Dems pleased by GOP gov's willingness to compromise, but say they will deal with issues their way and on their schedule
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Christie, a freshman Republican intent on "turning Trenton upside down," marched into a special session of the Legislature, declaring a trimmed-down state budget passed this week was only a partial victory. The rest, he insisted, would come when property taxes are brought under control.
Christie, who wants the Legislature to join him in his effort to keep annual tax hikes to no more than 2.5 percent, also offered a surprise compromise. He told lawmakers he would accept a cap that is passed by law instead of a constitutional amendment as long as it holds roughly the same provisions. Christie had been emphatic that he would accept only a constitutional amendment and would not go along with the 2.9 percent cap passed by the Legislature this week.
"The job is not complete," Christie said during a speech that lasted just over 13 minutes. "In the past decade, local government spending has grown 69 percent. And property taxes have grown 70 percent. This is not a coincidence, it is a cause."
By the end of the day today, Democratic leaders said they were pleased the governor is willing to compromise but they will deal with the issues their way and on their schedule.
And, before the sides could begin working out a final deal, the governor and legislative leadership were feuding over whether Christie has the unilateral power to force the entire Legislature to come to Trenton.
The centerpiece of the day was the governor’s speech to an Assembly session attended by senators. Christie urged the Legislature to get to work and said "taxes are breaking the backs of our families."
"It is a mandate," the governor said. "Today, I ask you to join me in taming the property tax beast — by capping their growth; by getting rid of excuses to avoid that cap; and by letting the voters have a say in their own destiny."
Before the speech, Democrats leery of what the governor had in mind jockeyed for hours over whether they would indulge his request to address a joint session.
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said she would call her chamber into session but would not allow senators to attend, breaking decades of tradition. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said his members would not go to the governor’s 3 p.m. speech and invited Christie to the Senate for a second show at 6 p.m. After Sweeney was assured during a private meeting with the governor that a compromise would be offered, both Democratic leaders relented.
"I was not going to sit there and be belittled and chastised," Sweeney said.
When the speech was over, Democratic reaction was at first mixed, with some complaining that Christie’s ploy was just a variation on his normal all-or-nothing approach.
"It’s still his way or the highway. The highway just has another lane," said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan (D-Union) said immediately afterward. A short time later, Cryan changed his tune: "The governor moved. It’s our responsibility to move, too."
The events marked another public display of the hostility and rancor since Republican Christie took office in January and political control in Trenton was divided after a decade of Democratic dominance. Things grew more frenzied as word circulated throughout the Statehouse that the Senate’s Democratic caucus was in turmoil over how to deal with the Christie and his approach to property tax reform.
"Everyone’s posturing. We’re all posturing," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union). "The Senate’s posturing, the Assembly’s posturing, the governor’s posturing. I think we have to get down to work."
After Christie made his overture, Oliver said parts of the compromise are "music to the ears" of Democrats.
Sweeney said "At least he’s talking compromise. That’s a big step...He’s acknowledging that a constitutional amendment is not reasonable and has severe faults."
Democrats don’t want the caps passed through a constitutional amendment because it is a more permanent measure that can only be changed through additional amendments, which require public referendum. Changes in laws can be made much more easily by lawmakers and governors.
In the coming days, Christie plans to formalize his compromise proposal by conditionally vetoing the tax cap adopted by the Legislature this week. The governor’s veto would amend the Democrats’ proposal to mirror his own.
Sweeney was adamant that the biggest issue is not the level of the cap — his proposed 2.9 percent or Christie’s 2.5 percent — but exemptions carved into it. Christie is willing to accept exemptions only for existing labor contracts and mandatory debt payments. Sweeney said it should include uncontrollable increases in costs for health care, pension and energy.
Sweeney said he’d be willing to examine Christie’s call for the cap to be overridden only by public referendum but would not entertain the governor’s proposal for such a vote to require a 60 percent super-majority to pass. "We can get this right," Sweeney said, stressing that he feels no need to rush.
Before today’s speech, the governor called the Legislature into special session through today. Afterward, Christie announced he is calling the Legislature back to Trenton again Friday. Sweeney and Oliver said they will come to the Statehouse each day Christie summons the Legislature but they do not believe they have to convene their full chambers and, instead, have scheduled committee hearings to begin considering the property-tax compromise.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the governor expects to see the full Legislature for the special sessions.
"The state constitution provides that when the governor calls a joint session of the Legislature it means the entire Legislature, not a fraction of its members," Drewniak said. "Given the spirit of compromise we’ve witnessed lately, it would be very unfortunate to find ourselves compelled to turn to the attorney general to enforce the constitution by suing the Legislature."
By Josh Margolin and Claire Heininger/The Star-Ledger
Staff writers Lisa Fleisher, Matt Friedman, Susan K. Livio and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.