Top lawmakers call on Christie to fund lead cleanup account

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers on March 22 called on Gov. Chris Christie to sign legislation requiring the state to put $10 million into a dormant lead control fund.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney said at a statehouse news conference surrounded by lead abatement advocates the issue is too important to ignore. Prieto and Sweeney are the Democrat-controlled Legislature's top two lawmakers.
The measure funds the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund, which began in 2004 and was funded by a tax on paint cans.
Christie said at a separate news conference that he won't consider the supplemental spending bills, like the measure in question, but that he'll consider the idea of funding the program as part of the budget process. Lawmakers and Christie have until June 30 to work out the next budget.
Despite gains in reducing lead poisoning during the last 20 years, there is renewed debate over lead in New Jersey, in part because of the crisis in Flint, Michigan, and recently because lead levels were detected in the drinking water at Newark public schools.
Sweeney said the increased attention might persuade Christie to fund the program.
“It's hard now to turn a deaf ear to it," Sweeney said.
The state already budgets $7 million a year for lead abatement and uses $5 million in federal funding to address lead in properties damaged by Superstorm Sandy. Christie's office said an additional $3.8 million has been proposed for the lead issue next year.