TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey lawmakers are set to vote on whether to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a bill requiring law enforcement officials to be notified when potential gun buyers seek to have mental health records erased.
The state Senate is expected to vote on the override Thursday.
Christie has thrown his support behind a bill from Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. that calls for notifying law enforcement when anyone seeks to expunge a mental health record, not just potential gun buyers.
Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney called the bill a “smokescreen” and says Republicans should back the initial measure, which would affect potential gun purchasers. It passed unanimously.
This is the latest fight between Christie, a Republican candidate for president, and the Democrats who set the agenda in the Legislature.
Democrats say the governor’s position has more to do with the early balloting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, where gun control is less popular than in New Jersey.
Christie says it’s Sweeney and the Democrats who are playing politics.
“The issue of mental health and its impact on violent, sometimes deadly behavior in our society is too important an issue to play politics with,” he said recently.
Democrats have failed to override Christie’s veto more than 50 times because Republicans would not defy Christie.
They came close during a test vote on the mental health legislation and hope they can persuade the Republicans who previously supported it.
An override would be a blow for Christie, who has touted his flawless record on vetoes while campaigning.
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