intention and sued the governor.
On Friday Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner issued an order in the matter of New Jersey Republican State Committee v. Philip D. Murphy. “Ordered the matter shall be set down for oral argument at 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2020,” wrote Rabner. “Plaintiffs shall file a brief on or before 4:30 p.m. on July 24 and defendant shall file a response brief on or before 4:30 p.m. on July 31.” The Chief Justice also ordered counsel for the plaintiffs and defendant to appear for a conference call with the Clerk of the Supreme Court at 3 p.m. today.
S-2697, the “New Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act,” was approved 22-15 around noon largely along party lines in the upper chamber. Every Republican—minus Sen. Steven Oroho, R-Sussex, who was absent due to hip surgery—voted against it, as did two Democrats, Sen. Dawn Addiego, D-Burlington, and Nia Gill, D-Essex, who broke ranks. There were three abstentions.
Hours later the 80-member Assembly took up an identical version of the bill, A-4175, and approved it by a vote of 46-26 around 3 p.m.
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