TRENTON – Apparently intent on calling his bluff, Assembly Democrats huddled this afternoon in the aftermath of Governor Phil Murphy’s vow to veto an alternative budget to his own.

According to sources in the caucus room, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) and Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-6) stuck strong to a budget vote this coming Thursday despite the Governor’s veto threat.

The Legislative leadership wants to drop their own budget on the Governor’s desk and give him nine days to send it back or go to the negotiating table.

The caucus was just getting underway but no one immediately pushed back against Coughlin or Greenwald as they prepared to formally side with Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and oppose the Governor.

A half hour later, a source close to legislative leadership said, “We are absolutely putting this budget through on Thursday and there’s been almost no pushback at all.”