The governor cut $1.3 billion in spending, including $900 million the Democrats had added in, before signing a $29.7 billion budget into law.

Republicans say the allegation of vindictive budgeting is the Democrats' way of distracting from the real issue: that they are trying to spend money the state is unlikely to realize in tax revenue.

"The Democratic majority saw more value in passing a political and election-year budget that was illegal and unbalanced from the moment it was introduced than in negotiating a budget with the governor and Senate Republicans," Senate Republican leader Tom Kean Jr. said before the votes. "So today's override votes are really worse than political theater. They're offensive."

Sen. Joe Kyrillos, a Monmouth County Republican and Christie ally, said the financial picture had changed since the governor introduced his budget in February, forcing some of the late cuts.

Christie's chief of staff Richard Bagger said some items that Christie cut had been overfunded. He called others "a set of difficult choices" needed to bring the budget back into balance.

The override measure needed the support of at least 27 of the 40 senators to pass.

Had the votes been successful in the Senate and then in the Assembly, the restorations would have cost the state a combined $60 million, Sweeney said. They included $7 million for prescription drugs for HIV/AIDS patients, $1.5 million for Braille teachers and $5 million for legal services for the poor and indigent.

Earlier Monday, Republican Sen. Tony Bucco of Morris County said "no one is being really hurt by this budget. All these programs that are still there will be there and they will be funded."

Codey called Christie's cuts and the failed override votes "the largest single assault on people with mental illness that I have ever seen." He and his wife have advocated for years for more money and a deeper understanding of those with mental illnesses.

Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much of anything related to the state's fiscal picture.

For example, Christie certified revenue projections that are about $300 million more conservative than the amount Democrats believe the state will take in. Christie certified a $640 million surplus when he signed the budget on June 30, but Treasurer Andrew Eristoff said Monday that Democrats underfunded several programs in the budget they sent Christie, so the state can expect to end the fiscal year next June with about $365 million on hand.

Sweeney has scheduled more override votes for Tuesday.

Republican Sen. Diane Allen of Burlington County abstained on all the measures brought up for votes Monday, but with the house under call and votes required, a non-vote is recorded as a 'no.'

Allen said she abstained because she supported all the programs but realizes that the state doesn't have the money to fund them. She said she couldn't choose among the worthwhile offerings.

One legislator, Republican Sen. Andrew Ciesla of Ocean County, was absent from the vote.