Free Republic

Despite talk of a fiscal crisis and this week's state budget wrangling by legislative leaders, lawmakers found room for a record $370 million for pet projects in their home districts. The $27.9 billion state budget includes a long list of "legislative additions" that suggest it's Christmas in July at the Statehouse. The projects are therefore known as "Christmas tree" items, and they are spread all over the state. The Newark School of Business at Rutgers University and St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson each get an extra $18 million. Lawmakers scrounged up another $1.5 million for Battleship New Jersey in Camden....