TRENTON — The summerlong silence between Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is finally over. The two leaders sat down for a meeting yesterday in the governor’s office at the Statehouse, their first face-to-face in more than a month. Spokesman for both men refused to divulge what the two talked about, except to say it was...
Happier times: Senate President Stephen Sweeney, right, laughs with Gov. Chris Christie after Christie addressed a roast in Newark as Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., left, listens to the next speaker in this March file photo. After a public falling out last month, Christie and Sweeney have met together.TRENTON — The summerlong silence between Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is finally over.
The two leaders sat down for a meeting yesterday in the governor’s office at the Statehouse, their first face-to-face in more than a month.
Spokesman for both men refused to divulge what the two talked about, except to say it was a private meeting.
A powerful duo who worked together to pass an overhaul of public employee pension and health benefits, Christie and Sweeney had been in a standoff after a falling out over the state budget. Sweeney backed a budget plan that included increased funding for several projects that Democrats pegged as important, including women’s health care, schools and tax credit increases for the working poor.
After the Legislature sent Christie the budget in the last week of June, the governor used the power of the line-item veto to reduce several spending categories, including funding for programs that he had initially planned to fund.
Sweeney went on a tirade, calling Christie several spicy terms and likening him to a bank robber who had taken hostages to prove a point. Sweeney insisted that he wouldn’t apologize, saying that while he regretted his colorful language, he meant what he said.
Christie has since announced he’ll restore funding to some of his cuts, including announcing federal funding for a Newark-based home that treats sexually abused children.
He also announced he will sign off on an increase of $139 million that he cut from "transitional aid," money given to the state’s most cash-strapped cities to stave off massive reductions in police and fire protection.
The restoration of transitional aid money would require legislation. In the two weeks since Christie said he would sign the bill, no movement has been made by lawmakers to approve it.
Christie last month signaled Sweeney’s rant wouldn’t end their work together, saying "we’re friends" and that "when you have a passionate relationship like that sometimes people get overly emotional." Christie said last month.
The falling out appeared to be thawing two weeks ago when Christie acknowledged Sweeney called him while he was spent the afternoon in a hospital for an asthma attack.