U.S. Money to Aid Treatment Facility at Center of N.J. Budget Battle

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Monday announced that more than $500,000 in federal grant money will be used to maintain a treatment center for child-abuse victims whose state funds he vetoed, writes The Star-Ledger.

Gov. Christie, who eliminated $537,000 in direct aid for Wynona’s House on June 30, said the state Division of Children and Families obtained the federal funds last month and that the Newark facility was never in danger of shutting down.

Democrats who sought unsuccessfully to override the Wynona’s veto questioned why the Republican governor kept quiet about the U.S. aid for nearly three weeks after his veto fueled concerns that the center would close.

“That the governor waited to share his secret for 18 days is horrendous, that is if anyone believes his story,” said a spokesman for Stephen Sweeney, the Democrat who presides over the Senate.

Gov. Christie said he didn’t reveal the federal grant earlier because it had not been specifically allocated for Wynona’s House but that anyone who asked about the center’s status was assured “there would be no interruption of service.”

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